Pennsylvania Welcome Packet

7/28/2019 Pennsylvania Welcome Packet

1/7

SEVEN DAY COMPREHENSIVE

STRAW BALE WORKSHOP

WELCOME PACKET

2013 SEASON


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WELCOME PACKET

HelloandthanksforsigningupforyourSevenDayComprehensiveStrawBaleWorkshop!I'mglad

youhavedecidedtojoinus.Pleasetakeafewminutestoreviewthiswelcomepacketasitisfullof

important information. Please print a copy or better yet, save an electronic copy onto your

computer,soyoucanaccesstheinformationlaterasweapproachthestartdateoftheworkshop.

I have included several documents here for you to review. They are all part of "the next step"

towardsattendingtheworkshop.Thefirstpartofthepacketitawelcomeletterfromthehost.Init,

youwilllearnalittleabouttheprojectfromthehostthemselvesandyou'llalsofinddirectionsto

thesiteandacontactemailforthehostsincaseyouhaveanyquestionsforthemdirectly.

Ihavealsoattachedalistofthingstobringwithyoutotheworkshop.Someofyoumaybeflyingto

thelocationandsolimitedonluggagespace.Intheend,youcandecidewhattobringandwhatto

leaveathome,butpleasedoreviewthelistsoyouhaveasenseofwhatwillbeneeded.

Westarteachmorningwithcoffee(ifyoudrinkit),tea,andbreakfastat8amandwestartworkon

thebuildingeachdayat9 am.Webreak for lunchat1pmanddinnerat6pm.Thosetimesmay

changeifwearenotataspecificstoppingpointrightat1or6.We'reusuallyprettyclose,butsome

flexibilityisappreciated.

You'rewelcometoarrivethenightbeforetheofficialstartoftheworkshoptogetsetupandready

forthenextday.Wewillfinishupnolaterthan4pmonthefinaldayoftheworkshop.Onceagain,

you'rewelcometostayanothernightifthatmakesyourtravelplanseasier.Therewillnotbemeals

providedonthenightpriortooraftertheworkshop,soyouwillneedtoprepareforthat.

Pleasemakesuretosendyourfinaltuitionpaymentinnolaterthan4weekspriortothestartofthe

workshop.I'llsendyouanemailroughlyfiveweeksaheadofthestartdateasareminderaswell.If

youprefer,youcansimplycopythelinkbelowintoyourbrowserandpayatanytime.

http://www.profcs.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=664D8161-B010-4538-9FA1-

5643516E376E&pid=66c6d43c6307495098c17c42a671bc69&bn=1

Thanksagainforsigningup.Ilookforwardtomeetingyousoon.Pleasedon'thesitatetocontactmeifyouhavequestionsabouttheclass.

Andrew

StrawBaleInnovations,LLC

POBox3145

Ashland,OR97520


3/7

Greetings!

First of all, thanks for signing up for our straw bale workshop in beautiful Northwest

PennsylvaniaoutsideofthetownofMeadville.Withourworkshopjustaroundthecorner,we

thoughtitwouldbehelpfultohavespecificinfoaboutus,yourhostfamily,andtheareatohelp

withtravelpreparationsforcampingandenjoyingyourselfwhilevisiting.

We are a young family of five. Peter is a research scientist working for Pennsylvania State

UniversityandMaryisinchargeofraisingthefoodandthechildren-Rosariaage7,Jamesage

6,andStella3.MaryisoriginallyfromsouthernIllinoisandalwayswantedtoliveinthecountry.

Petergrewupontheveryfarmwewillbebuildingon,andwearebothhappytobecoming

hometolandandfamily.Weenjoytheoutdoorsverymuch.Welovetogarden,cook,andeat

andweplanonmakingplentyoffreshlocalfoodforyouduringyourtimewithus.

BasicAccommodations:

Plentyoftentcampingspaceisavailableinthemixedpasturelandnearthesite,aswellassome

spaceforsmallRV's.Pleasebringyourowntentandgear.Wewillhaveport-a-pottiesavailable

aswellasanoutdoorshowerfacility.Pleasebringyourowntowels,soap,etc.

Forthosewhoprefernottocamp,thereisaHolidayInnExpress,DaysInn,andaQualityInn

fairlyclosebyattheMeadvilleexitoffI-79.Pleaseseethosehotels'websitesforlocationsand

booking.Ifyouwantsomethingalittlemorecozy,therearesomeBedandBreakfasts'available

inMeadville,seewww.bedandbreakfast.com/meadville-pennsylvania.htmlformoreinfo.

Food/Dining:

Wewillsetupacovereddiningareawithtablesandchairsincaseweencounteranyweather.

Maryisagreatcook,asisPeter'sItalianfamily,andwecan'twaittoshareourloveoffoodwith

you.Weplanonhavinghotbreakfasts,aswellascereals,freshbread,fruitandyogurt,with

plentyofgoodcoffeeandteaavailable.

Wehaveaterrificdinnermenuplanned,featuringsomeofthebestlocalmeatsandproduce.

Vegetarianoptionswillbeavailableforallmeals.Wewillalsoprovidetastyhomemadesnacks

andfruit,aswellasaheartyluncheveryday. Ifyouhaveanyspecialdietaryrestrictions(food

allergies,vegan,etc.)pleasebesuretoletusknowearlysowecanplanaccordingly.

