Bucket Chute with Shoulder Strap

By now you’re probably getting excited like I am about using open weave mesh bags and tubes. I came up with this $10 solution for filling bags and tubes. It has a 3-gallon metal bucket chute with the bottom cut out and a heavy duty leather shoulder strap riveted on with three pop rivets per … Read more

Flattening Walls to Reduce Plaster Work

From time to time we answer reader’s questions. Paul: In the EcoOcha video I noticed they tamped the sides to reduce the ‘log cabin’ look and to reduce the amount of plaster required. This smoother surface would be much easier to plaster. Owen: Yes, more and more builders are flattening the walls like this to … Read more

Earthbag Engineering

I recommend Precision Structural Engineering at Structure1.com for anyone needing engineering on their earthbag home or other buildings. Engineering is available for seismic and non-seismic areas. Precision Structural Engineering is a leader in the green building movement. They developed the first code approved earthbag building system that’s suitable for most any design.

Hyperadobe Continued

Continuing with Owen’s assessment of the Hyperadobe method of building  earthbag walls, I have had some further thoughts. This innovation comes to us from Fernando Pacheco, a Brazilian engineer, and it has been used there for at least two years. I have prepared a detailed page at www.earthbagbuilding.com that is a step-by step guide to … Read more

Open Weave Fabric: Ideal Working Properties

I was able to find some fruit and vegetable bags that seem to match what is being used in Brazil by Fernando Pacheco, the developer of the Hiperadobe earthbag system. What I’ve located is an open weave synthetic fabric, 5 x 10mm weave with 2 x 8mm openings. It has vertical threads and horizontal strips … Read more

Recycled Plastic Block Houses

Here’s another great low cost building option for areas such as Haiti. These plastic blocks can be used for interior or exterior walls. December 15, 2010 was a big day for Harvey Lacey, the maker of a hand operated press that turns plastic trash into building blocks. That was the day Harvey made his first … Read more