See our straw bale holiday accomodation: www.strawcottage.co.uk

About Home Grown Home

 

Meet our experienced team of straw bale builders, trainers and advisors.

 

Carol Atkinson, MSc: Arch, N Sch

In March 2005, as part of her “mid-life reassessment” Carol enrolled on an MSc Architecture course at The Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales where she was introduced to the environmental benefits of building with straw. In 2006/07 Carol designed and built the Straw Bale Cabin and researched its remarkable thermal performance over the following year.

 

In 2008/09 Carol and Sam (see below) built the larger Straw Bale Cottage, adding greatly to their straw bale knowledge and experience.

 

Carol regularly talks about straw bale building to enthusiastic audiences around the country, tailoring her presentations for young and old, professional and general interest accordingly.

 

She provides theoretical and practical training on an individual or group basis, on our premises or on yours. She can advise at all stages of the design and construction of straw bale buildings.

 

In 2009 Carol was honoured with a travel scholarship by the Nuffield Farming Trust to study straw bale building around the world. The award was kindly sponsored by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. Follow Carol’s travels on her blog.

 

 

Sam Atkinson

Sam is a qualified joiner and CAD technician. He spent much of his spare time helping to build the Straw Bale Cabin and has worked extensively on the Straw Bale Cottage.

 

He prepared detailed and accurate construction drawings at every stage of the build and carried out all the carpentry, brick laying and roof tiling work. He has lime rendered, clay plastered and made the windows, doors, kitchen units and some of the furniture.

 

Sam has delivered hands on training sessions in straw bale building, lime rendering and clay plastering.

 

 

 

 

Julie Mainprize

Julie has been a treasured friend and helper with both the Straw Bale Cabin and the Straw Bale Cottage. She gets stuck into bale building, and the lime and clay plastering with great enthusiasm. With a keen eye, attention to detail and a great sense of humour, she is an asset to any project.

 

Julie has guided and trained the many budding straw bale builders and lime and clay plasterers attending our courses.