fardarrigger Hatfield

Mike,

I was finally able to see the video Paul posted (thanks again Paul!) on the Ridge house.  It is great to see your long standing dream coming true.  I was really surprised to see that part of it was 2 story though!  I am very familiar with the published plans from the $50 and Up Underground house book, and I recall that plan as a one story...are there plans for the two story Ridge House anywhere?  I would be most interested in seeing them.

I am trying to see your videos on hipnet.tv, so far I am having fun with my old computer (not really) and I may have to try to watch them on my smart phone.  Sigh.  

Regards,

Lauren

I am guessing here that it would be beneficial to have a big overhang to protect the straw bales, and in addition to the poly next to the house, you could finish the straw with a plaster covering as in straw bale building.  I think that would also help keep the critters out of the straw, otherwise, I can see them moving in en masse. 

Good luck!

Lauren

Mike,

I am easy to get a hold of, fardarrigger@yahoo.com  If you'd like, check out my pics on Facebook.  You can see my pictures without even being a member of Facebook (I think) I do know I fixed it so you can see them without having to be a friend on there.  I have an artwork folder there, and the folder I'd like you to see is the My Belts folder.  I make custom paracute cord belts, of different sizes and widths, and they are better than leather in so many ways.  I do sell them, but if you are interested, I would be happy to make you one, as a gift.  I gave one recently to Steve Villegas, the man who started the Utilikilt revolution, and he proudly wore it in their latest Spring Anti Catalog, at http://www.utilikilts.com/2010-spring-anti-catalogue/2/ ;

My belts are more comfortable than leather, they conform to you instead of cutting into you.  They are also more adjustable, as you can adjust them every 1/4 inch instead of every inch.  I have sold a lot of belts to people who are tired of their leather belts wearing out, in many cases, in less than a year.  These belts are mostly green or black, but I can get most any color of paracord, I am making a local girl a red belt (when the paracord gets here).  I have made belts for people in Arizona, California, Colorado and Idaho.  I made one Kilt belt that is getting sent as a gift to Germany, so I am about to go international!

I would be honored to make you a belt, by way of saying thanks to you for all you have done, for your ideas, and inspiration.

Again, many thanks,

Lauren

Mike,
Thank you for the reply.  I am glad work is continuing on the Ridge House, and hope you are able and ready to move into it soon.  I will check out your Major Miracle Superhero and invite friends to as well.  Anything I can do to help...

If you come to the Seattle area, you are welcome to come and crash with me.  I have the extra room and you would be a most welcome, honored guest.  If not, fine, I would still be most glad of the chance to meet you.  I will be looking forward to finding out what your schedule is.

I have been a fan of yours for years, since I first came across your $50 and up Underground House Book.  I grew up in the basement of my parents house, and was always struck by how pleasant the basement was, winter or summer.  Having moved there from the upstairs attic area, it was quite a contrast in the hot Idaho summers.  The three windows allowing light into my room made me grow to love underground living even more.

I had been growing increasingly dissatisfied for years at the housing market, and houses in general.  I knew what I didn't want, and that was to pay way too much for a crappy stick built house that I would spend the rest of my life paying for.  There were underground houses, yes, but they were not what I would call attractive or affordable.  I don't believe you should be a slave for the rest of your life simply to own your own house.

So your book was like a ray of light on a cloudy day, of hope and promise.  I love your designs and how light and safe and snug they are, sheltered snugly in Mother Earth.  I think your design are pure genius, and I think you have done a fantastic job of designing out the flaws of other underground structures.  Especially the expense.  Your own $500 house, and Glenn Kangiser's Underground complex in California, have truly been an inspiration to me.  I have been planning my own underground house for years, and it's final design will depend more on where I build than anything else, on the topography of the land I end up on. 

I am glad you have not dried up and blown away, that you are still out there, planning, dreaming, writing and inspiring.  Great job as well on the Earth Sheltered Greenhouse book, more inspiration, definitely. 

Thanks for the link as well, Paul.  Looks like I have some stuff to do today 

Many thanks,

Lauren

Hello Mike,

Love your work, I have been a fan for years.  I was wondering if you ever managed to get the Ridge House finished?  You mentioned on here last year or so you were thinking you might have it finished that year, I am hoping the building gods were smiling on you. 

All the best,
Lauren Neher

Ack indeed.  I use my homemade Kandle Heeter with a 40W halogen bulb in my bathroom.  It adds a bit of heat and helps keep it warm and dry in there (small space) and works as a nice night light at night.  I use two smaller candle powered heaters in my kitchen for supplemental heat in my house.  I do not need to turn on the regular heat very often.  Works for me, your results may vary...

Very cool mini project.  What was the final temp raised to in the space.  You mentioned it started out at 40 degrees

I found these guys for a while, then "lost" them while their site was undergoing some restructuring.  This is pretty fascinating to me.  They use a mixture of earth and up to 10% concrete.  Here is some information from their website

     FORMBLOCK is a wall building system in which stabilized earth,  or concrete blocks are cast in-situ to produce a solid load bearing wall. In use now for over 15 years in a range of conditions throughout Australia and New Zealand, it has been thoroughly tested by professionals, architects and owner builders.

The FORMBLOCK method significantly reduces the labour required  to produce an earth wall to only fraction of that compared to adobe (mud brick) or pisé (rammed earth) methods of earth building. As the handling of the earth material is minimised, by the in-situ nature of block making. Once the blocks are poured, the wall is effectively complete, with no further need of on going maintenance.

Making the FORMBLOCK system a cost effective and affordable method of masonry wall construction.

The FORMBLOCK Wall Kit  requires no expert skill, it is easy to use and simple to understand and is ideally suited to tradespersons, owner builders, and handypersons, alike.








This is a completed house made using formblocks

Their website is at http://www.formblock.com.au/

I have been fascinated by earth building for a long time, since I first heard of Rammed Earth.  I am a long way from building my own place right now, and plans continue to percolate in my head.  I am now considering a mixture of PSP and Formblock.

One thing interesting to me is they have been making a mixture of up to 10% concrete work for casting their blocks.  I had understood that was not very workable, but they have been doing this for a while, and it seems to be working fine for up to 15 years for some structures.  Sure, there are rammed earth structures hundreds of years old, but I think they'd know by now if their system wasn't working.

Stop by their website and check it out.

Enjoy,

Lauren

Very nice project!  I built a brick patio once (about 15' x 15') and I know firsthand what a load of money and labor (my own) it can cost.  Great job on making it doubly functional!

Leah,

It should work just fine.  I burned a lot of old bacon grease recently, it was too old to use for cooking but it burned just great with the candles.