Moments withMoments with straw bale building straw bale building

Some slides of the processSome slides of the process

to build our straw bale dream home. to build our straw bale dream home.

The house should go…here.The house should go…here.

First, lets do a perk test.First, lets do a perk test.

Now for the hole.Now for the hole.

This guy does not know This guy does not know what he’s in for. what he’s in for.

Forms? How do you do that?Forms? How do you do that?

Footings, my back hurts alreadyFootings, my back hurts already

Let’s insulate it really well.Let’s insulate it really well.

Bring the concrete truck again.Bring the concrete truck again.

ICF Looks easy, yes?.ICF Looks easy, yes?.

Easy, but not that easy.Easy, but not that easy.

Time for more concrete.Time for more concrete.

Now that was exhausting.Now that was exhausting.

We are now firmly committed We are now firmly committed pony walls to hold the floor.pony walls to hold the floor.

Let’s screw down the sub-floor.Let’s screw down the sub-floor.

Next the trusses and framing.Next the trusses and framing.

Better get a roof on to put the straw Better get a roof on to put the straw under, to keep it dry.under, to keep it dry.

The bales, lets get them on the The bales, lets get them on the hottest day of the year.hottest day of the year.

Unload 500 bales.Unload 500 bales.

The roof is a month’s work.The roof is a month’s work.Notice the straw underneath.Notice the straw underneath.

Lets start the straw bale part.Lets start the straw bale part.

Carving and cutting balesCarving and cutting bales

Bash’em into line with our mallet.Bash’em into line with our mallet.

Starts to look like a house.Starts to look like a house.

Straw not hay, if you mention 3 little Straw not hay, if you mention 3 little pigs we know you’re an idiot.pigs we know you’re an idiot.

Scratch coat begins.Scratch coat begins.

Plastering is one huge job.Plastering is one huge job.

Mud, mud glorious mud.Mud, mud glorious mud.

And we’re still married.And we’re still married.

We tarp the house for the winter.We tarp the house for the winter.

This lets work and Christmas This lets work and Christmas celebrations continue until spring.celebrations continue until spring.

Because of the tarps plastering Because of the tarps plastering could start earlier in the year.could start earlier in the year.

As soon as it warms up, As soon as it warms up, off comes the tarp.off comes the tarp.

Plastering the inside continues.Plastering the inside continues.

Eventually this plaster mayhem Eventually this plaster mayhem comes to an end.comes to an end.

Every straw house has to have a Every straw house has to have a truth window to show the straw.truth window to show the straw.

Now we are ready Now we are ready to frame the interior.to frame the interior.

The framing, like everything else The framing, like everything else takes far longer than expected.takes far longer than expected.

Did we mention the soffits?Did we mention the soffits?

Hand milled white pine, this job was Hand milled white pine, this job was huge, two weeks of grunting.huge, two weeks of grunting.

Drywall is the next step, yucko!Drywall is the next step, yucko!

Now every surface has to be Now every surface has to be plastered again with gypsum plastered again with gypsum finishing plaster, ceilings too! finishing plaster, ceilings too!

The first signs of a kitchen appear.The first signs of a kitchen appear.

During all this,During all this, canning season arrives. canning season arrives.

The Mexican bathroom vanities The Mexican bathroom vanities are brought in.are brought in.

A few trees and this really A few trees and this really starts to look like a house now.starts to look like a house now.

There are still a lot of things There are still a lot of things to deal with like, waterto deal with like, water

And compacting.And compacting.

Putting the acorn on the cupula.Putting the acorn on the cupula.

Inside we’re still Inside we’re still slogging away on the plaster.slogging away on the plaster.

Family visits help to deal with the Family visits help to deal with the over abundance of fruit.over abundance of fruit.

The joys of thinset mortar andThe joys of thinset mortar andin floor heating.in floor heating.

Shirley enjoys the kitchen Shirley enjoys the kitchen with warm floor.with warm floor.

Straw really is great insulation,Straw really is great insulation,our heating bill goes way down.our heating bill goes way down.

The great room floor is finished with The great room floor is finished with fir t&g, the dog likes it too.fir t&g, the dog likes it too.

At last we have a place to enjoy. At last we have a place to enjoy.

It’s not gardening season yet, so It’s not gardening season yet, so Shirley actually lays on the couch.Shirley actually lays on the couch.