Building a straw roof

A roof in rye straw was made by overlaying successive bundles of straw, generally in parallel to the line of the gutters. The initial step consisted of covering the edges with bundles affixed to the wooden frame of the roof. The subsequent bundles of straw were placed in rows, from left to right, with the tops of the stalks facing upward. Lengths of walnut - or chestnut, if available - were then laid across the rows and another layer fastened to them.