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NEW
LIBERTY VILLAGE
HOUSING AND
SHELTER
To provide shelter for oneself and one's family entails a huge
commitment of time, resources and energy. Paying towards a mortgage or rent
structures one's life in ways we might choose far differently, given half the
chance. Paying for a house, plus the groceries and monthly utility bills,
demands a full time job. No other single commodity so binds humans to
the status quo and other person's ideas in the struggle for a good life.
When we consider the price paid for today's methods of putting a roof over one's
head, the cost to the earth and it's ecosystems must also be considered.
Prevalent building methods are inefficient, expensive and destructive to the
environment. Every other creature on earth except man has found a niche in the
overall health of the earth and it's systems. It surely must be that
mankind too could tune into it's true needs and desires, designing and building accordingly in an
ecologically sound manner. We are
especially interested in hearing, and publishing, alternative plans and
suggestions for shelter that is environmentally
sustainable, aesthetically and functionally pleasing, and reasonably
inexpensive. If you have knowledge and experience to share, please
consider POSTING
it here for publication in
this section of New Liberty Village, and participating in the New
Shelter Discussion Group.
Note: If
you think your ideas are original and you intend to apply for patent protection
sometime in the future, it is suggested you read the Proprietary
Rights page before submitting them to us for publication.
New
Shelter Discussion Group archive
Hello,
My predicament is somewhat similar to that of Melynda's posted on 1 June 2003.
A suggestion: inexpensive property lots can be found at: http://www.governmentauctions.org/login.asp
. Here are some other sites of interest: http://www.walrus.com/~ddprod/michaeljantzen/hsri.html
.
I must find/make alternate housing for myself but my time-frame is very limited.
I will be without a home in 6 weeks on March 30, 2004, with very limited funds.
There are twists and turns to the story but I won't take up precious space here
right now. A good blanket explanation is that I have had a total reversal
of fortune (health & wealth). Basically I'm trying to find
fast-inexpensive (borderline welfare)-minimal labor-single person construction -
low temperature (I live in Ontario) - permanent solutions.
I will make a point to visit here daily. I've already armed myself with the many
links I found here and I'm off to 'search'. My URL is also a wonderful
site dedicated to free photo posting. You are able to keep your own album there
and have it ranked as private, semi-private or public. I have seen some
breathtaking photos there. Mine are mundane - I am selling all my household
treasures but it's too cold for a yard sale. I'm using the site as a
preview so friends & neighbors don't have to battle the snow banks to reach
me and then find there's nothing of interest for them. Thank you for this
site, for offering your knowledge and guidance.
May you live as long as you want
And never want as long as you live
Be well, Mary
August
4, 2003
Jennifer
felynefancy@aol.com
Food Dehydrators
I am
interested in purchasing a dehydrator. Any suggestions? Any one product I should
stay away from? Thanks, j
----------------
August 4,
2003
Jerry B liberty@kaballero.com
Jenny,
After
coming across many different sources, all recommending the Excaliber dehydrators
as the best, we ordered the Excaliber five tray model. http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/cat7.htm
They are quite pricey, but I
think they are worth the extra cost over the round, stackable models. The
Excaliber has the heating unit and fan in the back of a rectangular box, and all
shelves receive a relatively uniform flow of heated air. Using the
models with the fan and heater at the bottom, the lowest trays dry first,
requiring continued shifting of their position. Just depends on what one
can afford or how much attention one wishes to devote to the project. Our
Excaliber has a timer which also is nice, and we are generally very satisfied
with it. We probably should have gotten the nine-tray version for just a
few bucks more, though it was a hard decision to make since it requires a lot of
produce to fill up the larger one. To be able to do a large amount at once
when the garden is at it's peak would have been nice also.
I also
have built a large solar dehydrator, however there has not been a cloudless day
this summer here in Virginia. Haven't even been able to give it a try.
Jerry
B
August
2, 2003
Shelbydodge:
Hey
Melynda, and others interested.
On the links section of my website there is a link to an organization that helps
caretakers find jobs in the country. This could be a method to help you
escape from the trap of poverty in the city and could possibly give you some
income as well. The site is http://the-crystal-key.com
.
June 1, 2003
Melynda
I
am a 25-year-old single mother in Virginia. All my life I have felt like the
world is a rat race that seems so easily avoidable if people only chose to
change. But I never thought I would actually be too poor for simplicity. This, I
am.
