Updates in the World of Strawbale in Missouri
Here is the latest on the Strawbale program in the South Central Region in Missouri. Final houses in Texas County and Phelps County
Welcome to Cardinal Bluff and Straw Bale Construction
Welcome to Straw Bale Construction at Cardinal Bluff. My name is Richard Lorenz and I am located in the Ozarks Mountains of SW Missouri, USA. I serve as Strawbale Technical Specialist for Top of the Ozarks Resource Conservation & Development, Inc, representing the South Central Region of Missouri from offices located in Houston, MO. This straw bale house program started January 2006, when Top of the Ozarks RC&D, Inc., working with the University of Missouri, was given a grant from HUD to offer technical and financial assistance to builders of ten homes using straw bales as the walls.
We now have four houses framed and baled, one of which is plastered (stucco). Five more are making daily progress.
Before I began working with this straw bale initiative (learn more at Straw Bale Construction at Cardinal Bluff), I confess to being a LOG guy.
I built several log homes in Wyoming and was absolutely convinced that I wanted to finally build one for myself. Now, it has all changed and I am converted to straw bale construction and plan to build a straw bale home when I finish working with the people who are part of the present program to promote straw bale construction in Missouri.
I hope you enjoy reading about our adventures as much as all of us have enjoyed participating in them. Meanwhile, keep your bales dry! Richard
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juLh8RxjbjM
08.30.2010
05.18.2010
Straw Bale Housing Initiative in Missouri | Amazing Homes
Charming cottage built using Straw Bales for walls and lots of feng shui application for a feeling of spacious comfort within a few square feet.
12.17.2009
Brochure for Finished Homes |Straw Bale Celebration
When the straw bale homes were completed, the families were part of an open house self-guided tour for the public to be able to appreciate the buildings.
12.13.2009
Straw Bale Construction Initiative in Missouri | Final Tour of Finished Homes
Touring across Douglas, Ozark and Howell counties to view successful completion of Straw Bale Homes with the Straw Bale Construction Initiative with Top of the Ozarks, RC&D.
11.17.2009
Strawbale Housing Initiative Is Completed
The End is near!
That would be the end of the Strawbale Housing Initiative Program that has been made available through Top of the Ozarks RC&D in partnership with HUD and U.M. Missouri Extension services. We will be announcing plans for the tour on radio stations in Ava, Missouri, Houston, Missouri and West Plains, Missouri as [...]
10.20.2009
Rotary Luncheon at Thayer, MO = Arth Strawbale Home Program
On Friday October 16th Tom Arth and I were invited to do a presentation on strawbale houses at the Thayer Rotary Club luncheon.
I gave a PowerPoint presentation on the five houses finished in the grant program funded by HUD and administrated by the Top of the Ozarks RC&D Inc. in a partnership with the University [...]
09.16.2009
Rice Hulls for Insulation
I’ve mentioned using rice hulls for use as insulaton. They are definitely worth consideration. The biggest negative that I can see is handling. When compared to bagged cellulose, the cost to package rice hulls in neat little bags is too high.
Today’s bag of cellulose insulation costs approximately 65 cents per cubic foot after the bag [...]
09.16.2009
Cash for Cabins?? Is that a Possibility?
“Green” is a whole life style, not just solar panels on the roof and driving a hybrid car. It all starts with common sense, eating right, living clean and using what works most efficiently. Using only what you need; not all you can afford.
Building green in the true sense doesn’t make a big splash. It [...]
05.11.2009
Moisture Public Enemy No. 1
We’re observing a noble effort to demonstrate energy management by active Weatherization Programs which will no doubt beef up insulation in homes, make every effort to stop air leaks (or circulation), and in general make each structure in the program a “tight ship”.
Here is where I have a real problem with the Weatherization Program. In [...]
04.30.2009
Straw Bales Comin’ Atcha…Some Flat Side Up, Some Edges Up.
We’ve had some experimenting going on with the directionality of the straw bales when putting up the walls for a straw bale house. Some are going in with the FLAT side of the bale (looks like the straw is laying out in a line) while other bales are taking the tall and narrow aspect with [...]
