Kelly Hart

Yes... go to https://greenhomebuilding.com/pdf/GroundTemps.pdf and there is a chart of undergroound temperatures around the world.

My first thought was porcupines. I have seen how they have chewed the bark off trees like that; they can easily climb trees to any height.

alaska myers wrote:.

UPDATE: Also found this, this person seems to have many articles about earthbag building but I dont know if hes credible.

http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/low-cost-fill-materials/

That website is run by Owen gieger (sp) he also has several other sites about earthbag building and plans he offers. He's basically the final authority on earthbag building from what I understand

Owen Geiger and I established both www.naturalbuildingblog.com and earthbagbuilding.com together many years ago. Since his death nearly three years ago, I have been keeping both websites alive and regularly posting new material. I still sell his plans and Earthbag Building Guide, as well as my own books and DVDs on that topic.

Lang Fren wrote:
I need to build a structure within 4 months that we can move in. We are fine with having limited space but it has to be reasonable/comfortable enough where we arent sleeping next to the bathroom or the makeshift kitchen area is not next to our bed. So with that said....it seems like I have to cancel this entire plan of considering earthbags.

Hi. This is for the guy building an earthbag.. . where are you located?? Maybe we could come and help you so you can keep your dream alive.. my email is phillips1412@outlook.com..

No strings attached just a helping hand to keep dream alive..
Rose

Lang Fren wrote:Hello, I'm wondering if I can make ~12-16ft diameter domes where I only use gravel as the fill, and then mortar plaster the dome. If it's possible, what is the minimum size and maximum size of the gravel supposed to be? If I can't use just gravel, can I add sand?  Thank you.

Using just gravel or loose sand as fill for an earthbag dome is not a good idea, because the dome needs to be more rigid to be stable as a form, and gravel and sand are inherently shape-shifters.  However, I can verify that it is possible to build a large earthbag dome using crushed scoria as fill, as you can see at http://earthbagbuilding.com/projects/hart.htm . This is because scoria (about 3/4") has lots of sharp edges that keep the material packed into a rather solid block. An added advantage of using scoria (volcanic stone) is that it is quite lightweight and also insulating!

I was pouring through the designs and I see lots of very straight walls and no signs of buttressing. Do the plans you have address this?

Thanks in advance!

The plans generally show buttressing where necessary. Sometimes this is from internal wall buttresses.

John C Daley wrote:Those plans are now sold by https://sustainablelifeschool.com/product/10m-earthbag-roundhouse-plan/
And from there I have lifted this
"These plans are available as digital PDF files or AutoCAD files and were created by Dr. Owen Geiger as complete and ready to build from.
They include necessary elevations, floorplans, cross section details, and other significant construction details; they don’t show every view, every detail — just enough to build.
They do not include electrical and plumbing details.
The section views explain how everything goes together and should answer your questions about materials.
The plans are scaled and dimensioned. "
This plan is offered with a free copy of Owen’s popular Earthbag Building Guide e-book; see this page for more about this book.
All digital files will be delivered by  via email attachments to the paypal account email address within 24 hours after purchase.

In my opinion the longevity of his work and sales shows they are practical and worthwhile.

Yes, the Sustainable Life School is an affiliate with www.dreamgreenhomes.com and does sell a few of his plans, priced the same as at my website.

Jack Edmondson wrote:I have been fascinated with earthbag construction since I came across Dr. Geiger on the internet 10-15 years ago, especially his work with rice hulls as a fill.  I see that someone onlne has rights to his plans and sells them.  (they are about $400 per plan.)   Have been thinking of a 'guest house/mother-in law' home for my parents as they get older.  I am wondering what $400 gets me; and if they are complete plans foundation to roof; or just sketches/design.

Anyone have experience or knowledge of these plans?  I would not need stampable drawings as I don't need permits in my county.  Just wondering if $400 on a hands on course would be more or less beneficial, depending on the quality of plans.

Hi... I am Kelly Hart of www.earthbagbuilding.com , www.naturalbuildingblog.com , www.greenhomebuilding.com and dreamgreenhomes.com . Owen Geiger and were associates on these websites for many years until he sadly passed away nearly three years ago, at which point I inherited his portfolio of plans and continue to sell them, sending a portion of the revenue to his family in Thailand.

I can affirm that these plans are very basic, mostly generic plans that show little more than scaled floorplans, elevations, and possibly cross sections. The are available as either PDF or AutoCAD files (which can be altered by professional architects or engineers.) The prices vary depending on complexity from about $150 to $400 or more if you want the CAD files. All of the plans are very accurate computer generated drawings that provide most of the information that an experienced builder would need to execute. The plans also come with a free copy of Owen's "Earthbag Building Guide" in PDF format.

A hands-on course for learning the basics of earthbag building is always a good idea... and starting with a simple trial building project is also recommended.

I have used a Vitamix to grind flour for over a decade and love it. You need to have the dry blade mixer to do it, and make sure that you grind it long enough to make fine flour, but it does the job. If I need super fine flour, I will mix in some commercial white flour.

Travis Johnson wrote:I always thought papercrete would work. You could pour it in 4x8 sheets and then apply it to the walls. The R-Factor is not that high, but it would be enough to break the thermal bridge.

Papercrete would not be a good choice; it acts like a sponge and will mold. Addressing the problem from the outside would be the best option, but this may not be practical. Rock wool might work on the inside.