How he died: He was sleeping alone in an experimental structure he built,
(I believe it invovled PVC pipe, plastic and soil) and during a rainstorm
it collapsed on him. While I don't like to joke about tragedy too
publicly, I file his death in my mind along with Adele Davis (promoted
health food, died from cancer) and Jim Fixx (promoted jogging, had a
fatal heart attack while running).
Kern printed one quote that serves me daily, which he attributed to the
Chinese, "The man who finishes his house, dies."
Jim Rosenau
----------
From: Tom Anderson[SMTP:hvac@together.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 1997 4:37 PM
To: Jim Rosenau
Subject: Re: How Ken Kern Died
Jim Rosenau wrote:
>
> Bill Christensen,
>
> I really like your analysis of the state of Straw Bale. I've heard too
> much bunk from the starry-eyed ones, but still value the spirit they
> bring. There is an understandably strong emotional appeal to creating
> one's own shelter with simple tools and materials. It's not that
> different from the desire to grown vegetables in the back yard. It's
what
> humans have been doing for millennia.
>
> But whenever I hear about a new building system, I remember how Ken
Kern
> died.
>
> Jim Rosenau
> Books That Work
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
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> send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
> __________________________________________________________________
How did he die?
Thank you.
Tom Anderson
Mechanical Systems Design
South Burlington, Vermont
hvac@together.net
__________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
and Environmental Building News (www.ebuild.com). For instructions
send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
__________________________________________________________________