Image from www.allposters.co.uk
I received a request from a woman in Central New York for help starting a straw bale support group. If you live in or near that area and are interested in being a part of this great venture, please respond to this post. Having a group of like minded people focusing on a common goal is very powerful. Not only will it be a resource for you when you start your own project, but the energetic strength of focusing your intentions in a group setting will start to remove potential barriers before they even show up. I have seen this work in my own life and support this type of connection whenever possible.

Do you have an intention to build with straw bales?
Do you live in or near central New York?
Do you want to connect with others who share a similar dream of living in a bale house?
Do you want support in your dreams and to support others in theirs?

This is the place to start creating that support. I hope you are inspired to join and make something special together.

Image of Dongtan EcoCity in China proposed for 2010

This is really cool. William McDonough is shown in the small video below describing the design for a true eco city in China. Although he has a pretty flat and dry delivery, the 3:20 second video is worth watching. There is so much that can be done in development if we are only willing to think outside the box. The before and after photo of the proposed city site is amazing and absolutely gives me hope for what is possible.
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Many people have mentioned an interest in building a straw bale greenhouse. I have seen several different approaches to this idea over the years. I have two different column in which these projects have fallen. Some of the greenhouses have been absolute disasters, while others have proven to be beautiful and successful. Just how to move forward and how the design is realized will affect the column into which your project lands.
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photo from www.howthingswork.com

I heard on NPR yesterday that Exxon/Mobil posted the highest second quarter profit of any corporation in history. ANY corporation EVER! Somehow this seems crazy when the cost of fuel keeps rising and the average consumer is struggling in a failing economy. They posted nearly a $12 BILLION profit in the second quarter alone.
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A StrawBale.com reader just let me know about a blog post she wrote on her own blog. I found it interesting and I believe the topic is very important. If you are interested in checking it out, please click the link below.
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There is a good chance you will have a lot of straw left over when you complete your house. Most of it, if you did your estimating right, will be in the form of loose straw. You will be amazed at just how much loose straw is produced on a building site. As I have said earlier, this loose straw is dangerous to the site as it poses the highest fire risk of any building material on site: dry, loose piles of straw! Be sure to move it away from your structure. But what to do with it all?
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A friend sent this video to me today and I just had to share it. It is short and my smile grew bigger and bigger as I watched. It speaks to the way I look at life: grateful, everyday, for what I have. I try to focus on the positives in life, family, friends, a home, food, love, joy, even struggle. The last one may seem weird, but it is true for me. I find that it is in the struggles that I learn my biggest lessons and receive the biggest gifts. Life is a journey and I enjoy the ride. I hope you do too. Check out this video and…do the dance!
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