‘the last straw’

January 11, 2022

In Winter 1993 a publication entered the built environment , etching its name as a hallowed journal for straw as a construction material – The Last Straw.

Emanating from USA the first issue had a national/regional take on straw construction: structural testing in Tucson; construction of an eight sided strawbale house; the Genesis farm in New Jersey; training with school children, and venturing further north in Canada for fire testing.

It came as no surprise that as the world woke up to the benefits of working with this material The Last Straw went further afield and brought together the incremental parts of natural construction: other types of natural building materials, building codes/regulations, finance (insurance and mortgages). The more recent issues also took on an international perspective with news from across the globe too (issue #4 features modular systems at ‘The Great Straw Conference’ in Cirencester in England, 1993).

Our members were evangelical about The Last Straw, not just as a networking hub, but for its notable sources of information. Sadly the last edition was published in Spring 2017.

Imagine then, our joy in late 2021, as The Last Straw resurfaced on Instagram to announce that it was returning!

For those of you that do not possess these collectors’ items, worry not – click here for the newsletter and the archive of their journal. Welcome back, The Last Straw!

< Older Post

Newer Post >

How an Ecococon Straw Panel Home Performs in Use

By Cypren Edmunds • April 24, 2025

A lived-in look at seasonal comfort, heat loss and real-world performance in a straw panel home.

SBUK March Webinar - Timber framing for straw bale construction with Chris Hawker and Ben Nother

By Cypren Edmunds • March 29, 2025

Watch now: Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction

SBUK Webinar: Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction – 25th March

By Cypren Edmunds • March 11, 2025

Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction with Chris Hawker and Ben Nother 📅 **25 March 2025** 📍 **Online Event** Timber framing plays a crucial role in straw bale construction, influencing durability, efficiency, and design. In this session, Hawkland’s Chris Hawker and Ben Nother will share their expertise, using their latest build near Ross-on-Wye as a case study. They will explore: ✔️ The specific approach they have taken to constructing the timber frame ✔️ How their designs have evolved over the years ✔️ The reasoning behind their current method ✔️ A broader discussion on timber-frame vs load-bearing straw bale construction The session will conclude with a Q&A, offering the opportunity to gain insights from two of the UK’s leading practitioners in timber and straw construction.