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The Strawbale  Studio

         NATURAL BUILDING

                                  & Sustainable Living Skills

Strawbale Studio              SBS interior          Enthusiastic Interns                Deanne Bednar        Kensington Kids Cottage

Natural Building helps us connect again to our local natural environment, to our own intuitive and innate creativity, and to each other. It helps us to shift from an industrial, and often toxic building process to one that is affordable, empowering, community-building and life-affirming. We are co-creating ~ learning to dance in balance with nature.

                Learning to ..."live ingeniously in a low-carbon world !"   a quote by the Zero Footprint organization .

2009 REVIEW and PHOTOS

New Earth Oven Photos    Photos of some current projects       Join the Strawbale Studio Email List

Kids Cottage Photos    Clay-stompin' video !    YouTube video        Strawbale Studio Photos

MISSION  The STRAWBALE STUDIO Natural Building Educational Program works collaboratively to provide educational workshops, volunteer opportunities, outreach, exhibits and presentations both on & off-site. By reconnecting with nature and community, activities seek to lower the ecological footprint of building practices by empowering others to take part in the construction and design of structures and supportive environments that are ecologically sustainable and beautiful. Additional activities include The Rocket Stove Heated Bench, Permaculture Gardening, Worm Composting, Solar Cooking & Drying, Sustainable Community Modeling & Natural Arts.  Re-generative, Re-localization!   Case Study of the Strawbale Studio by the State of Michigan Energy Office.   Photo on dcat.net website . Photo in Mother Earth News .

ABOUT US    LOCATION:  Oxford, Michigan, USA. The Studio is located about 1 hour north of Detroit, on beautiful rural land.  CONTACT:  (248) 628-1887, ecoartdb@gmail.com or PO Box 733, Oxford, MI 48371.  BIO:  Coordinator of the Strawbale Studio Natural Building Program, Deanne Bednar  Bio  Places to stay around Oxford, MI    10 second Clay Stomping video by Abdul Al-Fraih !

DONATION  Consider making a tax-deductable donation. The Strawbale Studio Natural Building Educational Program has formed a fiduciary and outreach partnership with the non-profit "SEEDS" to expand its educational capacity.     Sustaining this work .  * Special Thanks for donations from The DeWald Foundation, Scott Cameron,  Jason Howard, Anonymous donar, Thermal Engine Corporation for a Sterling Engine Fan, Detroit Edison & First Solar of Toledo for the solar system,  Thanks to Sharon Howell for setting up the strawbalestudio.org website!  Christina Snyder and Chris Coon for design and assistance on the radiant floor system.  And all the others who have helped so much over the years!  Thanks. Thanks. 

WEBSITE CONTENTS  "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

• CALENDAR of Events. Natural Building, Sustainable Living Skills & Natural Arts Activities.

•   2008 Review and Photos  .2009 End-of-Year Report with pictures.
• DIARY. History of Strawbale Studio Program from 1996 to date!  2009 Diary
• Local Natural Building Projects.  Strawbale Studio, Kensington Kid's Cottage, Oxford Kids Cottage + !!
• Internship & Training Programs. Be surrounded by natural building & learning opportunities! 
• Links. Favorite resources in Natural Building, sustainability, permaculture, alternative schools & more!
• Great Lakes Natural Building Network .  A collection of regional resources!
• Handouts. You can print out these educational handouts & volunteer forms.
• Articles by Deanne Bednar .
• Natural Building Strategies and Materials . Thatching, Reed, Strawbale, Foundations, Insulation +
• Sustainability Education .  Some lesson plans to check out. 
• Green map the Detroit Area ! Links for the evolving Detroit Metro "Open Source" Green Map
• Best Practices . Fun & Simple ideas on "Living Locally", or "How to Survive the Energy Crisis" !
• Sustaining this work . Make a Tax-Deductable Donation,  Thanks to Funders, The "Wish List " !
• Meaningful Work . An evolving conversation about sustainable livelyhood.
• Website development    
• Slideshow Test

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