[Cob] tit for tat ... professionals vs. amateurs

[Mary Lou McFarland]

My husband got a new comuter game so I've been off for a few days.  As I'm 
reading several days of letters at one time ,I'm struck by the amount of 
rancor shown.  Can't really say I agree with any one person or another about 
a lot of the thoughts and issues expressed.  I am mesmerized by the look of 
cob but with my climate I shall probably have to go hybrid, whether it is 
cob-wood or involving straw in some way.  Can't really say I see more mold 
in one structure than another as my experience is so limited.  Though as hot 
as it has been here with the high humidity our refrigerator seals fairly 
bloomed with the stuff in just two days time.  I clean it off, because 
that's what you do.  We are currently living in a circa 1887 balloon framed 
Queen Anne "I" style cottage.  We have done a lot of work on her.  Some by 
ourselves and some "professionally" done.  To date, I have not been happy 
with any work that has been hired out.  I have been lied to , cheated or 
just plain and simple had shoddy quality work done.  I've gotten over being 
mad about it,but I sure know that I can do better.  I heard once that an 
amateur is someone who does a thing for the love of it....that doesn't mean 
stupid or ignorant.  I'm just not getting paid.    When I start building, my 
little farmstead will probably be fairly eclectic.  I want my out house 
NOW!! so it will probably be stick built out of recycled lumber.  The run in 
shed for the pony will be just cob.  The barn might be cob and bale with 
some timber framing to accomodate some spans and I'm leaning towards 
cob-wood for the cabin with all earthen plasters.   I think being inclusive 
with our building materials, not so exclusive, might  be more enriching and 
educational.  After all, cob is is being touted as a flexible and forgiving 
building medium, so let's try everything.  I like the look of the old style 
cob in Devon, England .  That's just me .  That doesn't mean that the round 
cobs aren't beautiful too.  We can be inclusive on shape too.  I don't think 
this process is going to bring about a single homogenous look.....and would 
we want it to?  Perhaps like our building medium, we should be a little more 
flexible and forgiving and in the meantime....has anyone tried crumbled corn 
cobs as an insulation medium?  They are fairly light and might possibly be 
easy to acquire in agricultural areas.  Might be condusive to a light clay 
treatment as well.

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