[Ekodum] Funded places on Amazonails residential courses

[Max Vittrup Jensen <max AT permalot.org>]

Dear lovely people,

Opportunity to come on funded courses with amazonails in England is here:)))

All you need to is to apply for Grundtvig or Comenius funding before 30th of 
april! in order to be able to do this you need to be citizen of EU or one of 
the partner countries. this funding will cover you traveling costs as well. 
the details follow in a invitation from amazonails below. also there is list 
of courses available.

Please spread this information as much as you can among your European 
friends, networks etc... if you were able to put up this message on your web 
site or on a noticeboard that would be lovely and greatly appreciated!

I hope to see some of you here in uk soon!
love
Norak
////////////////
NEW!  Funded places on amazonails residential courses

For European Union members (not UK )

Deadline -  Apply by 30th April
Please pass this information onto your European networks and friends 

8 day Strawbale Building ‘Build a mini studio a week’

·         18th to 25th September 2009

·         23rd to 30th October 2009

·         20th to 27th November 2009

7 day course in ‘Natural Finishes - Clay & Lime Plastering’

·         2nd – 9th October 2009


3 day Moisture & Humidity in strawbale walls

·         25th to 27th September 2009

If you are a trainer, teacher or workshop facilitator in Europe and want to 
learn about amazonails’ teaching practices as well as our natural building 
methods, European funding is likely to be available for the above new 
courses.  Funding opportunities exist if you live in a European Union 
country, outside of the UK . All course costs, travel, accommodation and food 
will be covered, but you must apply to your own in-country agency by the end 
of April.

To apply, contact the main data base at 
http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/national_en.html

and follow the link to your own country agency.  Then give your agency a ring 
if you have any questions – they are usually pretty helpful and want to 
assist you in getting funded placements.  Each country agency has slightly 
different criteria, but they all generally require that you are part of a 
legitimate group or organisation and are able to provide them with a costs 
breakdown for (a) the course, (b) accommodation and food, and (c) for travel. 
 We can give you costs for the course and accommodation, we are just 
finalising this with the European funding body.

Although the above courses don’t yet have a database reference number, you 
can still apply at this stage.   As soon as we have the reference number we 
will put this up on the website and circulate it around.
Please let your contacts across Europe know about this great funding 
opportunity!!

contact us for details info AT amazonails.org.uk  and bee AT amazonails.org.uk 
(0044)1706814696

Training and Facilitation Techniques for Educators in Strawbale Building

Workshop training in ‘Build a Mini Studio in a week’

This course takes you through design, all associated carpentry instruction 
for floor grid, base plate, flooring choices, roofing carpentry and roof 
finish options;  foundation systems and low impact foundation choices; safe 
tools use, loadbearing strawbale and hybrid options; preparation for plaster 
work; and latest technical details for windows and doors.  At the same time, 
amazonails teaching methods are shared, case studies worked on and group 
facilitation exercises and games used to create a more stimulating and 
inclusive working environment.  We invite you to share your own experience 
and bring your own ideas.

Day 1
> From 15.00pm, Arrival and orientation;  Welcome Dinner; General Introductions;  Illustrated Presentation; Introduction to the Region 

Day 2
Opening circle ; icebreaker;  Introductions and Experience; course overview; 
introduction of teaching and facilitation methodology ; introduction to 
technical and practical content of course;  exchange of techniques for 
creating a cohesive group and good learning environment for full 
participation;  tools and materials introduction and use;  health and safety 
and working environments;  theory session - carpentry basics;  theory session 
- design basics; participatory design;  practical session design; practical 
session carpentry (base plate/floor grid/upstand);  discussion and questions; 
 feedback; closing circle

Day 3
Opening circle;  continuation of design and carpentry theory and practice – bracing/door and window fixings/ leveling; theory of low impact and cement free foundation choices; theory of flooring choices;  exchange of group facilitation exercises (1) ; exchange of good practice on-site teaching methods for safe and enjoyable sites; case studies; group presentations; discussion and questions;  feedback;  closing circle 

Day 4
Opening circle;  group facilitation exercise; working methodology for the 
day; introduction to coppice work, theory and practice;  introduction to 
strawbale building and methods, theory and practice;  customizing, shaping 
and sizing bales; introduction to building methods and team building work;  
hybrid methods of building and overview of good practice design; country and 
climate-specific considerations and comparisons;  case studies; group 
presentations; discussion and questions;  feedback;  closing circle

Day 5
Opening circle;. Building up and pinning loadbearing walls; Case studies; 
exchange of group facilitation exercises (2);   Introduction to roof plate 
designs and hybrid designs – theory and practice; strapping and 
pre-compression designs – theory and practice; group presentations; 
discussion and questions;  feedback;  closing circle.

