Straw is the dry stalk of cereal plants like barley, oats, rye and wheat, which is left over after the grains have been removed. It makes up for approximately half of the total crop yield, which makes for a rich source of natural building materials.

The career outlook for a straw bale construction career is excellent. They make on average $40-$60 thousand a year.

What It Is

Straw bale construction uses straw to build residential and commercial structures that are energy efficient and eco-friendly. It continues to gain adherents because of its use of natural building materials, its relative ease in learning the necessary methods, and its wide applications.

Why It Is Green

In the United States alone, 200 million tons of straw are disposed through burning that generate massive quantities of carbon dioxide. Thus, the use of straw bale in construction aids in protecting the Earth's environment by making full use of its natural resources and in reducing air pollution.

Also, straw bale is a good insulating agent that aids in lesser energy outputs. With its virtually inexhaustible supply and ease of transportation, straw bale construction is as green a career as anybody can have.

What You Need To Have

Fortunately for individuals who want to become professionals in the industry, straw bale construction do not demand building-related degree courses like architecture and engineering. Indeed, prior construction and design experience are not required of individuals to succeed in straw bale construction.

However, individuals do need to possess personal qualities like willingness to learn new things, face challenges in a professional manner and the flexibility to adapt to advances in straw bale construction. With the variety of people who want straw bale houses, you need to be able to deal with various situations if you are to succeed as a professional in this industry.

What You Will Learn

There are online websites and technical colleges offering training and courses on straw bale construction. Of course, you can always learn at the hands of a master without benefit of formal classes.

If you do enroll in courses, you will be provided with classroom and on-field instructions on basic design principles, styles and techniques used, qualities of structures, evaluation of straw bales, and building codes.

Straw Bale Construction Resources

*Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods Earth Plaster * Straw Bale * Cordwood * Cob * Living Roofs
*The Straw Bale House (A Real Goods Independent Living Book)
*Serious Straw Bale: A Home Construction Guide for All Climates (Real Goods Solar Living Book)
*More Straw Bale Building: A Complete Guide to Designing and Building with Straw (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)
*Buildings of Earth and Straw: Structural Design for Rammed Earth and Straw-Bale Architecture

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