Do you want to learn the knowledge and skills necessary to build passive solar and super insulated structures and heating systems using natural and local materials? Do you want to reduce your household energy cost? This workshop is a must for anybody looking to become self-reliant and more sustainable. Come learn from master builder Jim Schalles.
These two different workshops over two weekends back-to-back we will be hosting two different workshops at New Earth Farm & Goods. You can register for one workshop or receive a discount by registering for both.
These two different workshops over two weekends back-to-back we will be hosting two different workshops at New Earth Farm & Goods. You can register for one workshop or receive a discount by registering for both.

Jim Schalles is a professional natural builder and teacher born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He has spent the last 4 years refining his techniques with various earthen builders of the Pacific Northwest and is proficient in cob, adobe, earthen plasters, and straw clay retrofitting with an emphasis on straw bale construction and masonry heaters/ cook stoves. He is a member of the Masonry Heaters Association of North America and has studied under and co-taught with the inventor of the rocket stove (Ianto Evans of Cob Cottage Company) as well as some of the other most influential rocket stove builders in the world including Ernie and Erica Wisner, Kirk Mobert and Peter Van den Berg. Jim is passionate about bringing straw bale architecture back to its birthplace of Nebraska and is an advocate and activist for sustainable building practices as well as for clean wood burning and other appropriate technologies.
Straw Bale Workshop (July 31-Aug 2)

Straw Bale Architecture originated in the sand hills of Nebraska in the early 1900’s and is currently experiencing a global revival. Straw bales give us a safe and sensible alternative to many of today’s high embodied energy and toxic building materials. Providing both strong walls capable of supporting a roof load, as well as unsurpassed insulation, straw bales are the common sense solution for builders of the Great Plains. Join us for a hands on 3 day workshop covering foundations, straw bale wall systems, cob mixing, passive solar design, roofing systems and earthen plasters as we erect a straw bale chicken coop. Use the techniques you learn from this workshop for erecting your own chicken coop or apply your skills to build a shed, a tiny home, or pair with our rocket stove workshop and plan your sustainable straw bale sauna! Onsite camping is available and organic meals are provided. Tuition price is set at $150 although some scholarships may be available. In addition, an early bird price of $130 is available to students who register before May 15th. Class size is limited to 12 students so sign up today!
Rocket Stove Workshop (Aug 7-9)

Rocket Stoves are a self empowering, clean way to generate a lot of heat with a small amount of fire wood. Featuring a design that encourages complete combustion, rocket stoves are a low emission alternative to heating your home. Rocket stoves are a simple and easy to learn adaptation of a masonry heater, acting on the principles of heat storage and conservation. Join us in unleashing the inner pyromaniac as we reacquaint ourselves with fire. After attending this 3 day workshop, you will have the necessary skills and understanding to build a rocket mass heater for yourself, as well as some tricks to show off at your next campfire. Come learn the basics of fire science, the design principles of a rocket stove (both for cooking and heating), and the technique of cob construction as we come together to create a rocket stove with an attached earthen bench. Onsite camping is available and organic meals are provided. Tuition price is set at $150 although some scholarships may be available. In addition, an early bird price of $130 is available to students who register before May 1st. Class size is limited to 12 students so sign up today!