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January 8-February 8, 2012. WINTER INTERNSHIP at the Strawbale Studio, Oxford, Michigan, includes hands-on learning and the principles of: roof thatching and reed collection, composting systems, interior earthen plasters, fruit tree pruning, permaculture basics, food fermentation, round-pole framing joining techniques. Some time will be given to infrastructure: wood harvesting and reed collection. Winter Workshops will be scheduled for some of the above skills. Check for updates or contact Deanne, ph. 248 628 1887 ecoartdb@gmail.com. $625/month or $500 prepaid one-month in advance. Scholarships available. MORE INFO ABOUT INTERNSHIP AND REGISTRATION: http://strawbale.pbworks.com/w/page/43685070/internships

May 1-June 15, 2012, Southern California. Sheltership: Natural Building Apprenticeship, a Quail Springs Permaculture program using hands-on and lectures while creating a small shelter from start to finish, using variety of earthen and natural materials, including clay soil, sand, stone and straw - materials used in a variety of applications such as cob, light straw clay (slip-straw), wattle and daub, earth bag, earthen plasters, poured earthen floor, and some woodwork. Although welcome, experience with natural building is not necessary. Emphasis on student's developing a keen understanding of the materials, so they can develop insight into the best possible way to use each of the materials/applications for specific building needs and individual situations. Instructors: Sasha Rabin of Vertical Clay and Paul Swenson of Quail Springs. Limited to 10 participants. $2,600 (deposit of $500 holds your space); $2,200 early bird rate, for payment in full by March 2, 2012. Limited partial work trade positions are available - ask for application. Ask about payment plans, Couples/Family rates. For more information and to register contact info@quailsprings.org or 805.886.7239.

Straw-bale Building Internship. Moab, Utah. Community Rebuilds offers 4-month natural building internship. Student interns build straw-bale home from foundation to key-in-the-door under the direction of general contractor and natural builder. Free housing and food stipend $100/month per student. Visit blog communityrebuilds.wordpress.com for latest news or www.communityrebuilds.org to apply. Questions? Call Emily, 435.260.0501

July 12-July 20, Southern Oregon. Seven-week Natural Building Apprenticeship. For the seventh year, House Alive is offering an opportunity for people to get beyond the basics and experience an extended Natural Building apprenticeship. This popular, hands-on, intensive course is designed for people who want to get first-hand experience with every aspect of building a natural home, from the foundation to the roof. The 2011 program offers 7 weeks of hands-on building, problem solving, designing and discussing all aspects of natural building, allowing you to take the time to develop new skills under the guidance of experienced natural builders. Instructors: James Thomson of House Alive, Lydia Doleman of Flying Hammer Productions. For more information and to apply: www.housealive.org.

July11-August 12, Southwest Oregon. Comprehensive Natural Building Apprenticeship at White Oak Farm & Education Center. New and improved! Instructors: Tyler Walter, Taylor Starr and James Haim.The Apprenticeship spans five weeks of fully immersed hands-on experience, field trips, lectures, discussions, slide shows, independent design projects and more. Opportunity to learn practical natural building skills for their future career or owner-builder projects, for college students seeking an alternative classroom experience. Covers all aspects from site prep and foundations to electrical and plumbing, windows and doors, wall systems, roofs, carpentry and much more. Design sessions focus on use of passive solar, sourcing materials, alternative energy, permaculture, and more. http://whiteoakfarmcsa.org/programs-apprenticeships2.htm.

Volunteers Wanted. The volunteer group Pisco Sin Fronteras is building earthbag buildings for victims of the severe earthquake at Pisco, Peru, and is looking for volunteers. See their page - in. English - at: http://www.piscosinfronteras.org/earthbag-construction.html.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Design-and-Build Artist Village located in Africa seeks volunteer project manager/creative fundraiser for a Design/Build Earth Home Challenge. From 2010-2015, developing a model artist village in Ghana and Uganda for replication in other parts of Africa. For the locals, it will mean resolution to age-old problem for artists, painters, sculptors, dancers, and others who require low-cost and expanse of space in which to work; and for persons in the arts from around the world, it will be a contact point for artist-in-residence for community-based arts projects. Some 50 and 500-1000 acres have been speculated in rural parts of Ghana, as are in Uganda, Cameroon and Botswana. If interested in facilitating the project or wish to suggest a resource person, please sent email to <africoae@gmail.com>. Additional information on the project will be upon request or visit www.focusonthearts.org, http://afropoets.tripod.com/eta

