[Cob] Clay discussion

[Tim Nam]

thinking in terms of carbon opportunity cost, building with cob would more than offset the carbon cost of say, building with concrete and steel, which as we all know is highly carbon intensive.  Or the more common building with wood even has a significant carbon cost associated with it, what with the logging trucks, milling, etc. (though wood is a natural carbon sink and will hold whatever carbon it contains for 50+ years assuming no rot)


however, I understand the motivation to not use any carbon (emissions) at all, if possible. 

Unless you bike to town for supplies, buy only locally produced goods transported by bicycle and otherwise live a zero carbon life, its about minimization, not elimination.  Diverting a dump truck already full of clay and bound for some other dump site to your site might have a miniscule impact on carbon. If that truck is running on biofuel, the carbon impact is negligible.  In any case, one big dump truck load would be better than multiple pick-up loads/trips, probably.  Then again, if you're really concerned about your carbon footprint, perhaps it might be time to move off the moraine closer to town (and clay, not to mention straw).

being on a moraine, i imagine there is plenty of rock.  perhaps investing in some good stone stacking skills would be called for.  

just my rambling thoughts.  good luck with your decisions

Tim Kijoo Nam
Corvallis, OR
tkn317071 at yahoo.com
http://timsbloggo.blogspot.com/
"We are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live." -Socrates




________________________________
From: dan Burbank <dan at crookedbear.com>
To: coblist at deatech.com
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2009 12:29:05 PM
Subject: [Cob] Clay discussion

I live on top of a Puget Sound glacial moraine. No clay to be found for
miles and miles. I considered for a while to haul from one of the river
valleys either in my pickup or buying it from a contractor who is
building. BUT...

I am having a difficult time justifying the carbon expense of it. Just a
thought. Any time I build anything I will have to justify the carbon cost,
short of filled bag construction, which is currently the leader in my
thoughts of building a large protection wall around by new berry bed.

I would be interested in any thoughts. Not just about what I am working
on, but the philosophy of using what you have rather then moving materials
like this. I hope this is not asking for trouble in a off topic discussion
but not all of us are "blessed" with clay. Though I know gardeners who
would take issue with clay being a blessing.

dan


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