Earthquake-resistant Earthbag Building Details

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There’s obviously a great deal of concern about the recent earthquake in Haiti. Disasters like this are all too common, and so we’re working hard to develop at least two low cost, easy to build earthquake-resistant earthbag house designs. We hope to be better prepared in the future with plans ‘ready to go.’ But in … Read more

Counties with Few or No Building Codes

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Many readers are looking for inexpensive land where they can build their earthbag home. Unfortunately, building codes are often overly restrictive and make it difficult to build with alternative materials such as earthbags, straw bales, etc. But the good news is some counties have very few code barriers. As explained in previous posts, these counties … Read more

Responding to Catastrophe

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The internet has been vibrating along with the earth since the great quake in Haiti, and I have received quite  a few emails responding to this catastrophe, often with suggestions about ways to assist the Haitians. I’ll quote from one particularly thoughtful response: “I would like for you and your colleagues together to present our … Read more

Grand Plans for Earthbag Building in Mexico

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According to an article in the Spanish language newspaper El Heraldo of Chihuahua, Mexico on January 11, 2010, a Mexican affiliate of the CalEarth Institute has just started construction of a demonstration “Superadobe” structure. This will become the Nutrition Rehabilitation Center for the Municipality of Guachochi, Chihuahua,  the first  prototype in the state of Chihuahua. … Read more

Earthquake-resistant Earthbag Houses

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It deeply saddens me to see one disaster after another occurring around the world, especially since much of the tragedy could be prevented by building earthquake-resistant earthbag houses. The recent earthquake in Haiti is but one more example of this. Theo (Father Marc Boisvert) runs a project for the poor in Haiti. Their earthbag Sun … Read more