Elizabeth D.
We are building both a homestead (that may be converted to a monastic guest work house and guest quarters) and a monastic hermitage. We are taking the same approach for both: build a larger building conventionally using 2'x6' lumber, and build individual sleeping quarters separately, semi underground using earthbags, pond liner, and earth plaster made from native clay, sand and straw.<br /><br />I wanted to build above ground cottages using native timber and cob filled walls, but at th... View More
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http://calearth.org/building-designs/emergency-sandbag-shelter.html<br /><br />My husband and two oldest boys took the Calearth super adobe course some years ago. The kids absolutely loved playing in their mini-emergency dome size village. I would absolutely love to build our own version of that (imitating mud huts and caves of the desert dwellers) for our own kids and someday, grandkids.
Going to start building an earth bag tent sized hobbit house for the kids today.
Hi Guys Im new to OC.
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Man Builds 'Hobbit House' for Just £3,000
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It is. And it would be naturally cool in summer and warm in winter. It also would be safer in high winds if the joinery is well done. I would love to build a number of little cottages like this nestled in our woodlands. We do have the right. Soil for it. Just wish we had more red cedar, black locus... View More
I have a lot of interests right now as I am trying to learn a sustainable, world-independent lifestyle for our family. Rather than overload people with links and information outside of their interest, I have decided to start a number of circles. Many technically overlap. But I plan to narrow the focus for each one so that those interested in organic gardening don't have to wade through a lot of posts on livestock, those interested in permaculture, don't have to wade through components ... View More
<p>I have also started an off-grid living group. It kind of crosses with this circle too, but it is also applicable for people who want to add off-grid capability even if they live in a conventionally constructed home in the city or suburb.</p>
I do like the focused idea of each circle, though it is hard to keep up with!!
We had very severe weather last Wednesday with torrential rains (6 in in a half hour) and hurricane force winds (many broken branches and fallen trees). This is not an uncommon occurrence in our area, unfortunately. So it is a major design consideration for us. Fortunately, our built structures suffered minimal damage. But I really want to incorporate permaculture 'earth works' to manage water run-off and put it to good works, and build cottage structures that can handle very high wind... View More
Sounds intense. You may already be familiar with Brad Lancaster's work, but he is THE go to for any rain catchment, run-off and design related to permaculture. He is in Tucson, and if you check him out his books are amazing. The principles are definitely applicable no matter where one lives, and wat... View More
Dear Veronica, I have been doing a lot of more conventional construction lately for the main house because it is much easier for me to do with only my 12 year old helping. It is my hope to build cob cottages in the woods once the main house is done. One of the reasons I switched to dairy sheep is the wool. And my plan is to use the lower quality fleeces as natural insulation. Do you by chance have any knowledge or experience with this?
And do you have any experience with timber cut from the property and used for post and beam framing? Split for exterior siding? Etc?
I have been very busy this week so didn't have a chance to do OC. As to your questions, we do not have experience with any of the things you mention. Strawbales was the construction we were going to us in west TX, but everything has changed with us being here in VA.
Joel and I were just discussing building an in-law cottage on an old pad site (the first owners had a trailer here while they were moving our farm house up from Plano) <br /><br />I *really* want to build a straw bale home and I think it would be the perfect project. It'd be too expensive from what i've read to retro fit our own home, as much as I wish we could. <img src="http://orthodoxcircle.com/file/pic/emoticon/default/unhappy.png"; alt="Unhappy" title="Unhappy" title=
You have black gumbo soil? The hardest thing about straw bale is cutting the notches in the bales. The debrie can be really hard on the lungs so you have to where a face mask (making it a better project for cooler months. But it is a lot of fun and in a smaller building, it should go quickly. Too ba... View More
Hi. You might to check out some great resources at the links below. The first site is in NM. My husband and I attended a strawbale workshop there several years ago and they really have done a great job of making resources available:<br /><br />http://www.thelaststraw.org/resources/educational-organi... View More
<p>By "pad site" I didn't mean cement. Sorry. It's just where the trailor was, so there are easy utility tie-ins and the ground is cleared. We'd do a raised foundation due to the costs, too.</p>
This is fantastic!!! So inspiring! I wonder how he was able to use straw bales in the wetter Wales climate. We are very familiar with this building style from our days in New Mexico's desert southwest, but it seems it would be more questionable in wetter humid climates. Thanks for sharing this great... View More
We have built a straw bale house here. I really want to build timber and cob cottages. We have plenty of sand and non-expansive red clay here. In the next month or so, I hope to finally work on a cob rocket stove kitchen.
That is awesome! Where are you located? Cob housing and construction is really cool--we were exposed to it in NM at an alternative building workshop. During the WS, they built an outdoor cob stove. What is a "rocket stove"?
What part of TX? We did some work in far west Texas while at NMSU (close to Presidio in Ojinaga, MX). We actually owned land there, but it was very desolate there and though we had dreams of intentional community there, it just didn't materialize, and it was during this time that we journeyed from C... View More
Our homestead is located just north of Decatur, TX (north of Ft. Worth). We are right next to a monastic hermitage with daily serives. We also have a house in the city since we are still in the process of building the homestead. The straw bale dwelling was built to serve as the cell for our local h... View More
How does one join a circle?
I have joined some of the other groups you have formed, but also want to join this one! Would love to discuss different building alternatives. Have always been intrigued with yurt designs like those of William Coperthwaite (from Maine).
We considered a yurt, but tornadoes are common here plus I have seen trees explode due to lightening sending fragments everywhere. For this reason, I am more attracted to thicker walls. Plus the thermal mass of cob, if used wisely, can help the building be more comfortable year round.
Haiti Rocket Stove
The Rocket Stove is an amazing development in fuel efficient cooking. Made with clay and organic material (like rice hulls or sawdust) this inexpensive stove can cook meals with small sticks and elimi
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