start Stem Wall/Foundation: help?

Hi there,

My name is Matthew and I am new to the permaculture community however I have already taken up an apprenticeship in Stelle, IL with Midwest Permaculture. One of the projects I am helping with is to build the first cob cabin on the land with the objective of teaching as many people as possible cob building in the process. We have the Drainage and rubble trench filled and a the Cedar frame of the cabin was completed this summer during one of the courses - most of the roof is done and will be complete by the end of next week. We are wanting to try and move on the foundation while we may still have some time to do it before the brunt of winter but we need some help from permies on how to procede!

Have we done everything we need to do to keep water out? Mainly on the North side (back) and east side the trench slopes up around the 11x13 cabin - also, how do we tie the floor into the (foundation/bond-beam/stem) wall as far as the height in relation to the foundation (flush with the bottom, level or lower than rubble trench?) - and do we need to plan out anything with wanting to put a rocket stove in at this time? any advice or links to instruction would be most helpful.

Thank you for your time, Matthew

Welcome to Permies Mathew!!!

We are happy that you joined in and would love to help. If you don't mind, it really is hard (especially for me) to render good advice without having a clear picture of the project. I mean that literally, as you really need to take the time to learn how to post pictures here (we love pictures.) Without them, folks like me that work in the Traditional and Natural building field are loath to give advice, as it can be mistaken, and use improperly without a clear project outlines. Just words doesn't get the job done.

I also teach many of these guild arts, so as a teacher (you may hate me for this) I need you to, "show me your work." Especially if you want help. If you haven't learned to use sketchup, I would advise it, or you must at least draft your projects out. Working without good design drawings is not good practice. Look forward to your pictures.

Regards,

jay

Jay,

I apologize - didn't even think I could post photos before you said something - I will have to take some better pics of the structure when I get back to the site on Monday - I am currently in the process of moving there for the apprenticeship and had to come back to the old house to wrap things up here and be able to leave it behind for good - thank you for your willingness to give advice and I will post again on Monday with more pics!!

Matthew Hobler : you still have time for your Rocket Mass Heater, though you need to decide whether you want it tied into the ground as a further heat storage area
where you want your chimney ? on the lee side if possible (but where is the lee side, today- and yesterday- and- )could you look at local trees and tell? you probably
should keep a chart, especially if in the future people will be coming to you for advice !

The only other rule is, the RMHs Feed Tube should be located in the very heart of the home -which is what hearth originally meant, not just an architectural definition!
It does Not have to start and end attached to an outside wall.

Those are the big ones, think of the Cob Bench as Warm built in furniture ! you have time for all the rest !

Ill. is cold enough in winter to make an interior chimney a good idea, and will prevent many drafting problems ! For the Craft ! BiG AL !