[Cob] RE: solutions for housing shortage

[Mary Lou McFarland]

I had read an article somewhere that Rob Roy was trying out building 
cordwood on a gravel berm instead of a rubble trench, kind of like the berm 
used to hold up railroad tracks.  After the floods of '93 we saw excessive 
tree die off from being in the standing water.  Since the same thing will 
happen in the New Orleans area you might as well start harvesting them for  
cobwood construction.  If the flood waters have heaved concrete then maybe 
you could scavenge enough for an urbanite structure.  I don't know how long 
it stays warm  down there but you could also consider a double walled 
tent/house built on an elevated platform.  I had also read about the 
elevated tent houses as year round housing in northern California.  Does 
your friend have an address or a way for us to get supplies to her?  We 
aren't heavy in the money department but we can clean out our closets and 
send clothing, etc.  I do not trust the current administration to do any 
real help so would prefer to help on the grass roots level where you know 
that  what you do to help actually goes to those needing help.  Please keep 
us updated.