[Cob] cob code effort

[claysandstraw]

-----Original Message-----

   1. Re: Cob code effort (Ron Becker)

I fail to see why building codes are a problem. Cob is very very old
technique. We do not need any new research to demonstrate the earthen walls
are capable of supporting themselves and a roof.  And Ron, building
inspectors are not naturally close minded.  We all need to be careful about
pre-judging everyone, people will tend to live up to whatever expectations
we place on them.

In reguards to Tom's question about what interest building material supplies
have in cob:  "cob" is not simply a building technique its a gateway to a
paradigm shift.  Part of that shift is learning, looking and experimenting
with what is most avaliable at your site.  Why would I pay a "building
matieral supplier" to come harvest soil from under my feet?  Ideally there
is no role for such a person on a cob site.

Now the reality... where do you keep your muddy shovels in a high rise
condo?  And what happens if I have to spend two days and a tank and a half
of gas driving across the country side to get the perfect color of clay, the
right sand and a bale of straw for my plaster... wouldn't it have been less
impact to just get the bag of kaolin and pigment or American Clay?

The other thing is that for better or worse, advertising is a powerful force
in american culture - can we get building suppliers to recruit for our
cause?  Maybe a bag of ready mixed branded plaster is the first baby step
toward the journey of making a full paradigm shift.  Baby steps, despite
their imperfection, are a crucial part of any journey.

Kindra




>>
>>
>> On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:54:58 -0700 (PDT) Tom Johnson
>> <arlintj at yahoo.com>
>> writes:
>> > Please pardon if my ignorance is showing I am new around here.  I
>> > live in Western Washington.  Cob does not seem to be getting much
>> > exposure around here.  Any "cobbers" please respond.
>> > Is there currently a unified effort to crack the building code
>> > problem?  Who is on board for research and engineering?  Are there
>> > municipalities willing to risk being front runners in the search for
>> > a greener way, not in Oregon?
>> >
>> > Are there any pilot projects currently ongoing with the
>> > participation of government, education and business partners.  Most
>> > importantly is there money available to do such a thing.
>> >
>> > Since cob creates a monolithic structure it seems to me that it
>> > would be a likely candidate for computer modeled analysis.
>> >
>> > Most joe lunchbuckets out there are stuck in the ordinary and
>> > conventional.  How does cob appeal to them?  While I appreciate the
>> > uniqueness of many of the cob structures available for view on the
>> > internet I don't see how they would appeal to most of my neighbors.
>> > How does cob create an opportunity for builders and suppliers of
>> > building materials.
>> >
>> > Acceptance and integration of natural building materials into the
>> > conventional building industry would certainly make it easier for
>> > those of us who would like to live a more natural life.
>> >
>> > In short how do we go about selling NBM to the overcarbonized?