Natural Building
Right now, this lens covers only three of the many different ways to utilize natural materials when building. As I become more educated on the subject I'll add more techniques and also build individual, more indepth lenses around specific subjects like straw bale, cob, and rammed earth.
So, sit back and enjoy the ride. Please keep all hands and feet inside the car at all...oh heck, get out and run around crazy if ya want! It's ok with me. :)
(photo by Gerry Thomasen. some rights reserved.)
Thank You!
This lens was honored with Lens of the Day on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. Thanks! Strawbale Construction
I'm having flash backs to my old Leggo set...
Straw has been used in wall construction for thousands of years in some areas of the world, but usually in a mixture with clay and sand. Today's straw bales are a product of the industrial revolution, being the packaged waste from modern hay making (ok, no snickering in back row.)These large, fairly dense, blocks are wonderful insulation in a naturally built home. They reduce the amount of lumber needed while creating thick, well insulated walls. They are great at keeping sound out and temperatures regulated. Straw bales are surprisingly fire resistant, too. They also stand up to high winds very well. So, who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Not strawbalers, that's for sure.
For more info, check out my lens on strawbales: Don't Be Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf. Build with Strawbales!
(photo by ercwttmn. Some rights reserved.)
Hello (insert name here), this is Straw Bale
Just a little introduction
MIA (Ch.10) Eco-Buildings (Ep.1) Straw-Bale House
Runtime: 3:43
1277 views
1 Comments:
Build Your Library With Strawbale
Er, um, I mean: Do some reading about strawbale
Learn to Stack Straw Like A Pro
Well, at least like a gifted amateur
- strawbaleworkshops.com
- Attend a workshop with a real live professional strawbale builder.
Natural Building In The Real World
Random pics gleaned from the verdant fields of flickr
the building featured one of my favorite things about cob buildings - the fact t...
shots around the homestead: bread baking in the cob oven.
Here is an experiment that the Tryon people were doing with cob benches. Cob mat...
adding straw to the wall
Cob
And I don't mean corn
A traditional building technique from the British Isles (you know those white houses with the thatched roofs? that's cob with a lime plaster), cob is being transformed into something new in the US. Cob is made by combining clay, sand and a binder, such as straw and/or manure (ya, I said manure), with water to make a sticky mud. This mud is then used to build your structure.Cob is more akin to sculpting with clay than any other technique. It's so versitile that you can make walls, benches, or even ovens out of it. You can add beautiful art elements right onto the walls of your living space and highlight them with a coating of colorful earth plaster. Another popular decoration in owner-made cob houses is to include glass bottles or jars into the walls. They let in light and make a colorful stained glass effect.
For more info on cob, check out my lens Building with Cob.
(photo by Eris Siva. some rights reserved.)
The Beauty of Mud
Some inspiriing imagery and thoughts
Cob documentary teaser
A long running project on Cob; it's history in the Uk and the work currently being done by people in the United States, British Columbia, and England.
Runtime: 2:59
52938 views
10 Comments:
Cobby Books & Videos
Expand your artistic building skills.
Show Some Love
Vote for your favorite natural building technique
Earthbag Construction
It's my bag, baby. Ya!
The bad Austin Powers imitations aside, earthbag construction is another great way to utilize the ground beneath your feet. Developed originally for temporary military shelters and protection against flood waters, earthbag construction for permanent structures was made popular by Nader Kalili in the 1980's and 90's.Earthbag involves filling long bags with (you guessed it) earth and stacking them to make the walls of the structure. Because the bags act as the binder, there is less of a need to worry about the clay/sand ratio than there is in other techniques, such as cob or adobe. As the structure is being built, strands of barbed wire are laid down in between each layer of bags to prevent shifting. Earthbag structures tend to be domes, though building a rectangular or square house is possible with a little extra planning.
(photo by diamondmountian. some rights reserved.)
Earthbag Education
Crack open a book before you break ground
Earthbag Building: The Tools, Tricks and Techniques (Natural Building Series)
Amazon Price: $22.76 (as of 07/04/2009) 
Used Price: $17.93
Usually ships in 24 hours
Building With Earth: A Guide to Flexible-Form Earthbag Construction (A Real Goods Solar Living Book)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/04/2009)
Used Price: $59.99
It's an obsession, I know
Check out what natural building youtube vids I've faved
Check out some of my absolute faves on everything from mixing cob to earthbag construction.
Go Ahead, Get Dirty
Just remember to wear your play clothes
So, what are ya waiting for? Get out there and get ta buildin'!
- Yestermorrow Design/Build School
- Yestermorrow teaches intensive hands-on courses in sustainable design, building, woodworking, and traditional crafts.
- Build It Green
- A great resource for finding educational opportunities at traditional colleges. Already a builder? Live in Claifornia? Learn how to become a Certified Green Building Professional.
- Intentional Communities Web Site (ecovillages, community, communes, cohousing, coops, sustainable living...)
- Many intentional eco-communities offer classes, internships, work exchange, or even paid jobs (gasp!) in natural building. IC.org is a fantastic resource for finding these places all over the world.
- Natural Building Network - Welcome
- The Natural Building Network is a non-profit organization supporting natural building, while providing inspiration and leadership for a sustainable world. Many listings for workshops are appropriate for the recently initiated...er, I mean, the "new amateur builder."
- NaturalHomes.org
- A great site, full of links to the websites of naturally built structures, classes, building services and resources, books, and more. The most fun part? They've got a map with little icons for naturally built homes around the world. Check it out to see if you're living near one!
Another Poll
Building Community
Other squidoo lenses on natural building
Know of a great lens about natural building and want to share it? Post it here, then vote for your fave. Think you want to make one? Have at it, then submit it to this list. It's fun, and it helps the natural builders connect with each other and the general public. And as far as I'm concerned, ya can't beat that with a stick.
Don't Be Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf. Build with Strawbales!
Incorporating straw bales into construction is a r more...3 points
How to Build Your Own Straw Bale House
It's not an easy matter to build a straw bale hous more...2 points
Cob Natural Building
Cob is a mixture of straw, sand, earth and water. more...0 points
Build a Cobb House
Cobb homes are a awesome alternative for people wi more...0 points
How to Build Your Own Straw Bale House
It's not an easy matter to build a straw bale hous more...0 points
Earthaven Ecovillage
Earthaven is an aspiring ecovillage in a mountain more...0 points
Building with Cob
What I did with my summer vacation: spent a week c more...0 points
Rocket Stoves - Cool Name, Hot Stove
No, a rocket stove won't throw anything into orbit more...0 points
Eco Domes: How to build your very own, sand bag, earth friendly shelter
There is something very nuturing in these type of more...0 points
Building a Home From Recycled Paper
Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard boxes, more...0 points
Lensroll.com
- Build Your Home With Your Own Two Hands!
- Like this lens? Follow this link to vote for it on lensroll.com. (Thanks!)
Reader Feedback
Whatcha think?
Feel free to give me any feedback. I would love to see this lens change and grow organically based on what you want.
poutine wrote...
I can see that you did a lot of research for this lens.
A very well deserved 5
Posted June 23, 2009
rodssquidoolenses wrote...
Hey,
great lens. I was not aware that people were actually starting to build green houses. You have obviously researched this subject very well. most interesting Well done!
Rod Warnock
Posted April 23, 2009
susannaduffy wrote...
Excellent. Everything I wanted to say has already been said in your reader feedback so I will just repeat - excellent
Posted April 05, 2009
BlueMtnWildlife wrote...
Great info. We are looking to build a new clinic for our rehab center, and want to make it a "green building". We'll have to look into all of these.
Posted March 26, 2009
by MerryM
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