You can use a sifter on the jobsite for removing large rocks, sticks and roots from soil. (I buy road base to obtain an optimal mix and minimize labor.) The following submission was sent to us by Red Fern. After looking around the web for a few design ideas, Tiegan set out on the mission … Read more
Living Building Challenge is a philosophy, advocacy tool and certification program that addresses development at all scales. It is comprised of seven performance areas: Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. These are subdivided into a total of twenty Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence. The purpose of the … Read more
The Project Somos Children’s Village in Guatemala has posted some photos of a large earthbag project they have going. Both Owen and I are impressed with the quality of the design and execution, as can be seen in the picture above. The bag work is very even and plumb, the buttresses are well integrated with … Read more
I published my preferred earthbag foundation method in my new book Earthbag Building Guide. It still seems to be the strongest method because it locks 1-1/2 courses of earthbags below grade. With this method, the site is raised prior to building the foundation with stable fill material such as road base, and compacted by driving … Read more
Hey Owen and Kelly, I hope all is well with you guys. Just a note to let you know that I recently taped a radio interview about EB building. It will air live on August 4, 2011, at 1 pm Pacific Time, 2 pm Denver Time, 4 pm Eastern Time. Readers can listen live at … Read more
This blog post is a continuation of Insulated Earthbag Vaults and Insulated Earthbag Vaults for Rainy Climates. The Mindfulness Project in Thailand envisions using this design as a part of each housing cluster in their sustainable community. The vaults will likely include photovoltaics, a mechanical room for batteries and electronics, a small shop area with … Read more