Remember the fable of the three little pigs? It turns out not only did they fear the wrong wolf, but they also didn't really know how to build with straw or other natural materials!

Climate change is the big bad wolf baying at the door and the kind of building methods and materials we choose can have a profound impact on the environment.

Straw bales are the perfect building material for the 21st century! They're bio-based and extremely low impact. We can greatly reduce our dependence on non-renewable materials like sand and gravel and high carbon options like cement and concrete. Straw-bale buildings can last for aeons if they are built with care and maintained well. The oldest known straw bale house is in Nebraska, in the USA and it was built in 1903! Straw-bale buildings have also proven incredibly resilient to earthquakes, hurricane-force winds and wildfires.

Yes, they are suitable even for wet climates and people in developing countries. If you'd like to learn the technicalities of building a robust strawbale building, sign up for this free bilingual French / English MOOC (massive online open course). The course is generously brought to us by Straw-Bale Building United Kingdom and their partner organisations sponsored by a European project (UP STRAW). It is aimed at designers (architects, design offices, construction economists) but also builders (masons, carpenters), wishing to discover straw insulation or deepen their knowledge. It may also be of interest to students in training or anyone wishing to learn more about straw construction. Registration closes on 19/02/2021. So hurry and book your seat.