European Straw Bale Gathering 2011

Whether you are involved in straw bale building as a builder, architect, engineer, researcher, educator or apprentice, the ESBG is the central event for sharing latest developments, while also meeting and networking with your peers.

We were delighted to host this year’s bi-annual gathering at the PermaLot Centre of Natural Building in the Czech Republic, in the midst of our certified organic land trust. We aimed to continue the initial tradition of making ESBG one of the most environmental and socially sustainable international trade gatherings in existence.

Main Schedule

Tuesday 23/8: Optional tours of Slovak or Czech straw bale buildings. ESBG 2011 starts at 5 PM. Wednesday: Mainly practical workshops; skill sharing. Thursday: “Open Space” and “World Cafe”, knowledge sharing, discussions, work groups and consensus. Facilitated to make sure everyone has a chance to meet, network and ensure that the ESBG will help future cooperation across borders.

European Straw Bale Conference

On Friday 26/8 from 9 AM to 6 PM, open for ESBG participants and Czech/Slovakian public. An intense day filled with 17×18-minute TED-style talks about straw education, research and entrepreneurship. See the impressive detailed programme in PDF or start reading online:

You can download the conference slides and short movies presented during the talks.

E-Cohabitat

Saturday 27/8, open for public. A series of combined events; Natural Building workshops as part of our “4th annual National celebration of Natural Building”, supported by an eco-tradeshow with everything from building materials to diapers, and none the least an organic farmers market. We’ll officially finish the ESBG at 5 PM, but those staying during the evening can enjoy a mobile eco-cinema, as well as 25 illuminated hot-air balloons up by the castle.