tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27035282196408639132024-03-08T00:59:11.306-08:00CobhouseFoolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-91189560074728533622014-04-17T07:51:00.001-07:002014-04-17T07:51:17.001-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
New blog post about our "old" building project (and B&B!) - at the great new resource, Eco Atlas !<br />
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<a href="http://ecoatlas.co.za/blog/?p=95">http://ecoatlas.co.za/blog/?p=95</a><br />
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Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-48092454494202045922012-07-18T02:59:00.000-07:002012-07-18T02:59:04.255-07:00What we've been up to...!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We've been living for over 4 years now in our beautiful cob house. As with many building projects, having moved in, we've put certain things on hold for the future while we have got on with life. Besides running our organic <a href="http://www.cobhouse.co.za/">B&B</a> in the cob house, we also have a sustainable and conscious day tour company operating in the Cape area, <a href="http://offbeatcapetown.yolasite.com/">OffBeat Tours</a> (also visible in <a href="http://offbeatourslecap.yolasite.com/">French</a>), and our latest joint project is - Simric's new CD of performance poetry, with artwork by Carey (on eco-friendly packaging, of course), which you can find out more about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/268928849876077/">here</a>, listen to tracks from <a href="http://simric.yolasite.com/new-cd-tracks.php">here </a>and read the lyrics to <a href="http://lucidfringe.blogspot.com/poetry.html">here</a>!</div>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-53744687342960736602010-02-08T02:38:00.000-08:002010-02-08T02:43:30.336-08:00Organic Building ConsultingWell, we've lived in our organic house for nearly two years - and we learnt an awful lot about what to do and what not to do during the process of building! And an increasing number of people have been asking us to pass on this knowledge. You'll find plenty on this site, but if you're wanting more specific help, give us a call and enquire about consultancy work for particular projects, consulting advice with setting up work teams etc. We also provide workshops on green building and related creative activities for organisations. Besides this we are happy to set up tours of our house, though we are not actively building on site at present. For more details contact us - Simric and Carey Yarrow - on 021 788 6613, thecobhouse@gmail.comFoolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-66573864892310516552009-07-10T07:05:00.000-07:002010-02-08T02:46:31.369-08:00Samhitakasha (A Place of Unity)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldLVdij4UI/AAAAAAAAAa4/XfdtCGbvJug/s1600-h/samhitakashalogo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldLVdij4UI/AAAAAAAAAa4/XfdtCGbvJug/s400/samhitakashalogo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356833113859416386" /></a>Welcome to our new logo - for our house's official name and for the <a href="http://cobhouse.co.za">Organic B&B!</a>Contact us for more details, 021 788 6613.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldLVCZ-MHI/AAAAAAAAAaw/O7wGrmgjOdY/s1600-h/wholehouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldLVCZ-MHI/AAAAAAAAAaw/O7wGrmgjOdY/s400/wholehouse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356833106575634546" /></a>Here's what it looks like outside, still some new things with the garden etc. to come.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldLU_83DuI/AAAAAAAAAao/tmc_kfhxNEU/s1600-h/frontwindows.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldLU_83DuI/AAAAAAAAAao/tmc_kfhxNEU/s400/frontwindows.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356833105916661474" /></a>And here's the north face of the houseFoolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-76868684163085493752009-07-10T06:51:00.000-07:002009-07-10T07:05:06.325-07:00Welcome to the Organic B&B...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIPfwm1QI/AAAAAAAAAag/m5f8Q1iPL5A/s1600-h/bandbstairs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIPfwm1QI/AAAAAAAAAag/m5f8Q1iPL5A/s400/bandbstairs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356829712841102594" /></a>Separate entrance...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIO1muJGI/AAAAAAAAAaY/nBvInkCEjAQ/s1600-h/bandbmirror.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIO1muJGI/AAAAAAAAAaY/nBvInkCEjAQ/s400/bandbmirror.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356829701525349474" /></a>The beautifully mosaiced mirror donated (and made) by our friends Nan and Daniel, thanks again guys!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIO31jxqI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/Atoj9wVoP40/s1600-h/bandbbed2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIO31jxqI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/Atoj9wVoP40/s400/bandbbed2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356829702124455586" /></a>And here are some inside views, though they've come out a little dull - there will be others soon on our new site for the B&B, www.cobhouse.co.za , coming soon... <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIOiA8LdI/AAAAAAAAAaI/1RaBuePrL6U/s1600-h/bandbbed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldIOiA8LdI/AAAAAAAAAaI/1RaBuePrL6U/s400/bandbbed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356829696266612178" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-52326344587070460622009-07-10T06:43:00.000-07:002009-07-10T06:51:52.544-07:00InteriorsOK, a few views of what the house looks like these days. First, the wonderful hand-embroidered wall-hanging we won at the school raffle!