From time to time we answer reader’s questions. Josh: Do earthbag homes overheat in hot, humid climates such as Haiti? My friend toured some domes in California and they were like ovens. And how does earthbag compare to cinderblock (concrete block) homes? Owen: Domes are exposed and vulnerable to the elements, and often have insufficient … Read more
Paul Coleman’s and Konomi Kikuchi’s blog covers their building projects in Patagonia. Their earthbag house is coming along nicely. They recently built an interesting composting toilet with earthbags. Best view ever. You can read the article here.
The easiest way to create straight vertical corners when building with earthbags is by using corner guides in each corner. These are typically built with two 2x4s nailed together to form a right angle. Secure each corner guide with a stake at the bottom and two angled braces, which are also staked. (Note how we … Read more
Jeffrey Bousquet is the winner of our earthbag building contest that sought new building ideas. The intent was to gather and share the best original earthbag building ideas for my upcoming earthbag book, which should be finished in one month. This included creative building ideas that simplify, save labor, speed construction, reduce costs, and improve … Read more
Ever wonder how to build a simple home for very little money, without going into debt? The key is to use low-cost, locally available natural materials such earth, small diameter wood and straw to keep expenses to a minimum. The real fun is incorporating all of these methods into an optimum, comfortable, affordable home. Our … Read more
Bit by bit, word of earthbag building is spreading. Even though no large industry or organization has thrown their might behind the effort, earthbag continues its grassroots growth. Occasionally we stop and ponder, in a focused way, what can be done to facilitate this growth. With that in mind, here’s a partial list of needs … Read more