Fall Is Here!

Siding, Light-Clay Straw, & Plaster. The 3 things that have occupied most of my time.

This is one of the completed light-clay straw walls in the loft. We essentially mix a bunch of loose straw with a water-mud mix and cram it in the stud cavities. The forms keep it in place until it dries and then it is hard enough to plaster over. It can be rather time consuming, but peaceful at the same time because it doesn't use power tools or require any other loud noises.

The siding on the loft is acting as the permanent for on the backs of the walls. Here you see the lime washed boards we installed today. Some of the boards have not had the lime wash rubbed in/off, so they are still white. Eventually, the whole wall will look like the darker shaded boards, which will be the same color as the lime plaster on the rest of the house.

Bear and I installing siding on the south facing wall of the loft.

Mark and Ali plastering. Yesterday we spent the morning helping Mark at his house. He is doing an earthen plaster on his straw bale barn. He spent a lot of time getting the walls to be completely flat, and it looks amazing.

Mark's dry fit rocket stove. In preparation for moving into the barn this winter, Mark and his interns have started to build the rocket stove that will keep his family warm.

Cole staying warm (and looking cute) on a breezy autumn morning.