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldGcvQb3gI/AAAAAAAAAaA/tnHniaOks-Y/s1600-h/wallhanging.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldGcvQb3gI/AAAAAAAAAaA/tnHniaOks-Y/s400/wallhanging.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827741316177410" /></a><br />Then some more playing - this time Carey playing with oxides on the wall, above what we've left as a cob brick "throne"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldGcTdTlbI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/ltrusEgJUJ0/s1600-h/thronespiral.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldGcTdTlbI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/ltrusEgJUJ0/s400/thronespiral.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827733853967794" /></a>...and lastly the new bookshelf, decorated with wrapping paper on our daughter's birthday!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldGcZ3PhlI/AAAAAAAAAZw/bsO6pZNLWvU/s1600-h/bookshelfbirthday.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SldGcZ3PhlI/AAAAAAAAAZw/bsO6pZNLWvU/s400/bookshelfbirthday.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356827735573366354" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-36468109813528859372009-03-06T00:38:00.000-08:002009-03-22T05:34:00.145-07:00Short updateSorry for being so quiet, we've had somewhat other priorities recently and are living comfortably in our house (despite the intensity of this summer). Cob workshops are temporarily on hold as we're waiting for some other bits and pieces of non-cob work before we can go further, hopefully will get going again after Easter. Our organic food B&B is fully (naturally) furnished and up and running with happy clients, but on a very low-key level at the moment hence no advertising yet (proper website to follow also after Easter....!)Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-63073287285984144252008-11-02T22:39:00.000-08:002008-11-25T01:44:46.857-08:00Return of the cob workshopAfter a lengthy break as we slowly acclimatise to the house, we are going to start workshops again: now on the second Saturday of each month, i.e. next month on December 13th, from 9am to 1pm, tea provided, R50 donation to building costs suggested (but we won't turn you away if you can't make that in these financially constricted times). The one after is on January 10th. For more info contact us on 021 788 6613.Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-87526740498435657392008-10-31T02:43:00.000-07:002008-10-31T02:51:52.723-07:00Seagrass in the guest room<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SQrTf-pJowI/AAAAAAAAAW0/JguZQ18LyIg/s1600-h/Oct_2008_004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SQrTf-pJowI/AAAAAAAAAW0/JguZQ18LyIg/s400/Oct_2008_004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263251660880847618" /></a><a href="http://www.brightfields.co.za">Brightfields</a> have kindly sponsored us a natural fibre carpet - made from seagrass. This is one of several types they sell, and makes a welcome alternative to most carpets on the market.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SQrTflEYv-I/AAAAAAAAAWs/VnxRINpByfM/s1600-h/Oct_2008_003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SQrTflEYv-I/AAAAAAAAAWs/VnxRINpByfM/s400/Oct_2008_003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263251654015762402" /></a>The area carpeted is our guest bedroom of the B&B, which is (in a low-key kind of way)open for business, contact us if you want to know more for this summer season! The furnishing is quite a slow process as we seek the most organic options. More photos of the room coming soon!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SQrTff3KC_I/AAAAAAAAAWk/2Aob_rRwjHE/s1600-h/Oct_2008_002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SQrTff3KC_I/AAAAAAAAAWk/2Aob_rRwjHE/s400/Oct_2008_002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263251652618095602" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-48670331809157141002008-08-25T05:34:00.000-07:002008-08-25T05:59:37.850-07:00Still a construction site, at a slower pace!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKqZsbX4cI/AAAAAAAAAQs/BZ8tyzSuxkM/s1600-h/IMG_1047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKqZsbX4cI/AAAAAAAAAQs/BZ8tyzSuxkM/s400/IMG_1047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238436674984731074" /></a>We got through this cold winter without much need for heaters but still we do want a proper fireplace for next year. Here'a view through the hole we've cut upstairs where the flue will go! Other planned constructions still to come are some internal strawbale/cob seats, and some more shelves cobbed in to some corners.