This webpage replaces the Straw Bale Construction Journal you may have visited in the past. All of the same material is here but it is now arranged in the format of our new website. If you're interested in straw bale construction please consider visiting our Straw Bale Construction Workshop and Straw Bale Construction Consulting websites

Anita, Melissa, and I took up residence in our two storey load bearing straw bale house on September 12, 2003. On July 15, 2005 Lily was born. In September 2006 Melissa left to attend McMaster University.

This is where the original content from the Straw Bale Construction Journal begins.

Yes, we ARE building with straw bales.

Yes, we HAVE heard the one about the three little pigs.

Our website is visited by over 2000 people a month from over 60 countries around the world. If you are one of those 2000 people (and you must be if you are reading this) please drop me a short note to let me know who you are and where you are from and what your interest in straw bale construction is. Say "hello"!

A picture of us in 2001 with the straw that
would eventually become out house.

Anita, Melissa, and I started building our two storey load bearing (Nebraska Style) straw bale house in May 2002. We took six months off from January to June of 2003 and moved in September 12, 2003. Our house is 4032 square feet (according to the Ontario Building Code) but only has about 2800 square feet of usable floor space (since we've got 21" of wall thickness all around on two floors and a large chunk of the second floor deck was left out to form a large great room. Ben Polley of Harvest Homes acted as our straw bale construction consultant and Harvest Homes was our plaster sub-contractor. Ben did excellent work on our home and we would highly recommend him for your project if you are fortunate enough to find time in his schedule.

You will find the pictures and narrative in the Journal link above.