We are a project of The Tides Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Please see our history, code update, and testing (coming soon!) pages for more information.
We are an all volunteer non-profit organization committed to straw bale building in California; providing information, education and a network of resources since 1996. Since 1996, our 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 Califo
05/29/2026
CASBA is pleased to have contributed to the Bio-Based Materials Collective's Materials Primer ... check it out (and download) a free copy at this link:
Resources Documents Bio- & Mineral-Based Materials Primer Download The Bio- & Mineral-Based Materials Primer is a guide for architects and designers working on larger buildings across North America. …
05/19/2026
Please join Friends of CASBA for a
Cob Garden Wall Finish Plaster Workshop
May 23, 2026
9am-5pm
Sunset District, San Francisco
Free!
05/16/2026
Please click below to donate to Leslie Jackson's Climate Ride Green Fondo effort. 100% of funds donated will to towards CASBA's ongoing Building Code and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) work on behalf of straw building.
Green Fondo Northern California 2026 Green Fondo Northern California 2026, a new Climate Ride cycling adventure, empowers you to actively engage in the fight against climate change. By joining in our bike rides you can join a community of awesome people while supporting nonprofits working on conservation, climate, clean energy, and act...
05/14/2026
Verdant Panel invites you to the factory opening for their straw based wall panel.
Saturday, May 16, 2:00 PM - 5:00 pm
Oakland, California
05/08/2026
Light Straw Clay Work Party
Grass Valley, CA
May 9-10 and/or May 16-17
Free
04/16/2026
Join Just Places and People First for their Strawbale Workshop and Fundraiser this weekend in Santa Cruz!
April 18 and April 19, 2026
03/26/2026
Join CASBA for some hands on learning opportunities this spring!
Registration available now for these three events:
Straw Bale Stacking Work Party, San Diego, CA, April 18-19
Fibra Clay Plaster Workshop, Berkeley, CA, April 24-26
Light Straw Clay Work Party, Grass Valley, CA, May 2026
03/25/2026
30th Anniversary SWAG now available! Order before 3.29 for delivery at the conference; between 3.30 and 4.30 for home delivery. Check it out! https://stores.inksoft.com/casba_store/shop/home
01/20/2026
Nice video featuring CASBA Professional Member Arkin Tilt Architects discussing their work with Straw ... check it out!
Farm to Wall: Building Sustainably with Arkin Tilt Architects For Arkin Tilt Architects, sustainability isn’t a trend—it’s the foundation of every project. Their signature “farm-to-wall” approach merges thoughtful desig...
01/08/2026
Our friends at Rocky Mountain Institute outline the future of building with Straw and other BioBased Materials!
Building with Biomass: A New American Harvest - RMI How manufacturing building products from domestically sourced upcycled biomass can create more jobs and affordable healthy housing