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKqaDh4VpI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/f86ZgfFUlxE/s1600-h/IMG_1025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKqaDh4VpI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/f86ZgfFUlxE/s400/IMG_1025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238436681186039442" /></a>OK, so it's early days, but we've been playing inside too, with the first stages of creating an under-stair cupboard, hidden by adobe brick walls. These bricks were donated by Gary and Anthea (thanks guys!) as they had an excess and we had a bit of time constraint about getting our own strong enough and dry enough to use. As mentioned elsewhere, adobe is handy for thinner walls that go up quickly, if they're not as structurally essential. We're going to cob in some sleepers above the big cob counter you can see, which has wood storage holes, made with the help of a bit of chicken-wire framing. There's a small seat emerging to the left of the fireplace too.Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-81653178620114531042008-08-25T05:07:00.000-07:002008-08-25T05:33:52.733-07:00Interior painting too...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKlLXKiAgI/AAAAAAAAAQk/RiQ4kZZKakc/s1600-h/IMG_1032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKlLXKiAgI/AAAAAAAAAQk/RiQ4kZZKakc/s400/IMG_1032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238430931200639490" /></a>We've added two bottom steps out of cob to our staircase. They have yet to be finished and sealed, unlike the floor itself - which you can see under the steps, with a similar 'paint' to that used on the interior walls, but also the sealant we mentioned before. It's not perfect yet, and will definitely need judicious use of rugs or even slate tiles in heavy traffic areas; but it is beautiful and surprisingly soft!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKioT09iWI/AAAAAAAAAQU/wJRY8_TBAV0/s1600-h/IMG_1027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SLKioT09iWI/AAAAAAAAAQU/wJRY8_TBAV0/s400/IMG_1027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238428129986185570" /></a>Here's our staircase, finished on the left - unfinished on the right! The finished wall has a similar paint to outside, lime, tumeric, and a redder clay than outside onto the plaster, plus an eco-friendly 'plaster primer' sealer.Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-24541565358738882282008-08-21T05:08:00.000-07:002008-08-21T05:54:50.854-07:00Exterior painting<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1haoHobLI/AAAAAAAAAP0/aa-6WHGEcFE/s1600-h/IMG_1030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1haoHobLI/AAAAAAAAAP0/aa-6WHGEcFE/s400/IMG_1030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236949051775675570" /></a>We've been sprucing up for spring! These are outside walls that have now been painted (and re-sealed, of course, in the case of the big window frames)The paint is basically a mix of lime, water, tumeric, and a little clay for colour, though we've used a darker oxide too on the south side of the house (not shown here).<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1ha9foXTI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ZhOevye7IRw/s1600-h/IMG_1031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1ha9foXTI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ZhOevye7IRw/s400/IMG_1031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236949057513479474" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1eJq8MWlI/AAAAAAAAAPk/AKRTauM_KTk/s1600-h/IMG_1028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1eJq8MWlI/AAAAAAAAAPk/AKRTauM_KTk/s400/IMG_1028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236945461940345426" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1eJ4_QzjI/AAAAAAAAAPs/kecrCfdfRO0/s1600-h/IMG_1029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SK1eJ4_QzjI/AAAAAAAAAPs/kecrCfdfRO0/s400/IMG_1029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236945465711316530" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-4180670113157500652008-08-15T02:31:00.001-07:002008-08-15T02:32:28.762-07:00All the photosYou can see all the photos from the blog - and a slideshow with Picasa - if you follow this link.<br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/simric1/Cobhouse?authkey=fwH5jdGZpIw"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/simric1/RdxRvB4ZQBE/AAAAAAAAAPQ/LcLRksRH6XY/s160-c/Cobhouse.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/simric1/Cobhouse?authkey=fwH5jdGZpIw" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Cobhouse</a></td></tr></table>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-54315792316127042582008-08-15T02:10:00.000-07:002008-08-15T02:23:26.327-07:00The Tyre Wall<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SKVJYSZY2dI/AAAAAAAAAOM/lPJH-ORrFtU/s1600-h/tyredrawing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SKVJYSZY2dI/AAAAAAAAAOM/lPJH-ORrFtU/s400/tyredrawing.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234670823492082130" /></a><br />Those people that have been past our plot recently may have been bemused to see a load of car tyres around our perimeter (within the already rather unattractive basic fence we have had up during building). The idea is to create a 'green' security wall - with spiky indigenous plants at the top. Over time the tyres will get covered in foliage, though at the moment they need some reorganising to put them into place. We have in the mean time been focusing on the first bits of maintenance - re-coating the poles and big window frames in environmentally friendly sealant as they have been up and exposed for quite a while now! Soon we will be able to give the garden (or rather dust bowl...) the attention it deserves.