Morons Who Say It Won’t Work…
… and don’t have all the facts get under my skin.
The other day I wrote a blog about straw bale building as a possible solution to the potential housing problem here at Koinonia.
Had lots of great responses from folks who thought it was a good idea…also had a couple of responses from the usual “it’ll never work” crowd. You know the type. Unless it’s THEIR idea — it’s a BAD idea. Sheesh…I’m so sick and tired of them.
Anyways…got a real nice email from a couple in Jasper, GA about their straw bale built home. They also sent me a link to a page that has some good info about their home listed. But before I share that link, let me tell you a couple of interesting facts about their home.
Keep in mind, you’re reading about a STRAW BALE home.
Their home is 1500 square feet. There are two bedrooms and two baths located in this two story house. It was built primarily by the owner (Leigh Monson). Construction was started on January 1, 2004 and Leigh and her family took occupancy on June 1, 2004. Now if THAT doesn’t catch your attention…read on.
The home has been appraised at $100,000.00. How much did it cost to build? Hell if I know. But I do know that it took 500 blaes of straw to build it. I also know that as of today, bales of straw are averaging $2.00 each.
Mmmm…500 x $2.00 = $1000.00. Throw in a few more thousand dollars for plaster or cement. Wood to frame it with. Other various building material and I think it’s a good return on the money.
Want to learn more about the house and building? Check out this link:
http://sbregistry.greenbuilder.com/search.straw?RID=375.
Once you’ve looked it over, let me know what ya think!
January 6, 2009 at 5:50 am
Straw bale construction is quite viable in southern climates. An historic structure built in 1938 in Huntsville, AL is open to the public. You wouldn’t know it was not a typical southern mansion. You can learn more about this and other history of straw bale building, as well as the qualities of straw bale wall systems and buildings from downloading presentations from the first US Congressional Briefing on straw bale building done in June, 2008 by going to the Straw Bale News section of our website, http://www.greenweaverinc.com. The four presentations specifically address affordable and energy efficient housing with straw bale construction. I am a straw bale building consultant and educator and teach straw bale building at several universities and also work with sustainable tribal housing efforts. Straw bale is not the only solution to affordable, energy efficient housing, but it is one that is working in all 50 states and in over 40 countries around the world.
February 8, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Funny, I just read a post on a blog in Texas also talking about straw bale housing that has been a contruction technique utilized there for eons. Maybe this is a better “bale-out” than the nonsense Washington is pursuing
http://ridingtwowheels.blogspot.com/2009/02/pieces-of-terlingua-strawbale-home.html
I was impressed with their employing water cisterns, etc and living off the grid.
Don’t pay much to the naysayers, the weak of mind typically are strong of opinion and mouth.
-Peace
July 4, 2009 at 1:56 am
Truge on my good man if it were not for the ones that stood fast in the face of nay sayers we would all be in caves where they belong. I will say this I think straw bale is a great medthod but you gotta watch for the wolf
August 24, 2009 at 9:46 pm
We are building a straw bale house in New Zealand. We have been hit by the nay sayers. We ignored them and got on with it. Building slowed down a bit over winter, so only have half a house at the moment But now as we are nearing spring in the southern hemisphere we expect to be putting our walls up soon. Roll on the warmer weather for plastering and hopefully we’ll be in by christmas!
To anyone who is thinking about building a straw bale house there is a lot of encouraging information out there. To be honest straw bale house have stood the test of time and some are centuries old.
It is an awesome feeling to see the house developing and knowing we did it ourselves!