Paul Matthews

I love the idea of using the scraps of the burgeoning cannabis industry to build houses, but the embodied energy in the lime cements most mixes call for is a real turn off. Anyone have any ideas for an alternative hempcrete binder?

I've been to a few places now where I look at their little buildings (farm housing, camp cabins etc) up here in the Midwest and wonder if they could be easily super-insulated with a layer of of straw bale/cob? My first worry would be the metal/plastic siding on one side keeping the moisture from flowing out of the bales/wall.

Thoughts?

Glad there's folks reading out there! I just landed back in the states a couple weeks ago, so I'm still figuring out my next steps. I'm definitely willing to do a work/room&board exchange if funds are short, but I would need some time to sit here and save up a bit first. If you're looking for the full summer/starting quicker, I'll want to work out some sort of stipend/pay so I have some funds to work with once it's time to move on What kind of projects are you thinking about for the coming months?

This'll be my first MREA, but I can't wait! The workshop schedule looks fantastic

Hello! SE Wisconsin (Wauwatosa) here. Last fall I spent 5 months living/working/learning on a developing permaculture project in Sheffield, England; we put up a toilet block, sauna, 9x30m polytunnel, and a strawbale barn/bunkhouse was in it's last steps when I finally left. Now that I'm back in the states, all I want to do is get involved with more projects, get more experience, and eventually get my own natural building company started! So far I've found Bear Paw, Acorn Enterprises, and Midwest Natural Builders, but otherwise things seem pretty sparse in the state when it comes to professional outfits.

If you're looking for a set of hands on your project, or have land that you'd like to see some development on, let me know! I'm also trying to find a ride to The Energy Fair (6/17-19) for one day or the whole weekend