Staw Bale

Straw bale is a construction option we've been considering. It attractive for lots of reasons: material is inexpensive, about a dollar a bale; it's low tech, nearly anyone can help build with it; it's non-toxic, unlike so much of the construction materials used today; and it provides excellent thermal and sound insulation, much more so than traditional construction. It's downside is that it is labor intensive, it can rot if not installed properly, and in Vermont it cannot support roof loads so a separate structure has to be built to support the roof (in sunnier, drier places the bales can support the roof eliminating the need for wall structure).

I feel like it's a good option for Destiny primarily because it takes little skill to put up which means more people can participate meaningfully in the construction. It also appeals to my sense of adventure and I would really love to learn how to put a straw bale building together. It's also radical, bucking the use of mainstream materials in favor of simpler and very sustainable technology.

I have faith that it would work. A book published by Chelsea Green called Serious Straw Bale describes projects mostly in Quebec, a climate much like ours, actually harsher. Fire is a big concern of many, but straw bale being completely encased in mud, lime or concrete, has high fire resistance, and it can be coated with boric acid before mudding to further retard combustibility.