A California nonprofit says centuries-old straw bale building could help tackle the housing crisis as property prices spiral out of control. In Santa Cruz County, the Soquel neighborhood’s Mount Calvary Lutheran Church is teaming up with nonprofits Just Places and People First to build a “village” of straw-bale homes for people coming out of homelessness. The project would include six tiny homes alongside studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments on church land. The homes would replace six rundown cabins on the church property that were branded “uninhabitable” and red-tagged by the county.
Michele Landegger, co-founder of Just Places, said the unusual material is far tougher than people think. “It was developed in the 1800s by farmers who had no resource for wood, so they saw these bales and realized they’re like building blocks the way kids play with Legos.” The finished homes would look just like regular houses because the bales are hidden behind plaster and exterior walls.
Supporters say the material can slash heating and cooling bills by up to 75%, while also providing strong soundproofing and impressive fire resistance. According to StrawBale.com, dense straw bales contain little oxygen, making them harder to burn than conventional building materials. The buildings would also be solar powered.
Advocates argue straw construction could become far more common in the US as companies such as EcoCocon and Verdant Panel produce prefabricated straw wall panels. Backers also say straw homes are better for the environment because the material stores carbon instead of releasing it into the atmosphere as it decomposes.
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