<br /><br />If you're interested in tyre walls, have a search on:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.strawbalefutures.org.uk">www.strawbalefutures.org.uk</a><br /><a href="http://my.gardenguides.com">my.gardenguides.com</a><br /><a href="http://greenlivingaustralia.com">greenlivingaustralia.com</a><br /><br />Thanks to Rianna, our artistic neighbour, for the artist's impression!Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-72131548884306632152008-07-18T05:46:00.001-07:002008-07-18T05:52:36.142-07:00Why we're doing it"Not satisfied or confident that life can be renewed, unwilling and afraid to grow old, to gradually become magnificent, treelike elders, or die into cultural humus, the modern man or woman demands the permanence of steel cities and immortality... such individuals are like cornered cats, frozen in the anxious void of modern communities... <em><strong>Violence is close behind when people won't come together to remake each others' houses</strong></em>."<br />(Martin Prechtel, native American shaman).<br /><br />Of course, if we maintain it, this house will last long. But it has been built by a community and will be maintained by communal effort. This is the kind of building - houses and communities together - that South Africa needs - <em>urgently!</em>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-61719259319703767342008-07-14T02:08:00.001-07:002008-12-09T00:40:53.256-08:00Finishing up<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsZn4pUiDI/AAAAAAAAANk/W5-2fJdQvVE/s1600-h/carey+057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsZn4pUiDI/AAAAAAAAANk/W5-2fJdQvVE/s400/carey+057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222796365877512242" /></a><br />Well, we moved in a couple of months ago - so things have slowed up a little on the final bits and pieces. Externally, there are some plaster areas you can see here we've been waiting for a while to finish off: here Amos deftly throws up for Ntokozo to put onto the south wall.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOFPis8I/AAAAAAAAAM8/WgK6_i0kV5k/s1600-h/carey+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOFPis8I/AAAAAAAAAM8/WgK6_i0kV5k/s400/carey+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222794823070823362" /></a><br />The wood faces on the north side are difficult to waterproof - but Flanagan Construction have really helped us out here with good ideas on doing so while still leaving the work looking neat, thanks to Carl in particular whose work you can see here on the joins between floors, and of course to Charlie who helped us out with the bigger picture. <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOewxGBI/AAAAAAAAANM/zY_8Ggdf6ng/s1600-h/carey+038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOewxGBI/AAAAAAAAANM/zY_8Ggdf6ng/s400/carey+038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222794829921064978" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOY7YBGI/AAAAAAAAANU/v2MtH0Ow5qg/s1600-h/carey+039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOY7YBGI/AAAAAAAAANU/v2MtH0Ow5qg/s400/carey+039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222794828354946146" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOmzR3bI/AAAAAAAAANc/Bt8zkG-KxKI/s1600-h/carey+040.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsYOmzR3bI/AAAAAAAAANc/Bt8zkG-KxKI/s400/carey+040.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222794832079084978" /></a>Here's Wazeer putting in the 'beam filler' - wood that all had to be individually cut to join the curved roof to the straight window tops.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbZkbfPCI/AAAAAAAAANs/NsDaRJCbh5A/s1600-h/Carey+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbZkbfPCI/AAAAAAAAANs/NsDaRJCbh5A/s400/Carey+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222798318955871266" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbZ81KfXI/AAAAAAAAAN0/0By7G36HrJ8/s1600-h/Carey+018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbZ81KfXI/AAAAAAAAAN0/0By7G36HrJ8/s400/Carey+018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222798325506014578" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbaPIEU3I/AAAAAAAAAN8/j1Ijp100o_c/s1600-h/carey+047.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbaPIEU3I/AAAAAAAAAN8/j1Ijp100o_c/s400/carey+047.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222798330417140594" /></a>Inside, most of the walls have been painted using our own mix of lime, clay and tumeric, on site, then sealed naturally. But in some places - like here in the kids' room - we wanted something brighter. Conventional paints play havoc with cob walls so we've tried a few of the natural options - this is a primrose yellow from Breathecoat.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbaNJItuI/AAAAAAAAAOE/xTq-TKwPXk8/s1600-h/carey+048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SHsbaNJItuI/AAAAAAAAAOE/xTq-TKwPXk8/s400/carey+048.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222798329884751586" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-45142984763346237392008-04-18T06:18:00.000-07:002008-12-09T00:40:54.055-08:00Sculptural fun<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAigfe0qOJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/MLilvGPNyxQ/s1600-h/Carey+024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAigfe0qOJI/AAAAAAAAAMU/MLilvGPNyxQ/s400/Carey+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190575033254819986" /></a>One great reason for working with cob is it's ideal for creating niches and unusual shapes. Here's our bedroom wall - and the artist in her studio!