The building is set on a south slope for maximum solar gain and it’s slightly burmed into the hill, which will help to moderate temperature. We built on a rubble trench which combines drainage and footing functions.
It took a few days to set the first course of stones and the threshold. After that our speed increased dramatically as we went along.
Greg
I played when I needed a break. I learned a whole lot about stone (and these stones in particular) by fooling with them. The foundation benefeted from it.
Greg and I taught a couple of cob workshops during the building process. Here we are mixing cob by foot.
Cob is composed of clayey subsoil, sand, straw and water. It’s mixed to a firm yet malleable consistency and walls are built handfull at a time.
Green roof workshop
Here you can see the strawbales. The west and north walls are a bale/cob hybrid for greater insulation.
