From strawnet@aol.comWed Dec 28 22:13:09 1994
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 94 14:22:34 
From: strawnet@aol.com
Reply to: buildings@energy.com
To: london@sunsite.unc.edu
Subject: MOMENTARILY BALING OUT



Re: straw bale construction
Daniel Inayat von Briesen wrote asking for info re sb construction.  I just
don't have time enough to answer all the queries. I'll post some info on
resources here and respond as time permits.  Also if you let me know where
you are I'll try to steer you to local resources if I know of any.  The Last
Straw is an excellent info resource.  If you are really interested in sb you
should subscribe. 

Regarding fire, I'll just say that a plastered straw bale wall panel is much
more than a 2 hour fire wall - New Mexico and Canadian tests.  Wood stud wall
is 1 hour fire wall unless you use much more fire-resistive finishes.

Here is what I just sent to an individual on the list responding to a request
for info - so I'll just post the whole thing.
copy of my message follows:
I hope my most recent postings haven't been too long winded.  Here is some
info on resources.  I've been trying to work out the protocol of personal
interests (financial/work), not advertising, or selling something on the
list, yet offering info and access to this material.  Of course, I'd love to
sell our books and do consulting, etc., but this is a tricky dance, and I'm
both sensitive and committed to an ethical way of working.  So I've been
sharing this info mostly in response to direct individual requests.

The Last Straw is a quarterly journal of straw bale construction published
here in Tucson, AZ that is a great source of accurate technical and
non-technical, current and historical info.  Available from Out On Bale
(OOB), 1037 E. Linden St., Tucson, AZ 85719, (602) 624-1673 ($28/yr US).
 They also have Build It With Bales ($18 + s&h), an excellent hands-on how-to
manual, videos, and other info.  They do hands-on workshops (I'm one of the
workshop leaders) also.  They'll send you a workshop & resource flyer if you
request them.  You might also contact Ted Butchart in Seattle about
workshops.  His e-mail address is greenfire@delphi.com

What part of the world are you in?  I might be able to steer you toward some
local resources as well.

Also available - The Straw Bale House, a book published by Chelsea Green.
 Written by David Bainbridge, Bill & Athena Steen and me.  This is really the
most comprehensive book, 300+ pages, 16 pages of color and 240 B&W photos, 40
illustrations, everything from history through all the systems - foundations
through finishes. Available from me (list price is $30 - I'm selling them for
$28 + $6 1st class postage/handling (it weighs 2lbs 2oz), in many bookstores,
Out On Bale, or for quantity purchases, from The Canelo Project, HC1 Box 324,
Elgin, AZ 85611, (602)455-4798.

Also, by the end of January, I'll be selling a "working paper" on building
codes and straw bale construction.  It's an expanded version of a set of
articles that I wrote for The Last Straw - issue #5 (winter 94). OOB has back
issues of The Last Straw available.
Happy new year.
David Eisenberg
PO Box 41144
Tucson, AZ 85717
strawnet@aol.com
(602) 326-1418