I
have a young daughter and no family support. I want to do right by her and not
place her in daycare as she was born with a couple special needs. So I live in
an apartment in a bad area and I do what I can to pay the bills. But electricity
is so expensive and so are the food bills and because I do not have a great
education, no job I get really ever leaves me feeling like I can care for myself
and my daughter.
I'm
a pretty simple person. One of my dreams is to grow corn in my own yard. Does
anyone know of any type of funding so that my daughter and I can live a simpler
lifestyle, grow our own food on our own piece of land and escape this endless
struggle I have found myself fighting? Please respond if you have any info. I
would be willing to travel anywhere. I don't want my daughter to grow up
thinking that this is the way life is supposed to be. I want her to be fulfilled
knowing herself and the Earth instead of struggling to have what "everyone
else" has. THANKS SO MUCH!
--------------------
July 8. 2003
Sheila P
Melynda
Melynda's
situation really has me thinking... I loved your answer, Kevin, and Donna,
thank you for posting it here. I don't have much to add to what you said, except
that some of the WAHM (work at Home Moms) are doing really well selling cloth
diapers and baby things. Tie dyed stuff is big too.... wonder what her
talents are? If I were her I would look at what I could do from home.... Also I
would read anything by John Holt regarding Unschooling..... I would look for
community... seek an organic co op and see if they give shares away to those in
need.... And yes I agree, become the energy you want to be. If you can't get to
the homestead yet, bring the home stead to you.... : )
I am amazed at the feeling of well being I am getting just from my 3 (yeah, I
added another!~) raised beds. Sunflowers, cukes, parsley, tomotes, summer squash
are all coming soon : ) The fruit trees are doing well and it looks like we will
get several peaches to eat this year! I still do not have the dream homestead
but the dream is coming closer. For Melynda the question is really, how to make
the jump....? I think making the dream big enough some how brings it into
existance, if that makes any sense... Please update us if you hear anything more
aobut her, ok? Yet so much of this could be done as container gardens!
Her note does point out one way in which our society really lets people down,
single parents, usually mothers, but sometimes fathers too... have a really hard
time getting ahead. What more could they do with one good acre of land and some
building materials than with what we, as a society, give them? Thanks.
I
just thought of another thing to tell Melynda - go to http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/messages/
scroll down to where it says "free books for non profit
organizations". Tell her to e-mail Joe and explain her situation. I did and
he sent me out a free copy. Joe is the Author of the "Humanure Comosting
book". This would be something she could read now and it might come in
handy for her later if she gets some land. Sure does open up some horizons when
you are not looking at dropping $8K or more to put in a septic...
I also have several issues of "Mother Earth News"- probably 2 years
worth of back issues I could send her if she would be interested.
Sheila P
-----------------------------------------
June 30, 2003
Kevin: earthstar97@yahoo.com
To Melynda
My heart aches for you and your situation. And I know exactly what you are going
through because I was in the same place you are 10 years ago. I had just gotten
divorced and was living with two of my daughters in an apartment. I had a dead
in job which was temporary and about to end, mucho debt (more than I want to
admit), daycare costs, no money in the bank, no property, no future, no hope...
Then somehow I ended up with a book entitled "The Ecological Health Garden
- A book of survival" and that really set things spinning for me.
Because what I wanted was the same thing you expressed. I wanted to be able to
grow my own food, at least something..and I'd rather be poor in the country than
poor in the city. The trouble was, how was I going to make the great leap, how
was I going to make the exodus I needed? And that is where I see that you
are.
So here is the best answer I can give for you...it is the answer I wish I'd have
been given back then..."focus". You have to concentrate on your exodus
with every ounce of attention you have and in the meantime, move toward that
exodus in practical ways. You don't have to own a piece of land to grow food.
That is what is so magical about the biogenic approach to living. Even in your
little apartment right now you can start to generate the momentum and energy you
need by growing biogenic (life generating) indoor greens. In simple little
pots (12" dia x 5" deep) you can start to produce buckwheat greens,
lentil greens, wheat grass portable meadows, biogenic batteries, beet greens,
onion and garlic greens and in quart jars grow the most vibrant living young
grasses and sprouts. You can make homemade, fermented cheeses, seed mixes,
Sourdough bread, soaked almonds, plant a fruit tree in a pot), and start to
surround yourself with the energy that you are longing for ---right where you
are.
