[Cob] cob in Haiti

[Damon Howell]

All countries have impoverished residents. I believe many poor folks  
don't build cob because they simply don't know how. As I understand  
of Haiti, there was a handful of rich folk and the rest lived in  
poverty. I know earth is used as material in many places around the  
world but I also see some derelict houses in the place I live  
(Jasper, GA) and ask God why our government doesn't allow them to  
build with earth and relieve their stress. Think of how much more  
productive they would be in their lives. A solid home raises the  
spirit a lot. I would most definitely share my knowledge and help  
them rebuild their home if only it was legal, but it's not here in  
the U.S.A anyway. I've always heard the best leaders lead by example.  
The illegal cob homes popping up are examples that it works. We would  
never improve anything if we didn't experiment with new methods. But  
somehow earth building has been banned in the US. Experimental  
structures go a long way in teaching others about cob but every time  
someone inhabits a house which isn't approved by the government it  
makes it nearly impossible for the next guy that tries to do the  
right thing and asks permission. Lets try to put a better face on cob  
than something built by a bunch of anarchists please.
Damon