John Wilkinson

Hi Glenn,
My desire to have the cob is significant partly due to aesthetics.
If I were to use concrete pavers are you saying I could mask them with a layer of cob?

Hi Thomas, Cristobal and Glenn,

Thank you all for the replies.  Very helpful.

Another related question.
Once the walls of the bench have been raised to an appropriate height I would need some form of frame or internal pillars to hold up the cob 'roof'.  any suggestions in this regard.

John

HI All,

I've been reading back and forth for a good while and want to go with a stratification chamber/bell in the traditional RMH style.

I'm struggling to work out the best way to build it using cob.  With regard structure I can't find any good information on building a bench with cob that won't collapse during the building process.

Anyone able to point me in the right direction?

John  

Mmmm.

I stopped using soap in the shower about 20 years ago except for when I'm really grimy from a particular dirty job.  I'm late 50's and work as an artisan boat builder and run a small holding.  When I stopped using soap I found I rarely got spots or rashes, my skin sensitivity reduced significantly and my skin stopped feeling dry.
I'd used a variety of soaps over the years.
My hands and forearms do get good soaping at times because they do get grubby.

I stopped using shampoo about 10 years ago.  My hair felt pretty thick and grimy for a few weeks and then it was fine.  Occasionally I've had to do work that has meant my hair needed a dam good wash - such as when I lime rendered a straw bale barn and had the lime dust was deep into my hair.  One good was with a general shampoo for normal hair sorts it out and I'm back to water washing again.

Can't see the point in stripping your hair and skin of natural oils when they manage themselves well without intervention.

I am pretty social and run various workshops and used to work as a full time school teacher (so I'm not a smelly hermit) and never had issues with people avoiding my or holding their noses.  

Fox James wrote:If you punch into Google ‘straw bale building permies’ just make sue you add  permies ….. and it comes up with 10 or so threads…. Here is one …. https://permies.com/t/197320/rocket-stove-straw-bale-building

Excellent,

Thanks for the redirection.

Matt McSpadden wrote:Hi John,
Fox has already pointed you to another thread. I was just wondering what piece you are wondering about for RMH and Straw bale building? The fire hazard? If that is the case, I would point out that they built a RMH in a mobile home that is arguably as flammable as a strawbale house with lime plaster.

Yes, that is the main issue.  Wall proximity and protection would be the things I want to get right.

Thanks

Hi All,

I have read myself back and forward through loads of material on RMH and I can't find anything relating to using them in a straw bale building with interior Lime rendered walls.
The floor is timber joists which I am aware I will probably have to add support to to take weight.

Anyone direct me to information on the straw bale issue?

Any help hugely appreciated.

John

Steve Picker wrote:For those of you using wool as a mulch it has a great fertilizer analysis, 9-0-2.

Hi Steve, What does 9-0-2 refer to?

Dave Pence wrote: A leaf blower and hose system was rigged up to blow the wool into the void.  It worked really well, fluffing up the wool as it traveled through the flexible pipe.

What an excellent innovation for installing the wool.  My intention was hand installing knowing it would be a tedious job.

Do you know if the wool was treated first?

John

Beau M. Davidson wrote:I use raw wool in all my outbuildings, and sometimes even in our home.

I say raw, but I actually ferment it in a large trough of water for a few weeks, rinse it in rainwater or the creek, and let it sun-dry on a concrete slab.  It is my understanding that this cleans some, but not all the lanolin off, removing grime, and leaving an even protective coating.  

It started as an experiment 5 years ago, and I have been pleasantly surprised to have zero problems.  No pest, no odor, just an incredibly high-performing loose-fill insulation material.

Thank you for this comment Beau.  Very encouraging!