Cob: Formal Proposal

[John Fordice]

Pack,
I'm an architect in California. I've built a couple of cob structures in
the size range you're considering & have done spreadsheet proposals for
one which is almost finished & one which is waiting funding. I also have
some strawbale experience.  What you are proposing is noble and a way
for you to gain considerable experience.  It is also a means to get some
natural building structures out there for the world to see and become
aware of.  I could possibly assist you in collaboration with others who
might sign-on with experience in the other areas you propose.

The fire of your enthusiasm is wonderful, however I feel the need to say
that in my perception and experience there is perhaps a problem with the
basic premise.  Using the current "green" mainstream catch-word for
doing things in an ecological way: i.e. "sustainable",  the concept of
working in a world ( the culture we live in ) without just compensation,
when that is the means of survival, is unfortunately on both personal
and effectiveness levels not very "sustainable" .

I've harped on this before on the coblist ( although it was a while ago
).  It's all fine & well that those of us inclined to passion and love
go diving off into the mud and creating beauty, but to do so in the
concept of righteous poverty is also one of the things that helps keep
natural building marginalized.  We're like gnats on an elephants ass.
The world of "normal" mainstream build is clicking merrily along all
around us, obliterating the landscape and doing it's level best to help
pollute the planet & meanwhile we natural builders are off over here in
some wee corner doing our thing & being less effective than we might.

Your exciting proposal is going to be a bloody lot of work.  I've lost
track of the number of time folks have come to me with fire in their
eyes about building inexpensively with cob or strawbale, only to
disappear when the reality of the devotional level of work needed as a
trade off for meeting the magical $500 house goal really sinks in.  It
is only the truly stubborn who can bull, or slip, or shimmy their way
through it all and make it happen.  Perhaps you're that person.

When people approach me now about cob projects, I tell them that I'd
love to be involved, but I need to be paid.  After spending almost three
years of volunteer weekends on a wonderful project in Berkeley, I've
been there & done that.  The knowledge & hard earned skills are now in
this brain & hands and can help make cob happen, but the value to the
recipient must be acknowledged.  To quote a line from the film Jerry
McGuire, " show me the money".   Terse, perverse and limiting it may be,
and it scares away more that it encourages, but if I and others who
choose to make cob our livelihood are to survive, this also needs to be.

I've been trying for over five years now to drum up interest in
developing a relevant building code for cob as a way of cutting the
Gordian knot that is keeping cob bound to the margins.  It's a huge
project that needs at least half a million dollars and two years minimum
out of a life to make it happen, but it's a must.  Once cob and other
natural building is opened to the mainstream, it will explode.  When
folks see that they can build hassle free anywhere with the earth and do
so in their own self interest, there will be no stopping it.  It will
range from the horrible most ugly.........to the sublime, but it will
happen and that's what truly matters.

So I laud you and all of us the pursuit of the dream.  I'll be happy to
join in as time, energy and funding allows.

john fordice

Pack McKibben wrote:

