[Cob] Kenaf-Wall building

[Quinn]

Kenaf was one of thousands of plants studied by the US govt in the 1980's as a substitute for wood pulp in papermaking.  Narrowed down to hundreds, then a few, kenaf came out the winner because its longer fibers made it stronger than wood pulp for paper, it retained ink better (no smudgy hands on newsprint), and it required less bleaching, hence less chlorine, less thermal run-off into rivers, etc.  

It is a member of the hibiscus family and grows wherever cotton can be grown in this country.  Three crops a year can be grown and harvested.

The rich and lobbiest-laden paper industry has squelched its benefits for decades because it would mean major re-tooling for their industry.  Nonetheless, several alternative companies (Seventh Generation, for one) have begun cultivating it for a paper alternative.

I think kenaf would be an excellent alternative/ additive for straw in cob building.

Quinn