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAigf-0qOKI/AAAAAAAAAMc/bxyGkHefvAI/s1600-h/Carey+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAigf-0qOKI/AAAAAAAAAMc/bxyGkHefvAI/s400/Carey+025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190575041844754594" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiggO0qOLI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Sl3s9l6anfc/s1600-h/Carey+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiggO0qOLI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Sl3s9l6anfc/s400/Carey+027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190575046139721906" /></a>You can build in shelves out of spare pieces of wood, without needing any nails; or you can just knock holes out of the wall to create extra variety.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAigge0qOMI/AAAAAAAAAMs/MzvRPu7p93Q/s1600-h/Carey+033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAigge0qOMI/AAAAAAAAAMs/MzvRPu7p93Q/s400/Carey+033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190575050434689218" /></a>Here's our own little church/temple effect downstairs!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiggu0qONI/AAAAAAAAAM0/7XB6oRLRFfc/s1600-h/Carey+037.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiggu0qONI/AAAAAAAAAM0/7XB6oRLRFfc/s400/Carey+037.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190575054729656530" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-9131008818089895252008-04-18T06:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T00:40:54.504-08:00Sponsored Roof Window!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAicbe0qOHI/AAAAAAAAAME/NPC1m_LjdFM/s1600-h/Carey+022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAicbe0qOHI/AAAAAAAAAME/NPC1m_LjdFM/s400/Carey+022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190570566488832114" /></a>What we've really enjoyed about getting up on the roof and completing it has been the view. Now we have very kindly been donated a Velux roof window, by Andrew Renirie of <a href="http://www.loftwindows.co.za">Cape Loft Windows</a>, part of Savati. It is a great example of passive solar light/heat as it captures the sun overhead most of the day; and it's openable so we can get through to the roof. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAicbu0qOII/AAAAAAAAAMM/16tjd1GWUCs/s1600-h/Carey+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAicbu0qOII/AAAAAAAAAMM/16tjd1GWUCs/s400/Carey+023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190570570783799426" /></a>We have also included an unusual central 'quiet space' in the house (known in Indian architectural theory as a 'Brahmasthan') which is open both to the ground (no foundation) and the sky. Waterproofing this area was quite a complex problem but Andrew and Savati have come to our aid again by creating and donating a kind of metal 'chimney' which should really help matters.Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-5594928962375065572008-04-18T05:39:00.001-07:002008-12-09T00:40:55.308-08:00Laying the floor<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYye0qOBI/AAAAAAAAALU/YhoAcoke6UU/s1600-h/Carey+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYye0qOBI/AAAAAAAAALU/YhoAcoke6UU/s400/Carey+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190566563579312146" /></a>The floor has had a concrete slab, as we're in Muizenberg by the sea and vlei and the water table level is an issue! However, we've put in a lovely warm earth floor on top of it. It's got horse dung in it in place of straw, as a binder. The dung has to be well soaked and separated or you get black patches of dung showing up in the floor (we had to fix a couple of areas); but otherwise it's similar to mixing cob (and really not smelly!)<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYyu0qOCI/AAAAAAAAALc/flXEykaWMwc/s1600-h/Carey+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYyu0qOCI/AAAAAAAAALc/flXEykaWMwc/s400/Carey+015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190566567874279458" /></a>If you lay the whole lot at once it'll crack as it dries, but if you do it in layers you need to ensure the top is roughened so that the next layer will bond nicely to it.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYzO0qODI/AAAAAAAAALk/yow7et6hhtE/s1600-h/Carey+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYzO0qODI/AAAAAAAAALk/yow7et6hhtE/s400/Carey+029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190566576464214066" /></a>The next layer was much smoother but you need to stay off it for a few weeks. We humans managed to do so, but not everyone did...<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYz-0qOEI/AAAAAAAAALs/WPIQV_FGNfw/s1600-h/Carey+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiYz-0qOEI/AAAAAAAAALs/WPIQV_FGNfw/s400/Carey+034.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190566589349115970" /></a>This has then been fixed up and a thin top layer put in certain places, with the traditional 'feta lid' burnishing happening once things were fully dry. At time of writing downstairs has not been sealed yet - an Envirotouch rock sealant is going to be used for this. You can see something of the final burnishing through the pentagon hole here: this has just been closed up with a specially cut piece of plywood! The top floor has been sanded and then sealed with Envirotouch wood sealant for floors.