Earth Bag Homes

[Ted S.]

I built several ICF houses and currently live in the last one. I think wood frame is the way to go, even a double wall, R40 exterior wood frame wall will cost a fraction of these non conventional assemblies.

One thing is for sure, aluminum framed, aluminum clad walls are about as worse performing as you can get, why do you think 30'ers need 2 ACs and 50 amps to power them...

[dkottum]

The most organic or natural way to build is to use the materials at hand. In Persia - dirt, in Minnesota - logs, in Nebraska - sod, in Arizona - rocks, in Los Angeles - Home Depot.

[mimiandrews]

The house I grew up in was built with adobe. It was built in 1936, and as far as I know is still standing and in good condition.

[nrgtrakr]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Gee, that's the same guy as mentioned in the OP. Except the original guy was from Iran, not Persia.



Wait - - - Iran IS Persia.

Curious I asked Nadir why he said Persia. Nadir said because Persia is NOT Iran - Persia is Persia.
It's a common mistake similar to people from the USA calling themselves "americans" when "america" stretches from Canada to Chile.
I spent a couple of years living in SW Asia before meeting Nadir, so I understood.
His "earthbag" technique has been adopted by many, but his buildings were the real deal. CalEarth is located in the Mojave. It was July when I first went there, I'd been living in the Mojave for a year then. It was about 130F a couple feet above the ground. Inside a single layer brick dome it was about 90F.

[cwf]

Monolithic Dome homes, schools, churches, storages, gyms and more | Monolithic Dome Institute

[Tincampers]

What are we to call ourselves? USans?

[Lily&Me]

If I could......I would build a subterranean something in my back yard, similar to the old root cellars/storm shelters.

I would store things in there, it would also be a place of shelter in the event an F3 or greater tornado came thru here, at which time one is only safe underground. I do have a key to my son's, a mere mile away, and they have a basement, but still....

As I recall, the water table here is too high for such a thing, which is why I am on a slab.

I have always wanted an earth sheltered dugout.....cool in summer, protected from the elements in winter, and a storm shelter ....all things are not meant to be.


Maggie

[cwf]

Originally Posted by mrprez

What are we to call ourselves? USans?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_American

[nvestysly]

Thanks for starting this thread Maggie - it's an interesting topic.

It reminds me of the homes Habitat for Humanity builds in other parts of the world. Depending on the region of the world a Habitat for Humanity home might be built with a simple lean-to roof and openings in the wall rather than what might be considered windows. The homes may be built on stilts or made with hand-made bricks or earth-filled bags depending on where the home is built.

Be sure to stop by and visit the Habitat for Humanity Global Village and Discovery Center in Americus, GA if you're ever in the area.

Discover the world of Habitat for Humanity at the Global Village & Discovery Center | Habitat for Humanity Int'l

[Lily&Me]

It is an interesting topic, thank you, and fascinating how earth has been sheltering humans for many hundreds of years.

The Mother Earth News newsletter is free, and arrives in one's inbox every morning.

Lots of great bits of information, whether one thinks you will use them or not.....never a bad thing to have info regarding living more simply and naturally, because one never knows when things could change.


Maggie

[BoldAdventure]

I had to scroll far through my instagram feed to find this



Before we settled on the Airstream, I was sketching ideas of building a tiny house using earth bags. And building it out in Idaho.

[Lily&Me]

Idaho would be the perfect place for a house like that.


Mwggir

[cwf]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

It is an interesting topic, thank you, and fascinating how earth has been sheltering humans for many hundreds of years.

.......never a bad thing to have info regarding living more simply and naturally, because one never knows when things could change.


Maggie

Miss Maggie,
We have root cellars in Louisiana. Slope the floor. Nowadays you can put a solar powered sump pump, air flow.. Anchor the floor to minimize/eliminate buoyancy.

I have helped build one. It can be done.

Our water table was about 16-24" below ground level. It came up when it rained a lot.

[cameront120]

Originally Posted by BoldAdventure

I had to scroll far through my instagram feed to find this



Before we settled on the Airstream, I was sketching ideas of building a tiny house using earth bags. And building it out in Idaho.

Looks a lot like the "Quietude" Mandala by Henry Yorke Mann, here in BC.
Quietude | Oliver, British Columbia, Canada

[Rich W]

Here a car to go with the earth homes, the original Adobe, featured on SNL

The commercial is here but you have to sit through a commercial. It's not on Youtube for some reason. Anyhow, seemed appropriate.
Watch Adobe From Saturday Night Live - NBC.com

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by cameront120

Looks a lot like the "Quietude" Mandala by Henry Yorke Mann, here in BC.
Quietude | Oliver, British Columbia, Canada

HOLY COW! That is a lot how we envisioned it. We wanted a house that was centered around a seating area with lofts.

[cwf]

There are some folks using "recycled" material. Old tires. Plastic bottles. Dillo dirt. Shipping containers... Or some SOBs, or old AS, filled with dirt, tires, etc... Of course you will need 16" wheels and Michelins... Hey, used Michelin tires inside!!!

[J. Morgan]

I think that once the mud sets and the wall is plastered, that the life expectancy of the bags does not matter a lot.

(I say this because I have seen abandoned adobe structures last for decades upon decades in the desert southwest.

In an arid climate, a mud structure will (as a rule) last for about as long as the roof is maintained.


Brevi tempore!

[J. Morgan]

Oh,,,, aren't these really (or alternatively) dirtbag homes?


Brevi tempore!