This may not sound like the kind of solution you want but you have to trust me,
this is what Donna and I did while still living in rental property. We started
to eat this kind of food and surround ourselves with plant energies and guess
what, it changed the way we felt, it changed our consciousness and how we
thought about ourselves and it lead us to creative solutions that we never
believed could happen. It helped launch us out of the situation and things
eventually started to happen for us. I cannot explain how it happened, it just
did. There was a momentum that took over.
I really feel for you at this stage of your life, but you can do this. You are
young and creative and you can move toward this kind of life right where you
are. And it can make all the difference to you and your daughters' life. Of
course, there are small circles of communities that you could seek out such as
the people in Missouri at (www.dancingrabbit.org) but the thing is, that is a
community that you have to go join and follow and commit too. That may be great
for some people but not everyone is cut out for that kind of life. I suppose
that Donna and I are are a community of two, but it will never be more than
that. We wouldn't want it to be. Though we would like to have some sense of
community, some friends to hang out and work with, the reality is that there are
very few people who have the pre-conditions to live that kind of life. But it
doesn't matter, because the skills one needs to live the biogenic lifestyle are
really very simple. There is no theology or belief system behind it, just
practical solutions to real life. Please consider this and see if it feels right
for you, and best wishes for the future.
Peace be with you,
Kevin
-------------------------
June 3, 2003
Jerry B: jeru@kaballero.com
Melynda,
As far as
finding funding, I have little to suggest. Our present social forms are
not set up so that capital and land become available according to ability of use
and individual needs and talents. Your heartfelt note makes me
deeply wish I could recommend checking out the opportunities offered in a
real time loose-knit community such as the cyber-village imaged here in this
website. Fortunately for us, my wife and I have a humble four-acre farm
and some neighbors that seem to be coming together here in Northern Neck Virgina.
What part of the state do you live in? Maybe you could pay us a
visit sometime. I'd be happy to correspond with you privately at the
above e-mail address if you are so inclined.
Jerry B
April
9, 2003
Mark: naturist-art-ic@yahoogroups.com
Hello,
These earth forms seem to me, the best idea I have seen, I would like to hear
from anyone who would like to talk about intentional community in Southern
California, based in permaculture.
PEACE! sanpedrosaint @yahoo.com
Darren,
drrnmac@aol.com
Quonset Huts
I was considering building a quonset hut home. Has anyone ever done
this? I was concerned about the heating and cooling. My wife is
concerned about the asthetics. Does anybody know of anyone who has done
this before? If so, could you give me a name or website for more info?
Some construction hints would be great! Thanks, Darren
December 1, 2002
joedupont@juno.com
URL = www.excelon.com
Interested in bowing
lumber with cable. laying it flat and bow it . with arch up. and spanning say 14
feet. with 3/8 playwood over this. has anyone done this? If you had an in the
ground house then the walls could brace the lumber upwards..
November 26, 2002
Barb homecumming@att.net
I've decided on a low cost, sustainable housebuilding technique.
The trouble I'm having now is with finding low-cost land on which to build. Land
is so expensive! Any ideas?
Jerry e-mail
here
Barb,
My wife and I were very fortunate. We inherited a small amount of money, enough
to pay cash for a run-down farm house and four acres in Eastern Virginia, all
for $35,000. We spent the first year remodeling the house, establishing a garden
etc. One of the features that came with it was that there was a homeowner's
association requiring membership, though this has not proved too much of a
hassle for us. This fact, I think, has discouraged much development of the other
parcels, and now there are several lots for sale going for around $5,000 per 3
acre lots. The lots are in a meadow surrounded by forest, and borders on an
inlet into the Chesapeake bay. Pretty ideal if the water never rises above 20
feet. I will soon be applying for an 'experimental shelter' building permit with
the county for my 20' underground/bermed structure. Building regulations for the
area are of course one thing to keep in mind. .
