Strawbale Building & Annual Meeting & Potluck: Tuesday, Sept. 20th

FORUM & ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK: TUESDAY, SEPT. 20TH
Wayne Conservation District, Park Street Complex in Honesdale.

ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK: 5:30 – 6:45 PM
Please bring your favorite dish to share and your own place settings (take home and wash later).

FORUM: 7 – 9 PM
“Straw Bale Building For the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions”

Straw bale building is rapidly emerging as one of the most successful responses to the health hazards and negative environmental impact of our standard construction industry and the buildings they produce. Long believed to be only adequate for dry, arid climates, natural builders all over the northeast and mid-Atlantic United States have successfully constructed straw bale buildings to withstand our moist, humid climate. This presentation will cover the history of straw bale building, tips on building straw bale structures successfully in the mid-Atlantic, address some of the common misconceptions and concerns about straw bale building, and how straw bales compare to the products they replace in respect to their environmental impact and performance within the structure.

Mike Belasco will be the speaker. Through designing, building, educating and being mentored by some of the best in the field, he has developed a deep appreciation and knowledge for the straw bale building process. The main appeal of straw bale construction for Mike is that it is low tech, inclusive to all, involves community, building ingenuity, and a sense of earth consciousness. In addition to designing and building in the field, Mike received his bachelor’s degree from Goddard College, where he spent two years strictly studying straw bale design and construction. He received his natural building certification from Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and has also launched his own educational institution in Philadelphia, The ReVerse Foundation, dedicated to to teaching the public about environmentally conscious building ideas and practices.