CASBA

CASBA- California Straw Building Association-  is a non-profit organization whose members are designers,contractors, owner builders, and people interested in straw and natural building. CASBA serves as a clearing house for information and as a network of resources. Their mission statement is:

 "to further the practice of straw building by exchanging current information & practical experience, promoting and conducting research & testing, and making that body of knowledge available to working professionals and the public at large.” 

CASBA’s goal is to have a very real impact on how people build.

Since 1996, members have worked to develop testing and to improve techniques and standards for building with straw, in order to gain its acceptance by municipalities, officials, lenders, and insurance companies throughout California, and beyond. There are now many fine examples of permitted straw bale homes throughout the state, as well as a number of commercial buildings, which stand as a testament to this pioneering work. Members have worked diligently resulting in straw building was adopted into the International Building Code. Please see our history, code update, and testing pages for more information. 

CASBA members have not only broken new ground at home. Individually, through affiliations, some have been instrumental in bringing straw bale building to far-flung places around the globe: consulting, teaching, building, and collaborating – on projects to combat pollution, conserve resources, rebuild after natural disasters, and improve community services and housing in impoverished areas. 

Although a group with diverse professional backgrounds, members share similar hopes, dreams, and beliefs for building a better world through the wise use of natural materials, intelligent design, and stewardship of earths resources. This is what binds members together and gives a common language and spirit.