Sorry I have little to suggest except to keep your eyes open. Relative
inexpensive land is there, somewhere, waiting for you to find. Follow your
attractions to the area you want to be in. Property offered at auction for
unpaid taxes can be found, 'they' say. One of these lots here sold for $2,500 at
auction for 3 acres. We soon gave up on the idea of free land being available
under any arrangement. I think it would be great if 'rights of use' of land
could be distributed, instead of land as a commodity. There are some
'eco-village' ventures around but none with which I am familiar enough to
recommend. Hope others have some good advice to add. Jerry
October 21, 2002
Barbara
Always "trying"
Hi! I'm sooo glad to see this site up and running again. I first found it
several years ago... I think it may actually have been not too long after it
first came online. Never posted, but read and re-read everything. My "dream
house" is a B.E.L.L.! Whenever I get upset with daily life, waste, etc. I
pop back onto this site and get an injection of hope and motivation. Thank you
so much! I, too, am interested in *seeing* the changes you have made to the BELL
and surrounding areas. Barbara
Barbara,
You may be interested in checking out the new EarthStar
Creative Simplicity forum
. I
know that Kevin and Donna would be interested in your encouraging comments so I
have forwarded your post to their forum. Jerry B
October 1, 2002
Jerusha shalomhavurah@acninc.net\par
I am wanting to build a straw bale home in Oklahoma. Would love to hear from
anyone in Oklahoma who has already done it.
cory whitney [mailto:corywhitney@hotmail.com]
Subject: Sauna
Hey all,
I am writing to represent an anxious work crew at a Vermont college.
We here at Sterling College have burnt down 4 saunas in the last 30 years
and would like to build something that will not burn down. Actually if we
want a sauna it must be fire proof.
As Sterling is running a deficit at this point (we only have 70 students)
we have little to no funds for this project.
Any kind of feedback for our plight would be very much appreciated.
Thank you, Cory Whitney
__________________
Reply:
December 03, 2000
Jerry B e-mail
Sauna
Cory,
I wish that I had a working model of what I have often considered building: a
sculpted Finnish sauna, using the earth to reverse-mold a dome of the
appropriate size. The benches, the fire pit, practically everything could be
easily shaped in the compact, undisturbed soil, then cobbled with a thin
layer of concrete, say two inches thick. The earth then removed from underneath
the shell after it has set. If desirable, the dirt could then be placed
over the structure, and landscaped and planted with grass.
The sauna could be built completely above grade, partially above grade, or
completely underground. About the only cost would be for a few bags of
concrete, and sand. American Indians, I understand, made small sweat
lodges in a hole dug in the ground, covered with a hide, but this would be much
more permanent.
Aesthetically speaking , the shape could be sculpted practically anyway one's
imagination and time allows. The structure would be fireproof, and require no
maintenance. It would also make a great storm shelter, although I have heard of
few tornadoes in Vermont (g). Never know in these days. Openings
could be molded into the shell for ventilation and light, and covered with glass
or operable vent covers. I can't foresee any difficulties or problems with
this, for a sauna. If you haven't seen my rough drawings and
animation for the Liberty House design, check out www.geocities.com/newlibertyvillage/shelter.htm
then go to 'More details'. If you try these methods, I would like very
much to hear how it turns out. Maybe you can build a gymnasium for the
school while you are at it (g) I would like to hear more about your
college, when you have the time. Does it have a web page?
Jerry B
January 22. 2000
Mike & Tammy, michaelfromor@webtv.net,
low cost housing
Kevin and Donna,
Your web page [EarthStar]
is great. It gives me new hope. I own a few acres of land in the
Missouri Ozarks and have been looking to build a low cost home between the rent
we pay now and all the other bills it leaves us. With very little to save,
we have been able to scrape together a couple thousand, but when looking at
material costs, and the fact that we have only minimal construction experience,
we have been discouraged. Your web page has given us new hope. Did you use any
green lumber to build? I know using green lumber would cut our costs by at
least 1/3. I would like to know what other people's experience was
building with less than dry wood. Please let us know, Mike &
Tammy
January 13. 2000
Ted, THE_FOCI@hotmail.com
Housing
I have found that housing is a short, middle, long-term thing; yea even longer.
A person who is young and has access to amenities can build a lean-to in a
different place every two to three nights and be happier than a monkey with a
peanut machine. Careful exposure to the elements enhances the life force,
strengthens the immune system in the sense that natural problems are not such.
Of course, this also weakens one to the man-made (enhanced) viruses existing in
buildings, hospitals, and other breeding grounds. (TANGENT
- sorry).
A yurt can go where the space is -
simple. My personal desire is that of a dwelling that can be used in three
generations future with minimal upkeep. A structure that is underground
partially, or fully would be happy. A structure set in rock at a higher
elevation is desired to avoid flooding (an obvious difficulty). Granted - the
desire for such a solid state dwelling is in light of drastic climate changes,
and storms in areas where the likelihood is high. Radon gas emission is
worth testing for as this can be a cause for more than a headache. This is the
reason that the government at large does not permit citizens to build dwellings
completely underground. The stated reason. More or less --- it's hard to tax
someone you can't find. Heaven forbid they own firearms - it would be ever
so much more difficult to raid such a 'compound'.
