Thatched Roof Training July/August 2026 at the Strawbale Studio in Oxford, MI

Strawbale Studio, in Oxford MI, is hosting a Thatched Roof Training to re-thatch the Oxford Kids' Cottage over three weeks in late July through early August, 2026! Attend one or all weeks.

This is an unique opportunity to learn start-to-finish thatching skills: preparation for a thatched roof, application techniques & tools, finishing techniques, plus strategies for maintaining & restoring an existing thatched roof using Phragmite reed grass.

For full description and registration:
https://strawbalestudio.org/event/thatching-intensive-save-the-dates-late-july-early-august/

THATCHED ROOF TRAINING
Price: $200 – $1500 based on length of stay & sliding scale.
Participants can attend one or all of the following:  Prep week, Application Week and Finishing Week.

                  ATTEND ONE or ALL WEEKS.
1) Thatching Prep  2) Main Thatch Training 3) Finishing Stages

Prices include hands-on training, basic food, dorm lodging / camping options. Participants help out with meal prep 1 hr a day.

Dates & Details below.   Sliding Scale: support the Strawbale Studio as you can.

$1000 – $1500 for all 3 weeks or attend weeks separately:

WEEK ONE:        Sat.  July 25 – 31, 2026    PREPARING TO THATCH ~ Prep  site, tools, materials. ($200-400)

WEEK TWO:    Sat. Aug. 1 – 7, 2026    THATCH TRAINING –  Reed Harvest & Application ($900-1200)                                                (This is the Main Thatching Program)

WEEK THREE:   Sat. Aug. 8 – 16, 2026      FINISHING STAGES.~ Extended Learning Experiences.   ($200-400)

Teacher Bio:
Deanne Bednar trained with Danish Thatcher Flemming Abrahamson for 2 weeks in 1998 on the thatching of the Strawbale Studio. Since then she has over-seen and helped thatch 7 small structures, and lead many training sessions using small indoor frames to practice techniques. For 20 winters she took groups out to harvest the thatching reed and store them for the next project.
The thatching process is a traditional skill and also a work of art!

We hope you join us!