Dear International 'Balers',

Here's an update on the latest ESBG development:

New web page: http://www.slamenestavitelstvi.cz/ , (means straw bale building), which not only links to the ESBG, but is also designed to unify all information about straw bale building in Czech Republic. It got introduced today through a Czech press release which promotes some of the following events:

*The optional tours during Tuesday are still a little up in the air, due to lack of registration for them; we may limit it to only one tour; the one touring Czech straw bale passive homes, but add a visit to www.claygar.cz to see fabrication of commercial earthen plaster and C.E.B. with an Oskam press.

*During one of the Wednesday workshops we'll construct the first public building out of straw bales: in cooperation with locals and the municipality we have arranged that we'll build a hexagon straw bale bus stop based on Tom Rijven's design and C.U.T. technique (wooden elements will be pre-fab). We'll get closer to finalizing it during Saturday 27/8. Another workshop will be led by Kuba Wihan, who'll show how to insulate a 130 year old stone wall with custom made bales. We encourage other participants to join and lead workshops; please contact us and we'll find a place and materials to apply your specialty....green roofs anyone?   The DragOn sprayer is on it's way... Fano is in charge of workshops.

*We are now in process of getting the first contributions for topics by participants for the Open Door event on the Thursday, and we welcome suggestions from anyone, (also folks not joining the ESBG) for serious topics to be discussed during the 'World Cafe' planned for Thursday night. Which topics do we need international input and decision on? Is the time right for a European SB umbrella organization? For European wide 'open door at SB homes'? SB education?  Let us know; we aim to get work groups established, just like what happened at ESBG07. This will also be the event for participants to debate the location of ESBG13......Any suggestions? (Greenland?). Zorka/David are the central facilitators.

*The Friday ESBC-onference has shaped up very nicely, as you can see on the new online conference presentation Thomas just made: http://www.slamenestavitelstvi.cz/esbg/index.html Our technician team, Tomas and Stanislav, is planning every detail of the simultaneous translated event hosted by the nearby municipality (Quite suiting in the old vaulted pig-pen of the castle!), and we hope all presentations will be ready in good time to create an impressive event. We have found a poster printing sponsor, and we're about to contact participants of all of the 22 different countries to arrange to have all make their own A1 digital version of a national SB poster which we'll print for the ESBG. All of the ESBG, and espeicially the conference will be filmed by Michal.


*Friday night the magnificent Bouzov castle is cooperating with us about hosting a concert with the celtic music band www.poitin.cz, to the extend that they event offered that participants only joining for the concert may sleep in the castle park! We have a feeling it's going to be a night to remember; you even have the option to go for a guided night tour of the castle (for a surcharge). Martina is in charge of this.

*During Saturday we'll continue with the workshops, but as it's a weekend with hot air balloons over Bouzov and many visitors, we also host an E-Cohabitat event with farmers market and a large variation of exhibitors, from natural building supplies to organic personal care. ...oh, and a mobile eco-cinema! [Let us know if you want to rent a stall for your products]. We'll officially finalize the ESBG around 4 pm, the E-Cohabitat around 5 pm, but a few house after there's a party around the balloons by the castle for those who's not rushing home...
Petra manages E-Cohabitat.

*And those of you for those of you heading home (and able to use online translation services) may want to enjoy this list of homes open for public visit on Sunday 28/7,  http://www.slamenestavitelstvi.cz/navsteva/ This part is run by Jan F. and Tomas.

...But you'll be missing out, 'cause ESBG 2011 is changing the construction sites in C.R. this summer:
Some of you will stay for our EU sponsored 10 day workshop focused on learning all about Big Bale Building from 1-10/9, (Apply here: http://permalot.org/en/Application+BBBB ) others may opt to join Tom Rijven's hexagon C.U.T. SB building workshop by the border of CZ/SK before and after the ESBG, or perhaps a visit to the home of Franta, our cook to help him and Kuba making a 'straw hat' (insulation) on a house, or join the Amazonail workshop hosted by Kuba, Ray and Barbara later in September?

Naturally, all of the above takes a lot of practical work input to establish. Should some of you be able to lend a hand before the ESBG it'll be much appreciated, (though we're very limited in our ability to give ESBG discounts). I'm on top (!?) of infrastructure.

For those of you still wanting to join the fun: head on to http://www.slamenestavitelstvi.cz/ and click on the registration link; Lea will help you from there. Be aware that there's good possibilities for car and accommodation share; there's online lists to register on. Lea and Blanka are in charge of these issues.

May your bales be dry and your mud wet,

On behalf of the ESBG team: Lea, Martina, Blanka, Zorka, David, Radka, James, Fano, Honza, Honza, Thomas, Ales, Stanislav, Franta
-Max-