We recently had the pleasure of raising some organic straw bales at Blue Dot Farm using our Bales On End Between Studs (BOEBS) construction system. This system uses conventional stud framing with plywood sheathing to allow for flexibility in the choice of exterior finishes that can greatly reduce the cost of a straw bale building. The bales went in quickly in this system, pushed between the studs as carbon sequestering thermal insulation. 

Our efforts were aided by the California Straw Building Association (CASBA) lending some awesome pieces of machinery. The Bale Saw ripped bales to just the right width for locations where the stud layout varied from the typical 2’-0” on center. The Bale Squeeze held bales in place for re-tying into shorter bales for special locations, such as under windows. 

Just like at the bale raising for the Blue Dot Farm Garden Shed (see our news post from 11.07.20), we were treated to Tim Weed and Liebe Patterson’s pluckin’ and fiddlin’ with tunes like “Turkey in the Straw” and “Whiskey for Breakfast” in a short after-lunch serenade. 

We’re looking forward to the completion of the house and sharing it with the community as a low- carbon option for increasing rural housing stock.