Straw Bale House WITHOUT COB (or plaster)??

I have been interested in straw bale building in Ohio for a long time, my most desired pieces of it is the insulative value of the structure, and also it being fireproof! However I also live in southern Ohio, we have some really wet humid times of the year. I am curious if there are any ways to use straw bale on the external walls of an existing wooden lathe and plaster farmhouse, without having to use plaster or cob to cover the outside of the structure, while still being able to fight off the moisture and make it insulated. What ideas or experience do you have? I already have a bit of a problem with mice so i am wondering is here is a more solid way to keep the mice and bugs out of this area, what about metal siding? Wooden external siding with house siding over that? Please provide any thoughts or ideas.

Why am I opposed to cob? I just know that the moisture around here does bad with cob, and i have never had a good experience with the trowel. Things crack and it will take way too long.

You can use lime plaster, which I think is more frequently used with strwbales anyway. Good overhangs will also help.