Transition Culture

Building with Strawbales - Barbara Jones (2002)

Building with Straw Bales - Barbara Jones. Green Books. (2002)

Barbara Jones is undoubtedly the leading authority on strawbale construction in the UK and Ireland. She has built over 30 structures, ranging from small sheds and workshops to stunning individual homes, and has been constantly inventing and pioneering new techniques and details. It is appropriate therefore, that she pens the first ‘homegrown’ book on strawbale construction.

Until now, almost all of the literature available on strawbale construction has been American, where the climate necessitates a different approach to detailing and design than would apply in, say, the rain lashed coasts of the west of Ireland. Although some books, (Magwood & Mack’s Straw Bale Building being the best example so far) have attempted to deal with this, this is the first book to offer the practical experience of a woman who has built on the Yorkshire Moors, Dartmoor and in the West of Ireland, to name but a few.

‘Building with Straw Bales’, to paraphrase those dire TV adverts, ‘does exactly what it says on the cover’. It is an excellent practical workbook, which covers all aspects of strawbale construction. Starting at the bottom with foundation details, she offers designs and details which she has evolved herself over many years of refinement and trial and error. She then looks at the different styles of wall raisings, and although her passion for the load bearing or ‘Nebraska’ style shines though, she is also honest about its limitations and the pros and cons of the other approaches. Her section on plasters and renders for strawbale is the best available in print, covering all the options, and the section on further reading and resources is comprehensive and thorough.

She also addresses the issues of planning, laying to rest many of the planning-related myths around strawbale (‘you’ll never get planning for it’, ‘they always turn those down’ etc). Her approach throughout is one of well-founded optimism, “here is a technique which works and which is wonderful, and here’s how to do it�. Although no book is an adequate replacement for doing a hands-on course or workshop, this book gives a very clear idea of the process involved in strawbale construction and would serve as the best on-site companion you could have, to refer to and to check with.

My only complaint about the book is that it could have more pictures. The pictures that there are are fine construction drawings which give a clear idea of the different building details , but do little to capture the spirit of people coming together to create shelter and to have fun which is one of the most appealing aspects of strawbale building. Barbara’s newsletter, Baling Out, featured a number of beautiful line drawings of people on straw bale wall raisings which don’t feature here but which would have added that. Also a photo gallery of completed buildings would have added to the inspirational nature of the book.

Barbara Jones has produced a brilliant resource for anyone wishing to explore this wonderful building technique, filled with wisdom, experience and common sense. This book is another invaluable addition to the indigenous body of wisdom relating to how we are to live sustainably in these isles.