Cob Straw-clay resources

[John Schinnerer]

Aloha,

OK, I finally found some stuff...:-)

There's an article by Ted Butchart  in Permaculture Activist #36 (March 1997) 
- "Straw-Clay Construction" is the article title.  It has general straw-clay 
info, two architectural-quality drawings and details on a method for using 
with timber-frame and light stud
"blind" walls to make thick straw-clay walls.  It ends by suggesting a 
booklet on
straw clay and related techniques available from Robert LaPorte.

As for the insulative values, fireproofness, etc., I don't know of any data 
that would be acceptable to the average building official, although there are 
the usual anecdotal estimates floating around.  Ted Butchart, Robert LaPorte, 
etc. might have more technical info, if there is any.  If you want the 
building officials on your side, I suggest inviting them to help you figure 
it all out.  Get them curious and involved in the process so that they want 
to find out too...

Resources:

Permaculture Activist
P.O. Box 1209
Black Mountain, NC 28711
704-298-2812

Ted Butchart
Greenfire Institute
1509 Queen Anne Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109
206-284-7470
ted at balewolf.com
http://www.balewolf.com

Robert LaPorte
Natural House Building Center
2300 W. Alameda, A5
Santa Fe, NM 87501

John Schinnerer