> Pack McKibben
> Northeast Georgia
>
> Subject: Proposal
> I need help putting together a Formal Proposal for
> design and construction of six Natural Built shelters
> to be used by campers in a Campground setting.  One
> Cob, Cordwood, Strawbale, Wattle & Daub, Clay Slip,
> and Papercrete Shelter.  Each to be approximately 10’
> x 10’ x 8’ in size, with roof, one door, and three
> windows.  The proposal will also include labor and
> materials.
>
> My Background:
> I’ve become interested in alternative building within
> the last year and a half.  I’ve taken one workshop
> with Cob Cottage Company on basic cob construction.  I
> plan on taking a cordwood construction workshop in the
> spring.  I’ve been reading and doing research on the
> internet about sustainable living, passive solar
> design and other green/natural building techniques
> that include cob, cordwood, clay slip, wattle and
> daub, Papercrete, and earthship design.  I’d call
> myself a neophyte.  All book learning and not much
> hands on experience.  All this interest and research
> because I’ve had a vision of finding land and building
> a natural built home.  I’m still looking for the land.
>  If and when I do find land,   I figured I could build
> small shelters as a way to learn the craft, experiment
>
> with different techniques, and then, MAYBE:
> 1).  Be able to rent them out as a way to make a
> living, or
> 2).  Have a place for natural build workshops, and/or
> 3).  Be able to build a Campground/Natural
> Build/Education Center
>
> Here’s my Problem:
> After looking and pricing land I realized I have the
> budget for a few acres but the project requires a lot
> more.  Zoning is also a problem, but I wont go there
> right now.  So I went to plan “B”.  Which is finding
> someone to let me use their property to build my
> natural built shelters (thanks for the idea Ianto).
> To try to make a long story short, I came across a
> Director of a local State Park who told me about their
> pending expansion of their campground.  From six to
> over three hundred acres!  I told him about my idea of
> a community campground ? sustainable living concept
> and he REALY liked the idea!  So much so that he wants
> me to give him a formal proposal.  It needs to include
> the type of shelter to be constructed, how long each
> would take to be constructed, and an estimated cost of
> materials.  I presume all this so he can figure a
> cost/payback ratio.  I’m WAY over my head in this
> situation.  I’ve NEVER done a proposal.  I feel I can
> handle the community campground portion of the
> proposal.  I need help with the shelter construction
> details (labor and materials).
>
> Solution:
> I need a BUNCH of help!  I do have passion and desire.
>  And I’ve learned over the years that as long as you
> have an open mind and a clear, focused goal, anything
> is possible!  So here’s what I need (and I need it as
> soon as possible) from all those who can help:
> PROPOSALS: If anyone has done a proposal for a grant.
> This type proposal would probably fit my need.  I know
> some people have been building at schools as a project
> for students to learn Natural building (etc.).  If a
> proposal was required, I sure would like to see one.
>
> LABOR:  An idea of how long it takes to build a
> shelter of Cob, Cordwood, Strawbale, Papercrete, ETC.
> should be based on how long it takes two workers
> To build a 10’x 10’ x 8’ shelter, with roof, one door
> and three windows.
>
> MATERIALS:  Total materials list:  Timber, Lumber,
> infill, tonnage, volume, etc.  Everything it takes to
> build a Cob, Cordwood, etc. shelter/building based on
> the same labor benchmarked building requirements.
>
> TOTAL COST:  I hope each shelter can be built for lass
> than $ 500.00 for total labor and matericals.  What do
> you think?  Can this be done?  Is this realistic?
>
> SPECIFICATIONS: Drawings of shelters/buildings, Views:
> Front, Side, Top;
> measurements, details.  I realize this info may be few
> and far between.
>
> PICTURES: of any small shelters/buildings you’ve
> built.  Cob, Cordwood, Strawbale, Papercrete, Wattle &
> Daub, Clay Slip, ETC.
> Any I use as examples for my proposal will be credited
> to
> the sender and/or builder.
>
> FORGOT:  Things I’ve left out!  If I leave it out it’s
> because I don’t know it.  So tell me if there’s more I
> need to include.
>
> GROUP:  Anyone who knows how to help me set up a
> discussion group for this specific proposal.  I don’t
> want to over tax on-going post that are more subject
> oriented.  My plan is to post this ONE message on each
> Cob, Cordwood, Strawbale, and Papercrete (and
> any/others you think might be appropriate) Group/List
> and ask for anyone interested in helping, to use
> direct email to me, or to use the NEW proposal group
> for future post (if I figure out how to set one up).
>
> *******         I’ll provide a URL to the group (in the near
> future) so any interested persons, contributing
> parties, and/or individuals who want to learn about
> Natural Building, can read the in-progress proposal
> *******
>
> Thanks for any help

>
> I hope everyones help will not go for naught

>
> =====
> Pack McKibben
> gakayaker at yahoo.com
>
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