[Cob] Kenaf-Wall building

[GlobalCirclenet]

Can you give us any source of information on Kenaf in earthen building?

paul at largocreekfarms.com
http://medicinehill.net
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 8/2/2004 at 2:07 AM Quinn wrote:

>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
>
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