O K; Fruit trees are a step up
(or laterally) from the sprouting phase of nutrition. Our bodies are
designed to eat and digest fruit. We would take generations to bring ourselves
collectively back to this as we have ingested and mutated through our observance
of hedonisms and 'What we could get'.
Pardon the pun, but fruit trees
don't come to fruition over night. A generation down the line would be never
without if fruit trees are planted as shelter/shade. As in the Permaculture
principle, the heat exuded from a house or dwelling would allow survival
of fruit trees in climates that would usually not allow their survival in the
winter (if a house is above ground as the Benedictines utilized-they just
didn't call it Permaculture- God's laws, I think they called it).
Large rock is a laborious method of
developing a structure, yet up to now was grand for insulation rating as well as
repelling the most drastic of elements. With the induction these pressed straw
and/or earth blocks easier variations are available. I still have an affection
for the novelty of the stone. Temperature six to eight inches beneath soil
remains a relatively constant 59 degrees. Obviously creating a desire for a wood
stove. Electricity can be provided by solar panels for blowers on the woodstove
(if desired, and if the structure is of any size), a cooler, and a freezer
(key), juicer, airflow and purification unit(s), freeze-drying (or
vacuum-sealer), and so on.
The biggest catch is probably achieving a perk
site. The Hunzas had a well in the 'basement' of their homes that they pulled
water up from. They also lived in a climate that needed no freezer as the steep
angles on their roofs allowed food to be stored in the attic in closer proximity
to the outside snow and ice (like a dunces hat).
One of the draw backs to this (dwelling) or even
the Liberty dwelling is being near (remotely) the effects of human 'betterment'
projects. The water tables have been run askew from us so bad that many plants
have been added to the endangered species' list for 'local' areas. Not because
the plants are not available in abundance in a region - but because the
environments in an area have been destroyed in the sense that water does or does
not sit with consistency anymore (Acorus Calamus is an example - similar to
'cat-tails'). This damage to the water tables can affect the dwellings' supply
of water as well as availability of water to wildlife, medicinal plants and so
forth.
The finding of a cave(s) would be a score in
which to build on in my opinion. Steel girders may be desired as
safeguards, in light of a structure lasting until a century or two away. The
freemasons have information that was collected from the Arabs and elsewhere that
allows for buildings that work with acoustics, air flow, and other methods of
western 'feng-shui'. The mechanical engineering dept. at NCSU has access to
nifty stuff in this vein, as do other places I'm sure.
Granted, this may seem like a hermit lifestyle
but only if one wishes. There are entire cities underground in Switzerland,
China, and elsewhere. An entire community could reside in such a place. I
envision such an environment that could allow a couple to five families (or
more) using central facilities ie. library, float tank, etc. Or more integrally,
a community of youths that are learning and growing beyond the media & death
culture, for adapting to, and learning to survive, in a rapidly changing world.
A world in which the most prepared individuals
are going to be taken by surprise and knocked off center by the paradigm shifts
striking us in this outdated and ineffective milieu that has conditioned the use
of time, self-image, motivation, and the vision among youth of helplessness and
a narcissistic world view. My love, Ted
May 31, 1999
Rick and Grace, regener@poncacity.net
Sustainable Housing Okla Tornado
There are a number of people in Oklahoma
interested in alternative housing, especially straw bale, since wheat is in
abundance. I am trying to create an outreach to find homeless tornado victims
who would be interested in building alternative housing, and perhaps a foreman,
architect, and volunteers. Also, people who could donate materials. We need to
do this as a start in Oklahoma.
December 25, 1998
Kevin & Donna, dphilipp@eatel.net
Voluntary Creative Simplicity & the BELL
Hi, just a short note about what we are doing. When we met in 1992, Donna and I
were looking for another way to live, outside of the entanglement and
consumeristic society. Since then we've made incredible progress and
feel motivated to share our discoveries. In reading about earth-friendly
alternatives we came across the idea of a simple dwelling called the B.E.L.L. (biogenic
ecodesic living lighthouse). It is a 309 sq ft 8-sided, circular dwelling
that contains 22 windows all the way around. Construction cost less than $5000.
