Cob slideshow by Robert Bolman

[Robert Bolman]

Don,
That sounds like a lot of good reasons to come to Spokane.  I've never been
there, but when I look at it on a map, it looks awfully far away.  How far
from Vancouver is Nelson, BC?
I wouldn't object if someone wanted to shower me with money, generally, at
this time I simply ask that I be fed and put up for the night.
I've been meaning to get back to you about the foundation details that you
sent.  Very interesting.  The straw bales in the ground would be seen with
some skepticism around here where the ground is mush for much of the year.
They seem to be holding up in your location?  On one hand, I like Rastra.
On the other hand I wouldn't want to do a whole house out of it like some
folks are doing.  I'm told that the polystyrene isn't always necessarily
recycled - like sometimes they have to buy it new - which, for me, defeats
the whole purpose.  The biggest drawback on my concrete chunk foundation was
its labor intensiveness.  (we need environmental tax reform).  I'm presently
considering a more conventional foundation with a standard footing and
Rastra stemwalls.
Do you have email for Habib?
Good to hear from you,
Robert Bolman


>Hey, Have you considered swinging east after Vancouver.  I suspect there
>is a group of folks in Nelson BC area that would be thrilled to host you -
>check with Habib up there.  I'm also sure we could get a group together
>here in Spokane WA through the local chapter of the EcoBuilding Guild,
>Creating The Future, Simplicity Circles and such.  You'd be welcome to
>bunk here at our place or in our teepee in the front yard.
>
>Also I could take you out to the earth-sheltered (living roofed),
>strawbale, rammed earth, cob, soil cement, annualized passive solar
>demonstration home one of my clients has under construction and the test
>module next to it that has been performing and gathering data for two
>years now.  You might find these interesting additions to your slide show,
>along with shots of the SNAP strawbale house we built last year for a
>low-income family. Also the 1850 Cataldo Mission which incorporates cob,
>wattle and daub and is Idaho's oldest standing structure is near by and
>worth a visit.
>
>Do you charge to present and how much?  Your synopsis sounds so similar
>to my own presented at this spring's Spokane Sustainability Symposium!
>look forward to hearing from you. - Don Stephens
>
>