Garcia partnered with the author to take on the unfamiliar task of building a
straw bale house, beginning when the winter snows were still on the surrounding mountains and having the house under roof when the fall snows arrived.
"THIS LOOKS LIKE THE INSIDE OF A BARN," a friend of mine exclaimed when she visited my unfinished
straw bale house years ago.
Without the countless articles and inspiring people who have shared their stories, I wouldn't have built a
straw bale house (followed by an earth-sheltered, passive solar, active solar, VOC-paint-free, partially recycled house), logged with horses, milled those logs with a portable sawmill, started beekeeping, built an earth-sheltered chicken coop, planted fruit trees, experienced the benefits of homegrown produce, or tried my hand at a number of other projects.
She still has that sense of adventure, which is why the new
straw bale house [in Tiffin] got built.
There is also a huge power unleashed when we work collectively--whether it's gardening with our neighbors joining; starting a food co-op; demonstrating, boycotting, letter writing, or otherwise pushing politicians and corporations to clean up their acts; holding a
straw bale house raising; or getting together to teach ourselves some of the creative self-reliance skills that will help us adjust and adapt to the new normal of a changed climate.
This oval
straw bale house was designed by Ingrid Cryns of Soma Earth Architect and built in Erin, Ontario, by Harvest Homes.
Planning fight: Jim Wallis and his
straw bale house.
Jim built a
straw bale house on agricultural land, having attained planning permission for an educational centre.
Logan calls it the
Straw Bale House because the walls are constructed with dried straw bales, which are then covered in plaster.
In this work, a trio of professional
straw bale house builders and consultants provide guidance on the design and construction of straw bale buildings, offering chapters on all the expected issues and more, including building permits, budgeting, shopping for materials, common mistakes, and constructing with work parties.
Rescue developed a
straw bale house that uses 25 bales of straw and three sheets of plywood.
Without having to build a
straw bale house or a mud hut, you can experience the beauties and benefits of earthen (clay-based) plasters by doing a bit of eco-remodeling in the house you live in right now.