It reduces noise pollution and provides superior insulation. Most of the chemicals found in the many building materials cause allergies and ailments. Straw bale construction reduces this problem. Even someone who doesn’t have carpentry skills can build a house using this technique. It is very helpful for women who want to build by themselves. Studies show that animals living I the straw bale buildings are healthier and more productive. It encourages to build animal sheds using this method. It applies to the human also. It helps our environment by not destructing forests and trees.

Methods of construction:

     There are three different ways of using strawbale to build house. The first is called Nebraska style construction. Since many different ways of building low cost foundations are in practice in many parts of the world, that is not going to be discussed in this paper. Once the foundation is laid out, stack the bales like bricks on the foundation. At least six inches of foundation should above the soil to avoid water and insects. The foundation must be wide as the bales (usually around 18 inches). Run Reba or wooded spikes through bales to pin them together. Please a wooden plate on top of the wall and connect it by wires or cables to the foundation. This is suitable for small structures of 18 feet wide.

     The second method is post and beam method. Here, the roof weight is supported by the posts and beam construction. The walls are filled with straw bales. This method is suitable for larger structures. Wrapping technique is the another method to build straw bale walls. A conventional wood frame technique is used here. Then bales are laid up on the outside.

Making Straw bales without machines?

     It is easy to make straw bales with a help of low-cost straw baler. With boards and nails, anybody can make a baler (bailing box). First make a square or rectangle box without a top or bottom. Place two pieces of string or twine 10 inches apart across the top of the baling box. Putting dry straw into the box, while pressing the straw and twines right to the bottom. The twines should be long enough to be loose and hanging out on each side of the box while being pressed. Continue to add straw while pressing down until there is no place to add any more straw. Pull the loose ends of the twine around the straw and tie them firmly. Now your well-secured straw bales are ready. This is a very simple method to make a low-cost straw bale.

Wall Finishes.

     The walls of the straw bale structure can be covered with adobe-mortar mixture or you can use with a plaster-based finish. The exterior of the house should be finished with stucco, which is 5 parts clean sand, 2 parts cement, and 1 part lime. The first coat of stucco is called "scratch" coat. The second "brown" coat, which is 6 parts sand, 2 parts cement, and 1 part lime stucco, should follow the "scratch" coat. Then apply a thinner "color" coat to give the structure its permanent color. The inside of the building should be finished with plaster for a softer, less-noise reflecting surface. In the case of adobe, the stabilized adobe and the unstabilized adobe can be applied to the exterior and the interior walls of the structure respectively.

Fire Resistence..

    The straw bale buildings are extremely flame resistant. According to a report from the National Research Council of Canada, compressed straw contains enough air to provide an adequate insulation. It is not enough to sustain fire. Even the Council suggested straw bale construction for area frequently affected by grass fires. The cement finish saves the structure from fire, bugs, or rodents.

Information sources:

"The first little pig was right", Ted Butchart, The Perma Culture activist, February 1993, published by Perma culture international Ltd, PO Box 6039, South Lismore , NSW 2480, Australia.

"History of straw bales used for construction" by Joseph McCabe, University of Arizona, Agricultural Engineering, Tuscon, Az(web: http://soltice.crest.org/effieciency/strawinsulation/history.html).

"Straw bale construction" , British Columbia Agri Digest, November/December 1995.

"Baling Hay the low-cost way" package 21:script 6, Developing Countries Farm Radio Network, Toronto.

Habib John Gonzalez, Sustainable Works, s-10, c-5, RR#1, Winlaw, B.C, Canada VOG 2J0.