Hello! I've been studying cob building on and off for the last seven years or so. I'm 22, just got out of college, and I am finally feeling ready to begin the cob journey. Only thing is, I've read so much for so many years and it's left me sort of confused as to how I should begin. Keep in mind, I'm in student debt on a starving artist's income, with a part time job. My boyfriend, who works full time as a chimney sweep and I want to get out of our parents houses soon, and enjoy a life with more privacy. So here are my burning questions:
1) what comes first, land or building permit approval? I live in North Carolina. Do I get permits then find the land? Vice versa?
2) we're thinking of getting a good sized camper to remodel and live in so we can build at a more relaxed pace, and as we can afford to build. Would it be better to just build a small cob cottage on the property to live in while we build a larger home, or does anyone have insight on the advantages of the camper life? Other temporary living suggestions?
3) has anyone else here built with cob in North Carolina? I live right outside Winston Salem, and it's awfully backwoods out here. Did anyone run into problems getting approval to build?
4) any extra wisdom?
Thanks!
