Comments on: Starting a Straw Bale Support Group in New York

By: James Juczak

James Juczak — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:05:32 +0000

Hi, We’re in Adams Center, NY and have a small sb cabin under construction. I need 350 bales of suitable straw for this project…plus volunteer help to install and coat the bales. Anyone nearby interested? Does anyone know anyone with straw bales for sale in my area?

Thanks, -Jim-

By: Arati

Arati — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:29:03 +0000

We have a land property in the Adirondacks and we are very interested to build a strawbale cottage. I would like to join this group and also volunteer where strawbale home is going up. I would like to find out about code in NY. I will also join the link above by Andrew Morrison.

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:36:28 +0000

You may have really good luck by joining our free social network http://www.planetstrawbale.ning.com and then joining the North America group and posting your questions. It is an active list and you can do an advanced search under members for people living in NY and contact them directly as well. We look forward to you being home!!

By: Robert Renner

Robert Renner — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:19:14 +0000

I just recently bought a large lot in clayton, ny and I am very interested in doing a SB house. Biggest thing I would guess a problem is 1. Getting approved by the township, and 2. Getting a NY stamp on prints at a reasonable rate. If anyone has any advice from this area please let me know. If anyone needs a hand within a reasonable distace, let me know as well. I am currently deployed but will be home within 5 months.

Email is rob_010105@yahoo.com

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:51:24 +0000

Hi Todd. You can find out more about the workshop here. Also, consider joining us at http://www.PlanetStrawBale.ning.com for networking with folks around you. It’s a great new Straw Bale Social site that my wife has created.

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:57:54 +0000

Hello everyone. I am in Jefferson County NY. Would love to join the group. Just like Sara, I have been studying up on SB, but would really love to volunteer on someone’s project to get some hands-on knowledge and experience for my own future home.

Andrew Morrison, do you have more info on your workshop in Cuyler, NY?

Thank You

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:52:13 +0000

Hi everyone. Is there any update on this group being formed? I hope things are moving forward for you all. I want to let you all know, if you don't know already, that I'm coming to Cuyler, New York September 12-18 to teach a seven day straw bale workshop. I hope that you can all join me for the event. It will be a blast (as they always are) and you will certainly learn a ton. The house we'll be working on is large and has lots of details that you'll want to know about for any structure you might have plans for in the future. You can learn more about the workshop here. Again, I hope you can join me. Please let me know how the group formation is going and if I can be of any help in facilitating the growth of the group.

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:30:13 +0000

I would love to join this group, and be involved in any building efforts close by to where I live now (western Massachusetts) or where I will be moving to (Adirondack region) and ultimately hope to build an SB home. I have been studying up on SB, but would really love to volunteer on someone’s project to get some hands-on knowledge and experience for my own future home. Any help needed anywhere this summer?

By: Andrew Morrison

Andrew Morrison — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:34:15 +0000

Indeed concrete is a highly intensive product. It is actually the Portland cement in the concrete that makes it so. One can reduce the amount of Portland cement that is used in the batching by adding a percentage of fly ash. Most concrete yards will only allow you to substitute about 20% fly ash (at least where I live), so this certainly does not take care of the problem entirely. The fact of the matter is that concrete and cob are nothing alike. Concrete is considerably stronger than cob and the reinforcement required in concrete these days only makes it stronger in a way that similar reinforcement in cob would not do. As such, most jurisdictions will not likely allow cob to replace concrete in most applications. One exception is an earthen floor (not really cob, but somewhat similar, at least in concept). To that end, earthen floors are a great option for reducing concrete usage while maintaining the benefits of the thermal mass it provides the homeowner. In terms of structural usage, I don’t see that happening and I personally would not advocate replacing concrete with cob in such situations. I believe that concrete is the best material for use in structural situations when you look at the big picture: environmental impact, long term durability, structural safety, thermal properties, resistance to decay and erosion, and simplicity of use.

By: jennifer south

jennifer south — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:54:00 +0000

I am hearing a lot about the use of concrete, which is hight toxic, and I’m wondering if people are using cob with their straw bale and if anyone has had success getting such a structure approved in NY.