ThingstoDo:

Thereisplentytodoaftertheworkingdayisdoneifyou'refeelingenergetic.Welivenearthe

Ernstbiketrail,aswellasclosetoGenevaMarsh,afavoriteofbird-watchers,naturalistsand

kayakers.Thereisapublicboatlaunchjustdowntheroad.Weplantohaveafirepitandwood

available for campfires as well. We encourage anyone who wishes to bring instruments or

voicesandcampchairsforrelaxing.Wearehopingforsunshineandwarmweatherthroughout


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the week for good working conditions.We should have days in the 70's, but in September

Pennsylvaniacanseesomechillynights(40F)orrainyweather.Comepreparedforeitherwith

layersandjacketsaswellashatsforsunprotection.

Transportation:

Forthosedriving,wearejustoffI-79.Googlemapusat6903ShaferRoad,Meadvile,PA.Our

siteisthedrivejustdownthehillontheright,pastthefarmhouseat6903.

ForthoseflyingintheclosestairportswouldbePittsburghInternationalAirport(~90minutes)

orErieAirport(45minutes).Clevelandairportisalsoanoption,thoughitis2+hoursaway.

Contactuswithotherspecificquestionsifneededatalexandra.burkett@gmail.com

Wearelookingforwardtoagreatstrawbaleworkshop!Thanksforhelpingusbuildourdream!

MaryandPeter


5/7

Andrew'sListofWhattoBring:

Thisisonlyapartiallist:speakingtothethingsIthinkyouwillneed.Pleasepackwhateveryou

thinkyou'llneedtobecomfortable.

1. SleepingBag(atleastforaveragetemps.given)2. SleepingPad3. Tent4. Plate,Bowl,Cup,Silverware(Thisisamust.Ifyoucanbringextras,pleasedo)5. WaterBottle6. Camera7. SunHatand/orSunscreen8. Flashlight9. LongSleeveShirt(Thiskeepsthestrawfromaggravatingyourskinwhilebaling.)10.LongPants(Samereasonasabove.)11.WorkGloves12.SwimSuit(youneverknow!)13.EveningCampClothes(ifyouarecamping)14.RainGear(again,youneverknow!)15.NotebookandPen16.Towel17.HikingShoes/Boots18.SkinCreamforDryPlasteringHands19.FoldingCampChair20.MusicalInstruments21.

KneePads

22.InsectRepellantorEquivalent23.WhiteVinegar(toneutralizelimeplasterincuts!)

RequiredTools

1. PlasterHawkandTrowel(nonotchedtrowels)2. UtilityKnife3. TapeMeasure4. Hammer5. SafetyGlasses6. DustMask7. HearingProtection

InthepastIhaveaskedpeopletobringsimpletoolsliketinsnipsandwirecuttersiftheyfeltso

inclined to bring something other than those items listed above; however, the last few

workshopshavemadeitcleartomethatIshouldaskpeopletobringwhatevertoolstheywant.

Ifyouhavesomethingyouthinkwouldbeuseful,you'rewelcometobringit.


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Pleasebeawarethatotherparticipantsintheworkshopmayuseanyextratoolsyoubring.I

recommendmarkingyourtoolsinsomefashionsothattheyareeasytocollectattheendof

theweek.I'vealsoattachedatoollistbelowtogiveyouanideaofwhatwe'llbelikelytouse.

Again,youdon'thavetobringanythingotherthantherequiredtoolsnotedabove;however,

themoretoolswehave,theeasierandfasterthebuild!WorkshopToolList(RecommendationsOnly)

Thetoolslistedbelowarethoserequiredofthehost(partiallist).Ifyouhaveanyofthesetools

orothersthatyouthinkwouldbehelpfulfortheclass,pleasebringthemifyouaresoinclined.

Beawarethatotherpeoplewillbeusingyourtoolssobesuretomarkthemsothatyoucan

easilyidentifythemwhentheworkshopisover.

MasonryHammerDrill(1) Wrenchfortighteningfoundationbolts/nuts(1) 4Shovelsforgravelintoeups CircularSaw(1) Mitersaw(1) Sawzall(reciprocatingsaw)(1) 4AngleGrinderwith25metalcuttingwheels(notgrindingwheels) 2pairsTinSnips(besuretogetthosethatcutbothdirections(rightandleftsidecuts.

Somecutstraightandasetortwoofthosewouldbegoodtoo)

2PairsLinesman'sPliers Chalkline(1) 4Chainsaws(2gaschainsawsand2electric) ChainsawSharpeningFile(1) Framingnailguncapableofshooting8dand16dnails(1) Minimum50'airhose(4)(100'aregreattooandhelpreachdifferentdirectionsfrom

thecompressor)

AirCompressorcapableofrunning4airtoolsatonce 16GaugeStapleGunsthatshoot7/16"crownx13/4"longstaples Hammerstaplers(4)forapplyingroofingfelt MultipleExtensioncords 2setsofsawhorses 2StringTrimmers(Weedwhackers) Garbagecans IkeaShoppingBags(BigBags,PerfectforStuffingStraw) Rakesandbroomsforsitecleanup(blower/vacisbetterifavailable...inaddition) Four8PlateTampers MortarMixer(PaddleMixer)NOTaconcretemixer Wheelbarrows(2) PlasterScratchToolScarifier


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5gallonbuckets(4) OldYogurtContainerLids(4) Scaffoldingasrequiredforthebuilding(2@2x12x20+balesisokayforlowwalls)

Straw Bale Innovations, LLC

Andrew MorrisonManaging Member

PO Box 3145

Ashland, OR 97520

www.StrawBale.com

E: [email protected]

P: 541-944-9003

M: 541-890-3957

Pennsylvania Welcome Packet

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