Gimme Shelter

Earthbag building, one of the safest and most efficient methods of green construction, turns sandbags and barbed wire into the foundations of sustainable homes. The modest home plans require little or no energy for the transportation of materials and can be flood and earthquake safe. Although there is some engineering expertise involved, earthbags are a versatile alternative to other green building methods like rammed earth and adobe structures. The materials vary from polypropylene and burlap bags filled with adobe, concrete/sand mixtures, and other locally available filling. The bags are protected from water and sun damage by an outer coat of plaster, which gives the finished product a cozy earthen look. For a comprehensive look at earthbag construction, visit here. For a hands on approach, check out this Earthbag Building Workshop at the Source Farm Ecovillage:

March 5-17, 2009

Johnstown, Jamaica

Receive earthbag building certification in a course that includes the physics and geometry of domes and arches, plumbing and electricity, plaster application, solar and wind options, and permaculture design. Learn from the authors of "Earthbag Building: Tools, Tricksand Techniques."

Register before February 6; tuition is $1400.

USA
Dwight Shirley  

dwightshirley1(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jamaica  
Coda Phillips

codasourcefarmecovillage(at)yahoo(dot)com

Join the Source Farm mailing list for more info.

Story suggetsed by Nadia Blank.