The straw bales are stacked like bricks in this post-and-beam structure. Where needed, some bales are notched around posts and cut in half for a better fit. During an all-volunteer straw bale workshop, twenty-five workers were able to place approximately 80% of the bales in just two days of work. A straw bale workshop is similar to an old-fashioned barn raising. House building becomes a community effort, with the volunteers learning a new skill and the homeowner receiving valuable assistance at little or no cost.