Northern Alberta Baleheads

["Simply Straw Ltd." <straw@oanet.com>]

Hello everyone:

Last summer, when Rob and I worked with an environmental youth camp to build
a garden shed in the inner city of Edmonton, we discovered something about
ourselves....our love of teaching young people the possibilities of
sustainable housing and all the connected issues.  They are so passionate
about the environment and their rights to their chosen lifestyle!

A while back there were a few people looking for bale builders in Alberta
and we have had so many people call us here in Stony Plain.  Rob and I have
spent the last few months sorting through our thoughts and deciding what
we'd like to do with our involvement in straw bale construction.

Our first love is teaching, especially young people, and so we've decided to
turn our small 12 acres into an education facility here in Northern Alberta.
We will teach seminars and workshops while constructing dormitories and
small outbuildings here.  Some of our outbuildings will be animal related,
and we're going to add the element of animal housing to our little
acreage...I can't wait for the little lambs!!

Our straw bale house is cozy, and with the rising gas costs, our neighbours
continually ask what our bill is.  The gas co-op continually over-estimates
our usage.

We have contacts here for all resources needed for bale construction and are
so excited about the possibilities.  I'm sorry for the shameless
advertising, we are so excited I wanted to let you all know.  After 6 years
and as many buildings, we feel a little more comfortable with our knowledge.

We have formed a company....Simply Straw Ltd.  and are looking forward to a
wonderful summer.  We're working on a web site, and co-ordinating now our
spring schedule for seminars.  This summer, we will host two workshops, more
given time and will consult with people on their own designs.  Our
experience has show us that there is always something new to learn, and we
love the learning.

We know the list is not for shameless self promotion and this is only meant
to let Alberta builders know that there is help close by and to give us a
call.

We have seminars scheduled for March 3,  31 and May 5th this year.  There is
an attachment to this e-mail in Word, so if you have that program, it will
open up.  If not, just contact us for the information.

I am going to unsubscribe from our old e-mail address and use this one from
now on.

Thank you to all of you for your continued dedication to straw bale
construction.  You are an inspiration.

Lorie Saito


Rob and Lorie Saito
Simply Straw Ltd.
Box 21, Site 502, RR 5
Stony Plain, AB, Canada
T7Z 1X5
phone/fax   780-963-0611
e-mail    straw@oanet.com

2001 seminar flyer 2.doc