How excited am I?
Here is a site that gives a basic explanation but the whole idea is to build with bags filled with soil, think sandbags. One layer of bags then barbed wire between rows of bags that work like velcro to hold it all together. Check out the photos here of what can be a
achieved. I really want to jump in and build a house but Jamie, always the voice of reason has decided maybe it would be better to try a trial run.
achieved. I really want to jump in and build a house but Jamie, always the voice of reason has decided maybe it would be better to try a trial run. I have a chicken wire fence at the back of my place and it backs on to the local hall, so when I need to duck out to the loo anyone at a function at the hall can see me racing out. So the plan is to replace this fence with an earthbag wall. I hope to incorporate an old steel tractor wheel in the middle for a bit of interest. I found a place that sells seconds bags in Australia for 100 for $35
....not bad.
....not bad.
11 comments:
Bit like making a house with straw bales...... never seen this one though before.
yes your right Lucky. Due to the drought strawbales have become very expensive, I was looking at strawbales until I relised the cost. I have access to alot of soil that is not good enough for growing in so cost wise this style won hands down.
Hi Kirsty - I have been swooning over earthbag construction for a while now as well! We made a straw bale wall - which was fun, looks fabulous but REALLY hard work, but this looks like much more efficient and clever use of materials and energy!
Look forward to seeing how you go - I have been saving up the chook food sacks for just this purpose! one day.......
Wow this is so cool!
We have toyed with the idea of trying out 'cob building' and thought we'd start with a cubby house for our girls, but even that seemed like a big job. This seems much more doable and reasonable given we have plenty of dirty and small rocks around our place!
Can't wait to see how you go!
Hi Duckie, Thank you so much for the oils, I will post off the soaps this week sometime. Have you posted pics of the wall anywhere?
Hi Kate, the girls would love a cubby! picklebums looks great! thanks for dropping by!
How great! I shall watch with interest! If you can do it then I might have a go too! Can you use any soil?
Looks great, my only question would be how long do the bags last before perishing? Is there a particular make of bag that will hold up well?
Love the site :)
cheers
Hi E...When did you get blogs? have I been hiding? the one I cans see looks like a good start.
Hi Molly the bags are encased in a concrete render so I think they should last well but I will look into the longevity of it.
The bags will perish.. but as Kristy said they are encased in a render, you also rap chicken wire around them for the concrete to stick to.. So really they a quick and easy rammed earth wall :)
Are the bags ex- grain bags ?? I would imagine you would get a heap from Lowan foods in Nhill ????? Just an idea.
AAhhhh Hi Dan! I hadnt thouht about lowan's hhhmmmm Ill have to enquire!
This is great info to know.
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