Cob: RE: Insulation

[Otherfish at aol.com]

jorg
Thanks for the nod, however I can't take the credit.  The concept of putting 
strawbales on the outside of a cob building (hybrid cob/strawbale) came from 
some unknown creator - I first heard about it at the Shenoa Colloquium where 
it was introduced by the Cob Cottage folks.
The point I'm wanting to make is, think of your building like an organism - 
lots of animals get furry for warmth in the winter.  Why can't a house do 
that too?  Simply stacking bales around the outside of the building would 
accomplish this.  I suppose one could make it a permanent coat if climate 
conditions call for it & put the bales on a dry stacked foundation & protect 
them with a plaster of mud.  But if it serves better to not have the bales in 
hot/warm summer conditions, then those locations could remove them & use the 
straw for mulch or some other purpose.  Or just stock pile them till next 
winter.
Be just like living things.  Adapt to changing conditions - there's a lot to 
be gained by all creatures if we can relearn to live a bit closed to the 
world.
It's a concept worth considering.

Regards
john fordice
TCCP
otherfish at aol.com