Day 6

Opening circle;  Introduction to roof designs and options; introduction to roof finishing options;  making roof trusses theory and practice; appropriate design for disaster relief emergency shelters;  introduction to natural and weather proof wall  finishes; discussion and questions;  feedback;  closing circle 

Day 7

Opening circle;  Guided visit to amazonails’ strawbale buildings in the region (Ecology Building Society Board Room - circular loadbearing onto limecrete shallow foundations; Loadbearing Allotment Community Building with living roof onto car tyre foundations;  Garden circular loadbearing building onto limecrete floor with shingle roof; National Trust Educational Centre hybrid strabale design, cob walls, car tyres and natural, local materials); European networking of trainers in strawbale building;  participant presentations; discussion and questions; feedback;  closing circle 

Day 8

Departure Day.  Opening circle; group facilitation exercise and closing 
facilitation exercises; course conclusion; course evaluation;  networking 
recommendations; and farewells and closing circle

Training and Facilitation Techniques for Educators in Natural Building

Workshop training in ‘Natural Finishes – Lime and Clay Plastering’


This course is for those teaching and working in natural building and wanting in-depth instruction and practice in working with clay plasters and lime renders.  The history and properties of both materials is examined; we will use dug clay as well as bought products,  conduct field tests, use different mixing methods and practice different application techniques;  we will take you theoretically and practically through the lime cycle - burning the lime in a kiln, slaking, mixing and applying it to different surfaces.  We will look at the different kinds of lime and their appropriate use and how to make different limes.  Decoration techniques will be explored, and a guided tour to a local education centre taught as courses by amazonails’ will provide the opportunity to look at lime and clay work in situ, with question and answer session with the client.  

At the same time, amazonails teaching methods are shared, case studies worked on and group facilitation exercises and games used to create a more stimulating and inclusive working environment.  We invite you to share your own experience and bring your own ideas. 

Day 1 

> From 15.00pm, Arrival and orientation; Welcome Dinner; Presentation; 
> Introduction to the Region and course

Day 2 

Opening circle each day ; icebreaker,  Introductions, experience & course overview - 
facilitation ideas, shared experience & practical content of course;  exchange of 
techniques for creating a cohesive group and good learning environment;  introduction to 
lime, explaining the lime cycle and history; Health & Safety requirements; tools; kiln 
firing; application of base coats. case studies, discussion, questions, feedback, group 
presentations & closing circle each day

Day 3 

Theory & Practical sessions:  lime slaking; different limes and use; lime 
work preparation; mixing;  application of scratch coats;  exchange of good 
practice on-site teaching methods

Day 4  Theory & Practical sessions:  Lime finish coats and finishes;  Introduction to clay;  properties;  indoor climate;  thermal mass in design;  field tests;  mixes;  preparation and application of discovery and base coats; good practice country and climate-specific design 

Day 5 

Theory & Practical sessions; Different clays;  applications & European 
differences;  shaping with clay; different substrates;  introduction to limecrete 
floors and earthen floors;  exchange of group facilitation exercises

Day 6

Introduction to clay decoration techniques, relief sculpting and lime 
pargetting;  appropriate design for different situations; team building 
through process;  discussion and questions;  feedback

Day 7

Guided visit to an amazonails’ strawbale building in the region; Education Centre, loadbearing hybrid strawbale, clay internal plasters, lime external render and lime wash, internal clay plastered cob wall; car tyres foundations) and to lime use on historical buildings; and/or to working lime quarry and kiln. European community networking of trainers in strawbale building 

Day 8 

Training and Facilitation Techniques for Educators in Natural Building

Workshop training in ‘Moisture and Humidity in Strawbale Builidngs’

‘Last year I had the pleasure of attending a course with Jakub. The 
activities, exercises and presentations allowed me to better understand the 
complex nature of water. I liked very much the way he led the 2 day course 
and the warm atmosphere of the place (including the good meal) where the 
training was organised.. Finally I would like to thank the all the other 
participants, many of them professional builders, for their participation, 
since it is as a group that we move forward and enjoy ourselves.

