Bale-Raising at the Sierra Valley Preserve
Saturday, September 30
8am–4pm
You’re invited to a bale-raising! The walls are going up at the new Nature Center at the Sierra Valley Preserve and you can be part of it! Register below.
Image courtesy of Arkin Tilt Architects
Image courtesy of Arkin Tilt Architects
FRLT/Kevin Stammerjohn
Event Details:
September 30
8am to 4pm
Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center in Beckwourth
Event Schedule:
- 8am: Volunteers arrive. Coffee and muffins provided.
- 8:30am: Orientation and brief introduction to straw bale construction.
- 9am: Work commences!
- 12pm: Lunch and cold drinks provided.
- 4pm: Work wraps up.
What to Bring: Work gloves, reusable water bottle, long pants and long sleeve shirt, closed toe shoes, and eye protection. Lunch will be provided. You may want to bring a camp chair for lunch and resting. More detailed information will be sent out via email before the event.
Where to meet: Participants are encouraged to carpool to the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center at 361 Austin Road, Beckwouth, CA. Here is a map to the location. (Detailed directions provided at registration.)
Participation Level: There will be ways for everyone to participate, but please let us know in the registration form below what level of physical participation you are comfortable with.
- 1: I can lift at least 30 pounds and don’t mind hard physical work.
- 2: I prefer something a little easier.
Age Restrictions: Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. All minors are restricted from high-risk tasks, such as working on ladders or using power tools. All minors need to have a parent or guardian sign a Liability Waiver before participating. Due to California law, anyone under the age of 16 is not allowed on an active construction site.
About the Project
The new Nature Center will host an array of public programs, a series of permanent exhibits and interpretive experiences, plus it will be a beautiful example of sustainable design techniques including solar power, water conservation and recycling, waste reduction and straw bale insulation!
The new Nature Center will feature straw bale insulated walls using the hybrid Straw-Cel method. With plywood and cellulose insulation between the studs on the exterior face, straw bales (sourced from The Nature Conservancy’s Staten Island Farm in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta) are stacked inboard of the wall for an R Value of 43 (indicates thermal performance), which is excellent for the harsh winters of Sierra Valley.
On September 30th, the Feather River Land Trust is looking for volunteers to help with the installation of the straw bale insultation. Anyone can help—from positioning bales, cutting bales, to sweeping floors—we have a job for you! And you’ll be part of a very special moment in the construction of the SVP Nature Center and leave your mark in the walls of the Preserve. Plus, you’ll learn about straw bale construction from some of the leaders in the field.
Questions? Contact Jenna Holland, Public Programs Manager at jholland@frlt.org.
Want to learn more about straw bale insulation? Check out California Straw Building Association (CASBA) or Patagonia’s short film on the process.
We look forward to seeing you on the preserve!
