Our two-day bale raising for the Pie Ranch Farmhouse fire rebuild was a success! We used the “Green Machine” bale saw to cut bales to fit in tricky areas between studs and windows, speeding up the Bales on End Between Studs (BOEBS) construction method. Once installed, the straw bales provide nearly twice the insulation potential of standard 2x6 frame walls. The high density of the bales and non-combustible exterior finishes make for highly insulative fire resistant walls.

We were particularly thrilled to use this century old practice of using agricultural waste because the oat bales were grown, threshed, and baled by Pie Ranch at a farm just down the road. The next phase is finishing the interior of the strawbales with clay plaster to create a natural vapor permeable walls. The finished building will also feature earthen floors over solar sand bed radiant heating. 

We are looking forward to seeing the historic Steele Family farmhouse come back to life with low carbon, natural materials. Most of all, we are excited to see the ways in which the farmhouse can support Pie Ranch’s mission: “to cultivate a healthy and just food system for all from seed to table, through food education.” The house provides education and administrative spaces, as well as a home for Pie Ranch’s apprentices, who live on site to learn and get inspired as the next generation of food system practitioners.