[Cob] Earthberming a cob house?

[Amanda Peck]

I wrote a long letter to Sharon Cox, then sent it to her, not the list.  
Good morning, world!

But without trying to reproduce my, ahem, deathless prose, here are two 
links and a reference.

Thermal mass people and insulation people are sometimes in a state of war.  
Depending on where one is and solar orientation, etc., either or some weird 
hybrid might be ideal.

http://www.deatech.com/natural/coblist/coblist-web/1998/0440.html
A thread from the coblist archives! including Don Stephens on PAHS.

Topless tires:
http://www.touchtheearthranch.com/goatshed.htm

And Rob Roy's newest book, which I haven't looked at although I once owned 
some of the older ones, should tell you how HE berms in the lower walls of a 
cordwood masonry house.
..................
Sharon Cox wrote:
I am interested to know if you can earthberm a cob house?  If yes, how do 
you prevent water from deteriorating the cob wall? (I know you could use 
something to divert the water away from the home, inside the berm, but the 
earth would still be against the cob wall)

I am looking at both cob and earthship home building and like that the 
earthship can be earthbermed, but I also like cob structures.

The other question I have is I realize that the cob breathes and that it has 
great thermal mass, but what about insulation for colder climates?  If you 
were to put say straw bales on the outside and then a thinner layer of cob, 
would the cob still breathe?

Thank you for your help!
Sharon


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