Cob: Update: rubble trench, rethinking roof, attitudes

[Waiting4 TheDay]

Hello all,

The circular trench is dug down to a depth of approximately 24" -- here in 
southern Illinois the clay layer begins at about 12".  At this point I'd 
have to agree with the proponents of the shallow trench.  After several 
rains I have a fairly deep pool on the downward slope of the trench that has 
sat there through several days of wind, sun, and dry weather.  The water 
isn't being absorbed into the clay in its unpacked state, so I can only 
imagine how impervious it will be after a good, solid packing.  I'd say the 
total time involved in digging this 20" wide trench with an inside diameter 
of 20' with a garden spade and pick has been about nine hours.  (Perhaps a 
wider assortment of hand tools might have helped on the time some.)  I've 
been considering making a trench within the trench for the drain pipe.  It 
will be just big enough to inset the pipe on the bottom of the main trench 
and will be covered with landscape fabric.  The reason being I'm concerned 
that the weight of the building could eventually crush the pipe and limit 
drainage.

I had wanted to use logs from my property as rafters, staying away from 
dimensional lumber as much as possible.  I don't see that happening now.  
It's an issue of time and energy.  Cutting, moving, peeling, and letting dry 
the logs will be a very intensive process, on top of the very intensive 
general building process, and I think that this is a point at which I can 
compromise and not be too perturbed.  Besides, I HATE peeling logs LOL!!!

I'm starting to catch the attitude from the family: "Mud?  You're going to 
build a house out of mud?  What's going to keep it from washing away?" etc, 
etc.  No matter the logic of the argument, there's no changing preconceived 
notions of what a house should be.  I guess only the finished product will 
suffice.  My son (16 y.o.) is more open to the whole idea, with his 
questions being more like "then why aren't more people doing it".  Then we 
get into the whole sociopolitical concept of housing, money, and 
governmental control.

Mike F. -- about the solid tires....my dad had a Sears wheelbarrow with a 
solid rubber tire.  I used that thing all through my adolesence, which is 
why I swore I'd always have a pneumatic tire on a wheelbarrow LOL.

Chuck

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