Much as been written about the technical aspects of building with earthbags and how they can be used to build safe, durable, beautiful, low-cost structures. But many readers are unfamiliar with this building method and are wondering what earthbag buildings look like. This inspired me to create a virtual tour of some of the best … Read more
Many earthbag builders are fond of curved houses. That’s great because earthbags readily lend themselves to curved shapes. But what about the roof? Thatch roofing is one good solution, depending on your climate and local codes. Here are a few links to get you started. Exotic East, Bali huts and thatch Installation instructions This is … Read more
The folks at The Year of Mud: Building a Cob House have put together a great site, including very informative articles on creating mosaics in earth plaster and building a reciprocal roof (we’ll save this for a future topic). Dirt cheap techniques like mosaics can really enhance the appearance your home. In addition to mosaics, … Read more
I want to poke a stick at spending thousands on an earthbag building workshop. For that same money you could do all of the following: – learn carpentry fundamentals and basic wiring and plumbing through websites, library books and videos; – buy several books; – volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and weekend natural building wall … Read more