It facilitates a healthy lifestyle in communion with nature, and minimizes fuel
and utility costs. One can actually live in a BELL without the need of
electricity, or at least, rely on a PV system only. Heat is by wood stove. The
major advantage is the use of space and the ability to grow indoor greens, such
as wheatgrass, buckwheat and sunflower, because of the abundance of fresh air
and light. The indoor greens make up 50% of our diet, thereby reducing our food
bill significantly. We are able to minimize the need for a large kitchen and
garden, are able to catch rainwater, which also reduced our need for installing
a well or relying on city/rural water hookup. We are hoping others are
interested in this unique life-generating lifestyle that promotes ecological and
environmental responsibility.
December 25,1998
Re: Voluntary Creative Simplicity & the BELL
Jerry B jeru@kaballero.com
ICQ chat number 22180390
Kevin and Donna,
Merry Christmas! Every statement you made about
your BELL house; heating with wood, growing indoor greens, your diet, your
rainwater catch system, etc. has filled me with questions. Of what materials is
the house built? Did you build it yourself? With that many windows, is loss of
heat a problem? What part of the country do you live? You must be familiar with
the writings of Ann Wigmore concerning wheatgrass, sprouts and other live foods?
My wife and I want to know more about your diet. How has your diet helped you?
How much detail are you willing to share? Could you kindly send us any other
comments or articles? If you can send drawings and plans, or photo's we will
publish them here in this site. When we begin building the new online community,
we can include your type of house, and if you wish, will devote a separate web
page to it. Sure hope to hear more! Jerry B
December 9, 1998
wakell@phnx.uswest.net,
Subject: Sandwich Houses
I would like to know if anyone has any information on the subject of sandwich
houses ?
It's similar to adobe but the mixture is different. Please supply any
information you have. It would be
greatly appreciated. Thanks.
August 6, 1998
email: j.martin16@gte.net
subject: alternative housing construction
I scanned a book several years ago and now, of
course, cannot find it. The subject matter of the book was the
construction of housing for third world areas using clay, one of the world's
most abundant resources. The clay was formed into bricks, stacked up, and then
"fired" (they used 55 gallon drums of kerosene placed on the
structure's top, hoses and a small hand pump to route the fuel for the fire)
into a solid brick house. The structure was largely covered with bermed
dirt then. The architect was Iranian or Iraqi but I don't remember his name.
I believe housing has been constructed in this country on Native American
reservations. I do not recall anything more about this construction
process and would like to hear from anyone who knows more about it.
Thanks! John Martin
The architect was probably Nader Khalili,
now working in Hesperia, California. The URL for his website is http://www.calearth.org.
I want to read further about his in-place firing of the structures, but it
would seem to me that if these methods were widely adopted, there would be great
environmental repercussions from the burning of whatever fuel chosen was to heat
the brick. His use of bags of on-site earth materials, without firing, seems
more ecologically sound, to me, and is a method I also want to experiment with
further. Jerry B.
Nov. 28, 1997
subject: Alternative Earth-friendly Housing
I live at City of the Sun Foundation near Columbus, New Mexico. We, as
members are vastly distinct personalities, but many wish to build sustainable
alternative homes, or just explore what can be built. Would like to
communicate with like-minded builders. We are in touch with the Southwest
Environmental Center in Las Cruces, and also with Alternative Construction
Workshops at Kingston, New Mexico, some of which links back to the Nader Khalili
workshops in Hesperia, California. Many people need and can benefit from
alternative homes, composting toilets, solar energy. Thanks, Maya
Nov. 28, 1997
Maya,
Is the Foundation you are a member of a type of intentional community? You
mention the Nader Khalili workshops. I just recently visited his Cal-Earth
web-site, (slow loading graphics) and was introduced to their use of earth
bags in construction. Do you know anyone who has attended the workshops in
California, or are actually building earth-bag dwellings to live in, in New
Mexico? Do the Alternative Construction Workshops have a web-site? I am
interested in learning more about this method, which uses any available soil or
sand to fill bags, and barb-wire to keep them in place. I was very impressed
with the appearance of their structures. I wonder if they ever berm or cover the
structures with earth, and how difficult it is to line the inside surfaces. Do
you intend to build a house yourself?
I recently have came across another related
site you may be interested in, http://www.auroville-india.org/csr/ertharch.htm#Diversity
especially their work with CEB, (Compressed Earth Blocks), another new concept
to me. I want to further explore and experiment with this method when the
weather clears. Your New Mexico sands should make good reverse forms for shoring
either compressed block or sprayed or poured concrete domes. Jerry B.
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