This 10-week course empowers participants to build a small agricultural structure (<600 sq. ft.) using sustainable techniques. Through weekly hands-on sessions at SolFed Farms, students will learn to construct a straw bale, roundwood timber frame building with rubble-trench foundations, natural plasters, and hybrid clay tile/living roofs. By course end, participants will be able to: explain natural building principles, safely use traditional tools, assemble timber joinery, and evaluate design choices like insulation vs. breathability. Ideal for farmers, DIYers, and sustainability enthusiasts—no prior experience needed, just readiness to get muddy and build community!
Thanks to funding from the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation, we are able to offer scholarships for our community classes this fall. Please click here to fill out this short form to help us determine the amount of scholarships we are able to give with the limited funding. For the first round of scholarships, please apply by September 12, 2025.
Location: SolFed Farms 4420 W F Ave. Kalamazoo MI 49009 (https://solfedfarms.org/)
Community Programs