Melissa Laurita Kohl

I know this is a very old topic, but I just wanted to chime in for people like me who are still looking.

Hay is not more decomposable than straw. Straw does really well in a compost pile.

You don't build hay bale houses because of the moisture content (mold) and the fact that they can spontaneously explode (bigger problem than mold!).

I am curious why straw and not hay is used in cob because hay is much more plentiful where I am (at least organic hay is readily available and organic straw is not) and when the hay is distributed through the mud it won't have those same issues with moisture and spontaneous combustion. I assume it has to do with straw having more structural integrity but I am not sure, which is why I am doing some online sleuthing.

I have an old scythe and have been really excited to use one on my homestead. However, I am a very short woman with some chronic back and shoulder issues and wonder if a scythe is practical for a range of body types.

This book looks like an excellent resource. My husband and I do not drive and do not have any equipment on our homestead with alpaca, sheep, ducks, chickens, bunny, and cat. We do purchase organic hay from a neighbor, but would prefer to do some of our own haying with a scythe and to grow grain as well.

Thank you!