I recommend this workshop to anyone who is considering self-building a straw 
bale house and I would say that this kind of training should be obligatory 
for all building professionals who want to work with straw, even those who 
have been doing it for a long time, because it is impossible to overestimate 
the importance of humidity in buildings’

Andre de Boutier, 2008 French Strawbale Builder, teacher and writer


This course is the only such course offered in the world, and is led by 
moisture expert Jakub Wihan of amazonails who has extensively researched this 
area with the University of East London and Centre for Alternative 
Technology, and has successfully run several such moisture and humidity in 
natural building courses in France and in the UK to building professionals, 
building scientists, architects and engineers as well as self-builders and 
teachers.



Programme

Day 1

> From 15.00pm, Arrival and orientation;  Welcome Dinner; General 
> Introductions;  Illustrated Presentation

Day 2

Opening circle ; icebreaker;  Group introductions and induction; course 
overview; introduction of teaching and facilitation methodology ; 
introduction to technical and practical content of course;  Relative Humidity 
– interactive session

Limitations of measuring relative humidity – presentations; Introduction to 
workshops and group work

·         Group 1: Decomposition
Group 1 will look at the process of decomposition through observation and 
analysis of  straw, hay and hemp samples which have been buried underground 
for 1 month.  With guidance, this group will assess the rate of straw 
decomposition compared with the decomposition of the hay and hemp samples. Is 
there a difference? If so, what and why?

·         Group 2: Looking at case studies

Group 2 will review a report written about moisture damages in existing straw 
bale walls on early straw bale houses in Canada .

·         Group 3: Moisture probes
The facilitator will assist Group 3 to explore the efficiency of a simple 
moisture probe for assessing humidity levels in strawbale walls.

·         Group 4: Testing strawbales for water retention  With the help of 
the facilitator, group 4 will test strawbales and strawbale walling directly 
for water retention, record results and process, and make assessments.

Discussion and questions;  feedback; closing circle

Day 3

Group induction to the day

Presentations from groups 1, 2,

Feedback by way of presentations to all the workshop participants on the 
group’s exercise and findings, followed by general discussion; exchange on 
good teaching and facilitation practice within group working;

Case Study of Moisture Damage - Plozevet , Brittany– presentation and 
discussion

Presentations from groups 3 and 4

‘Strawbale houses last for ever’ - Solutions for moisture sensitive details 
in a cold and humid climate – presentation

Discussion and questions;  feedback; closing circle; Evaluations 

Day 4

Departure Day.  closing; course conclusion; course evaluation;  networking 
recommendations

For those interested, we can do a couple of site visits and conduct on-site 
moisture testing, so a later departure time can be arranged.

This humidity workshop will focus on the theory behind the techniques of 
straw bale building. All levels of interest and expertise are welcome, from 
the complete novice to self-builders and building professionals wishing to 
learn more about natural building methods and materials.

This is not a building workshop. Instead, we will be addressing the most 
pressing concern about straw bale walls: moisture damage. The workshop will 
explain the boundaries within which straw and humidity in the walls can 
coexist, and how to stay within these boundaries so that straw bale buildings 
can become more innovative, more progressive and better adapted to modern 
climates.

Jakub Wihan came to amazonails® after being trained as an Ambassador of 
strawbale building by Barbara Jones and Bee Rowan in 2005. Coming from an 
academic background in Civil Engineering and Architecture in his native Czech 
Republic, Jakub has actively broadened and enhanced his technical and 
practical knowledge of designing and building with strawbales through working 
on a diverse number of projects across the world including France, Italy, 
Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, USA and Siberia.

He wrote his MSc Architecture, Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies 
thesis with the title: Humidity in Straw Bale Walls and its Effect on 
Decomposition of Straw for the University of East London School of Computing 
and Technology in cooperation with the Centre for Alternative Technology in 
Wales .

Please tell your European contacts and networks about these new and great 
funded opportunities to learn with amazonails.

amazonails®
strawbale innovations

Hope Mill
Crescent Street
Todmorden
OL14 5HA

Tel: 0 (+44) 845 458 2173
Fax: 0 (+44) 1706 814696
www.amazonails.org.uk