2026 Theory Course Schedule

We're launching a range of dates and formats for these vital theory seminars - If you would like to mix and match dates, please send an email to hello@schoolofnaturalbuilding.co.uk

The School of Natural Building (SNaB) is proud to present our in-depth seminar series designed to give you total confidence in your straw bale building project - from finding the land to applying the final plaster.

Taught by the UK's leading straw bale expert, Barbara Jones, these courses are perfect for:

• Self-Builders: Individuals and families planning to build their own sustainable, low-cost home.

• Design Professionals: Architects, engineers, and designers looking to master straw bale techniques and offer high-demand sustainable services.

• Beginners & Experienced Builders: Anyone interested in sustainable architecture and deep-dive technical knowledge.

We have four, complimentary seminars, each lasting one day. Each day runs from 10am till 4pm and are hosted at the Tod College in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. 

What Makes This Masterclass Series Essential?

• The Complete Journey: We cover every single aspect: land, planning, design, technical details, project management, and natural finishes.

• Affordability Focus: Learn practical steps to save money on foundations, materials, and long-term energy costs.

• The Confidence to Begin: Leave with a clear plan, a solid knowledge base, and the ability to manage your project successfully.

Preparing to Build with Bales - Friday 9th October

This seminar is your project management playbook. Learn the techniques needed to keep your build on track, on budget, and up to standard. We turn the overwhelming process of starting a build into manageable steps.

You Will Cover These Essentials:

• Financial Strategy: How to secure Green Mortgages and Insurance for natural builds.

• Land & Planning: Finding suitable land and navigating the complex legal approvals for Planning and Building Control.

• Cost & Resource Management: Managing budgets, resources, and all stages of your build project.

• New Housing Models: The increasing importance of Community Land Trusts and Co-housing.

• Case Studies: Real-world straw bale builds with a variety of approaches: Contractor led, self-built, hybrid and integrating practical courses.

Design your Straw Bale Building - Saturday 10th October

Save critical time and money by learning how to design with the bale in mind. This essential preparation ensures your plans are buildable, efficient, and beautiful, whether you are a self-builder or a professional designer.

On This Course You Will Learn:

• Bale Basics: A brief history and how to identify high-quality, optimal building bales.

• Modular Design: Designing with the bale's dimensions to minimise waste and labour.

• Structural Planning: Locating posts and frame elements correctly in infill buildings.

• Modern Methods: Understanding straw bale panels for prefabricated and modular buildings.

• Site-Specific Customisation: Techniques for shaping and 'dressing' bales on site.

Straw Bale Technical Details - Friday 16th October

Ready to start, but still unsure about those make-or-break details? This deep-dive workshop covers the technical specifics you didn't know to ask about. Submit your specific questions to Barbara beforehand for live answers during the sessions.

The Course Will Cover:

• Foundations That Save You Money: Natural foundation systems and the key difference between plinths and foundations.

• Weatherproofing & Durability: The critical role of drip edges and robust weather protection.

• Airtightness: Achieving superior airtight doors and windows without expensive tapes.

• Internal Fittings: Practical solutions for attaching wall cupboards, sockets, and heavy fixtures to straw walls.

• Advanced Techniques: Load-bearing vs. infill compression, and how to execute the challenging "roof first" method.

An Introduction to Natural Plasters - Saturday 17th October

Worried about the climate emergency and your home's air quality? Natural plasters (lime and clay) are central to a healthy, low-carbon home. This course connects you to historical, sustainable practices and their modern application.

You Will Gain an Understanding of:

• Decarbonisation: Playing your part in reducing housing stock carbon emissions with natural materials.

• Healthy Air: Achieving superior indoor air quality and how lime and clay naturally regulate humidity - say goodbye to mould and condensation.

• Why Lime Works: The natural cycle of lime, its history, and why it outperforms cement.

• Practical Application: Realistic cost expectations and how to create clay plasters from earth.

Each 1-day seminar is priced at £110 with discounts available when you attend two consecutive days or all 4 seminars:

We endeavour to make our courses and events affordable to all. If you cannot afford the cost of the course, please get in contact to see how we can accommodate you. See full Terms and Conditions here.

Partner Discount **New for 2026**

We recognise that many folks are embarking on this straw building journey in a couple or partnership. For this reason we are offering partners a 50% discount off the full course price, with a purchase of the full masterclass. This is reserved for those who are truly planning to build together so you can be equally prepared for this exciting journey.

ABOUT BARBARA JONES:

Barbara is the founder of SNaB (@schoolofnaturalbuilding), and the UK’s pre-eminent straw-bale building authority. She has decades of experience with straw bale building, clay and lime plastering, building physics and leading work on building sites across the UK and Europe. Her book, 'Building with Straw Bales; A Practical Manual for Self-Builders and Architects' is considered the essential guide to building with straw, and Barbara brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to every course. She will ensure course participants have a wonderful learning experience.

ABOUT TOD COLLEGE

Following a 5-year campaign, this former vocational college was transferred into community ownership from Calderdale Council in 2021. The centre functions as a community hub and learning centre, with a focus on sustainability. The building is fully accessible and boasts a variety of spaces for all sorts of uses. The college is a short walk from Todmorden station, which has regular direct trains to Manchester (25 mins) and Leeds (1 hour). There is car parking space at the college and locally.

TRANSPORTATION:

The School of Natural Building believes in the urgency of the climate challenge, and our work is fundamentally about supporting a low-carbon future where people live in ways which bring us closer to the earth, back into community with our ecosystem and back to ourselves. For this reason, we urge participants to travel to our course locations via public or shared transport where possible. We'll connect course participants via a voluntary WhatsApp group in advance of the course, to facilitate ride-sharing.

BOOKING:

There are limited places on this course, and booking is essential. Please use the button below to pay and secure your place. Please note that for insurance reasons, all participants must be 16 or over. We look forward to meeting you, but if you have any questions ahead of attending, please email schoolofnaturalbuilding@gmail.com.