Associations, networks, guilds and groups have been or are being formed around the world to bring people together to learn more and share information about straw-bale construction and natural building, and for workshops, hands-on training, conferences, and events. Some also offer newsletters about local or regional happenings and projects.
If your association, network, guild or group is not listed, we would welcome the addition.
Associations
AUSBALE, the Australia and New Zealand Straw Bale Building Association. www.ausbale.org Andrew Webb, Secretary, Queensland, (07) 5485 2720 <andrew@thegreenwebb.com>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AUSBALEforum
<AUSBALEforum@yahoogroups.com> to post messages
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Brattleboro Area Natural Building Group (BANG) Sarah Machtey, 802.257.7300 ext 104 bang@potkettleblack.com
www.potkettleblack.com/bang Traditional and alternative building materials and techniques (strawbale, cob, straw/clay, cordwood, timber frame, earth bags and more; salvaging and recycling, repurposing; retrofitting and remodeling; environmentally preferable products; active and passive solar, rainwater, greywater, composting toiletsÉ and more.
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California Straw Building Association / CASBA. PO Box 1293, Angels Camp, CA, 95222-1293; 209.785.7077 <casba@strawbuilding.org> www.strawbuilding.org
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Colorado Straw Bale Association/COSBA.115 S. Colorado St., Gunnison, CO 81230,(970) 497-9575 <coloradostrawbale@yahoo.com> www.coloradostrawbale.org
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Indiana Natural Building Group. Joe Davis or Jeanne Leimkuhler, 812.339.3017 jleim@bloomington.in.us A project of the center for Sustainable Living, promoting economically and ecologically sustainable ways of building and living; encouraged environmentally friendly building design and use of sustainable, affordable, healthy materials and techniques.
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The MidAmerica Straw Bale Association/MASBA, a network for the central USA (North Dakota to Oklahoma, Montana to Indiana), is being organized by GPFS / The Green Prairie Foundation for Sustainability. Contact: PO Box 22706, Lincoln NE 685442-2706; 402.483.5135 <jc10508@alltel.net>
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Ontario (Canada) Straw Bale Building Coalition/OSBBC. Send inquiries by mail to : OSBBC, c/o Hank and Anita Carr, 2025 Ventnor Rd., RR3, Spencerville ON K0E 1X0; 613-378-2583 <info@strawbalebuilding.ca> www.osbbc.org OSBBC publishes a newsletter, Bale ON!, to help its members and others learn about the activities, successes, and challenges of its members.
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The Straw Bale Association of Nebraska/SBAN, 2110 South 33rd St., Lincoln NE 68506-6001; 402.483.5135 jc10508@alltel.net www.strawhomes.com/sban Efforts are beginning to list these buildings on county, state, and national registers of historic places. You can ÒsignÓ a petition of support by visiting the SBAN web site.
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Straw Bale Association of Texas/SBAT. PO Box 49381, Austin, TX 78765; strawbale.sustainablesources.com/ SBAT has merged with SBC and the online newsletter can now be accessed at <designbuildlive.org>
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Straw Bale Building Association/WISE(Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England). For mail events postings, send email to: <straw@globalnet.co.uk> SBBA publishes a newsletter and offers members many other benefits. For membership details, write to: SBBA (WISE), PO Box 17, Todmorden OL14 8FD; www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~straw/
This guild represents the area about an hour north of Philadelphia PA. They lead natural building workshops and serve as a professional network for local natural builders.
Austrian StrawBale Network/ASBN – Astrid and Herbert Gruber. asbn@baubiologie.at www.baubiologie.at Targeted for Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Germany. Workshops, projects, gatherings, and more. Web site includes gallery of photographs of projects across Europe.
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Belarus. Evgeny Shirokov, International Academy of Ecology, Belorussian division, 81 Varvasheny St, Minks, Belarus; +375 17 2832511 <iaebd@tut.by>
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France. An association of straw-bale owner/builders that promotes the idea of open building sites for fellow owner/builders to visit and acquire skills (e.g. a weekend bale raising, a day of plastering). French language only. http://compaillons.naturalforum.net
Martin Oelhmann, Moulin du Roz, 29690 Berrien, France <moehlmann@wanadoo.fr>
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Germany. Fachverband Strohballenbau
Deutschland e.V. c/o Dipl. Ing. Architekt Dirk Scharmer Auf der Rubekuhle 10, 21335 Luneburg; <fachverrband@strawbalehouse.de>
www.strawbalehouse.de/FSB/fsb-1.htm
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Irish Ecobuild Network. A network for anyone interested in appropriate, sustainable and environmentally friendly building methods. Share information about projects, workshops, and more. <irishecobuld@topica.com>
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The Netherlands SB Network.
Stro & Co. Jolien van der Maden and Cai van Hoboken, NL Postbus 3417, 1001 AE Amsterdam, NL; <caistrobv@excite.com>
Northwest Eco-Building Guild/NWEBG. PO Box 58530, Seattle WA 98138-1530; <members@ecobuilding.org>
www.ecobuilding.org Regionally organized in seven chapters within the Northwestern USA: Idaho, Seattle area, Olympia area (Washington state), Central Washington and British Columbia (Ellensburg, Washington, area), Inland Northwest and Southeast British Columbia (Spokane and beyond), Western Columbia (Portland area), Southwest Oregon (Eugene area), and Straits and Islands.
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Oklahoma-OkieBaleheads. A listserve for strawbale and natural builders in Oklahoma and north Texas and surrounding states. Sign up at www.yahoo.com click on Groups and enter your email address and password.
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Spain SB Network (SSBN).
<casasdepaja@yahoo.es> www.casasdepaja.com
If you know of other associations or networks to list in this section of the TLS Resource Guide, please let us know.