Covid 19 Announcement: We will be continuing to evaluate if and when this apprenticeship may be possible. Please let us know if you are interested and we will stay in touch! Stay Healthy!
Join us in the beautiful woods of NH for a month of hands on learning. We have room for six apprentices who are serious about learning and practicing straw bale, cob and earthen plaster building techniques in the context of a real job setting.
We will be learning and practicing all techniques associated with bale wall assembly including: stacking, securing, shaping, prepping for clay & lime plaster, cob rough coat, sculpting, window and door details, electrical, and mixing and applying plasters. There may be opportunities for learning lime plastering techniques as well for those interested. You will be working with the natural building team 35 hours/week on the construction of a high efficiency, hybrid timber frame home with straw bale infill walls located in a beautiful, rural setting.
We will be learning and practicing all techniques associated with bale wall assembly including: stacking, securing, shaping, prepping for clay & lime plaster, cob rough coat, sculpting, window and door details, electrical, and mixing and applying plasters. There may be opportunities for learning lime plastering techniques as well for those interested. You will be working with the natural building team 35 hours/week on the construction of a high efficiency, hybrid timber frame home with straw bale infill walls located in a beautiful, rural setting.
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The foundation, timber frame, and roof will be completed prior to your arrival. There will be camping for apprentices to live on site, sleeping in their own tent and sharing an outdoor shower, kitchen and composting toilet facilities. This is a rural, heavily forested site abutting thousands of acres of forest and conservation land. The site is located in central NH, 25 minutes to Concord and an hour and a half drive from Boston MA.
The foundation, timber frame, and roof will be completed prior to your arrival. There will be camping for apprentices to live on site, sleeping in their own tent and sharing an outdoor shower, kitchen and composting toilet facilities. This is a rural, heavily forested site abutting thousands of acres of forest and conservation land. The site is located in central NH, 25 minutes to Concord and an hour and a half drive from Boston MA.
Driveway to house site
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House site
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Stipend
The apprenticeship includes a $250/week paid stipend. No prior straw bale or construction experience necessary, only a strong work ethic, commitment to learning and willingness to be a part of the team. This will be an on-the-job learning experience for six individuals.
Expectations
This project is on a timeline, and apprentices will be expected to help the team reach the goal of completion by being on time and sticking to schedule. Weekends and evenings outside the workday can be used as apprentices like but everyone is expected to be punctual and fit for work 9-5, 5 days a week. Apprentices must be willing to commit for the entire 4 weeks of the apprenticeship.
Goals
We want you to leave the course feeling proficient and prepared to create your own straw bale walls or help others do the same. We want to create a supportive, fun and productive group learning and living experience for all involved. We want to create a beautiful structure to be enjoyed for years to come!
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Housing
Camping in your own tent will be available with ‘Yurt Village’ serving as the shared kitchen and common space. Yurt village is an off-grid camp comprised of two yurts, a screened in breeze way, a rustic composting toilet, and a simple kitchen with propane fridge and rain water collection. Included in apprentice duties will be rotating through community tasks associated with off grid living such as pumping water, compost toilet maintenance, power management, cleaning and other tasks associated with group living.
Yurt village
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Nearby garden
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Application process Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Space is limited and may fill up in advance of our May 1st deadline. We encourage people to sign up early. After receiving your application you will be contacted for an interview. If accepted you will be asked to put down a $100 deposit as a sign of your commitment that will be refunded at the end of the course. |
About the Instructors
Bret Ingold
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Bret has been involved in a variety of natural building projects around the world since 2010 when he first apprenticed with MudStrawLove building a straw bale home in Delaware. Since then he has experimented on his own and for work with a variety of materials and structures including earthen bag, cob, rammed earth, cordwood masonry, slip straw, as well as yurts and geo-domes. Bret is one of the original founders of RISE Now and has led many group projects, teams and communities in building projects with the organization. As a sculptor, he really enjoys “the organic and sculptural process of cob and earthen plaster on straw bales. It is super meditative and satisfying.”
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Bryan Feliz
Bio coming soon!