Apprenticeship Course. Three-month apprenticeship course offered (regrow, rebuild and rethink our way of living) at Kibbutz-Lotan, Israel. More information available at www.birdingisrael.com or <lotalbuild@lotan.ardom.co.il>

Organic Farm Manager(s), The Sandpoint Institute, Sandpoint ID.
Farm will establish setting for Sandpoint Institute, a new educational institute for organic farming and sustainable living, a project of the founders of OrganicVolunteers, www.GrowFood.org. Finding interns for this farm will not be a problem. One or more farmers needed to establish organic farm (360 acres w/70 available to be cultivated and certified organic; rest is forested. Sandy loam soil. 70 acres sown in a timothy, clover, brome mix hay for a small livestock operation or micro-dairy in addition to vegetable production. Abundant water w/two ponds and seasonal creek w/micro-hydro potential; one 60-ft well tapped into aquifer. Buildings include huge 1940s era traditional barn, old milking shed, granary, sheds and farm house (3 BR, 2 bath) and separate cabin. Kubota tractor w/back blade and cultivator implements. For responsibilities, experience desired, compensation information, and application process, contact <ethan@organicvolunteers.com> with the word 3organic2 in the subject to circumvent the junk mail filter.

Straw-bale Construction Certification. New distance learning program enables students to start at any time and work at their own pace. Now available through the Geiger Research Institute for Sustainable Building. Director Owen Geiger is a correspondent for TLS. www.grisb.org <strawhouses@yahoo.org>

Blue Heron Natural Builders Guild (BHNBG), Madison, WI. Gain natural building work experience in the 2007. Earthen plaster, lime plaster, natural paints, natural remodeling, strawbale, straw-clay, stone, tile, hardscaping, timberframing, additions. To learn more about learning opportunities in the southern Wisconsin, contact Eric Nelson <blueheron@naturalbuildersguild.com> www.naturalbuildersguild.com

Labor Classifieds Bulletin Board at:
http://www.odiseanet.com/gblc/index.php
Lists strawbale and earth construction job offerings and employment needs, workshops and miscellaneous postings.

Apprenticeship. Six-month (May 1 through November 1), two semi-experience people wanting to learn more about natural building (cob, SB, wood, plasters, earthen floors. Construction work and working farm and community responsibilities. White oak farm & Education Center, Box 450, Williams OR 97544 <info@whitoakfarmscsa.org> www.whiteoakfarmcsa.org

Apprenticeship. Emerald Earth International Community, Northern California. All phases of work with local natural materials. www.emeraldearth.org <workshops@emeraldearth.org>

Job Opportunities. Looking for bale and plaster workers for commercial and residential projects in Colorado.
http://odiseanet.com/about_employment.htm.

Internship available at Black Range Lodge, Kingston, NM. Offering hands-on experience in natural building and permaculture projects. Work-trade for lodging and meals, plus payment, if warranted. Call 505.895.5652, <resources@StrawbaleCentral.com>.

Kleiwerks Internship. If you want to get more experience in the organization of a nonprofit, or in earth building and sustainability, and if you want to get into workshops for free, contact <West@Kleiwerks.org> Founded in 1998, Kleiwerks International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading natural building and whole-systems training that results in community-based sustainable living centers. By invitation only, we collaborate with community-based people, projects and programs. Through hands-on educational trainings and building projects we construct activist centers, permaculture sites, orphanages, schools and villages. Significant results of our work nclude both the generation of regional activist networks, and the construction of public demonstration centers that serve community needs. Kleiwerks International is part of a worldwide movement that is reviving and refining the art and joy of natural building and living.

Apprenticeship Course - Three-month apprenticeship course offered (regrow, rebuild and rethink our way of living) at Kibbutz Lotan, Israel. More information available at: www.birdingisrael.com/LotanTourism/
ecoCenter/ga/ga2005.html or email <lotan-build@lotan.ardom.co.il>.

Apprenticeship Program - Ecovillage, Summertown, TN. Organic food production, natural building and permaculture. Five-week program. Field trips. College credit available. National/international instructors. Howard Switzer and Katey Culver, <ecovillage@thefarm.org>.

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This listing of internships, apprenticeships, job opportunities is compiled from information sent to The Last Straw Journal by individuals, groups and organizations. Send information about events, conferences, tours, workshops and hands-on training to: The Last Straw, PO Box 22706, Lincoln NE 8542-2706; <thelaststraw@thelaststraw.org> or call 402.483.5135.

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