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiY0e0qOFI/AAAAAAAAAL0/8OD9qCpttc8/s1600-h/Carey+056.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/SAiY0e0qOFI/AAAAAAAAAL0/8OD9qCpttc8/s400/Carey+056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190566597939050578" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-43742460603342447402008-03-03T04:28:00.000-08:002008-12-09T00:40:55.762-08:00March Update<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8v1oSzRFDI/AAAAAAAAALM/9uMfBA9eFJk/s1600-h/Ian+Evans+014.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8v1oSzRFDI/AAAAAAAAALM/9uMfBA9eFJk/s320/Ian+Evans+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173498669555586098" /></a>We're a bit reliant on others for photos at the moment owing to a mishap with our camera. All these photos have been offered for our personal use on the blog but not necessarily for you to re-use. Thanks to <a href="http://www.markwesselsphoto.com">Mark Wessels </a>for this family shot, which shows the house with bitumen gum unceremoniously draped over the roof. Our cobbing team learned to sew the waterproofing together (with the aid of a blowtorch!) Of course the cob insulation is totally fireproof, which came in handy with a south-easter pumping all week we were putting it on. Doing it ourselves saved a bunch of rands and gave our guys experience with a new skill - on a very complicated roof.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8v1ESzRFCI/AAAAAAAAALE/1aSRhsI2XFM/s1600-h/mud.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8v1ESzRFCI/AAAAAAAAALE/1aSRhsI2XFM/s320/mud.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173498051080295458" /></a> This one's thanks to Esa Alexander of <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.za">The Times</a>which did an article earlier this year.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8vyeizRE9I/AAAAAAAAAKc/nHIod2P0qyo/s1600-h/Ian+Evans+003.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8vyeizRE9I/AAAAAAAAAKc/nHIod2P0qyo/s320/Ian+Evans+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173495203516978130" /></a>Here's a view from the roof, when we were covering the leichtlehm with a simple clay/sand mix for smoothness. It looked beautiful until we added the bitumen-gum waterproofing on top! (Thanks to Ian Evans from the UK <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk">Independent</a>). <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8vyfyzRFAI/AAAAAAAAAK0/31xZRh98Zt4/s1600-h/Sim+009.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R8vyfyzRFAI/AAAAAAAAAK0/31xZRh98Zt4/s320/Sim+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173495224991814658" /></a>Here's another shot (thanks to Linda!) of the side before the front door went in. There's supposed to be a wood panel above around a built-in cupboard: all our hold-ups at this stage are around carpentry, and although the cobbing and plastering took over a year in total (including inside plastering), it would have been no quicker any other way given the amount of specialist wood in this house. YOUR cob house could involve a lot less wood to speed things up and cheapen them; although the wood is, of course, very beautiful!Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-25544494861764721472008-01-19T23:22:00.003-08:002008-12-09T00:40:55.952-08:00Electrics - and that girder<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L28w5yoMI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/BDdGe6AhkH4/s1600-h/conduits.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L28w5yoMI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/BDdGe6AhkH4/s320/conduits.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157456047072518338" /></a>In most houses you get a series circuit of electricity conduits around you as you stand or sit in a room, meaning you are constantly contained within an electromagnetic field - not the healthiest way to live. Our cob floor is yet to go in, so our maze of conduits is mostly going below our feet, and where not it's going straight up and down the walls between floors, avoiding much of the electromagnetic field effect.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L29A5yoNI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/EK0hu_-lM2I/s1600-h/girder.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L29A5yoNI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/EK0hu_-lM2I/s320/girder.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157456051367485650" /></a>At last - the engineering feat of the girder is safely positioned above the garage entrance so we can cob the final upstairs wall (or rather, mostly, adobe brick it). <br />Recent publications including shots of the house include Men's Health Living (November issue) and Home magazine (Jan 2008 issue).Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-14382532225704584162008-01-19T23:12:00.001-08:002008-12-09T00:40:56.502-08:00Roof insulation<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L08Q5yoII/AAAAAAAAAJU/veAq5xyEUo4/s1600-h/cardboard.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L08Q5yoII/AAAAAAAAAJU/veAq5xyEUo4/s320/cardboard.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157453839459328130" /></a>First insulating layer is cardboard, this is used pretty widely for insulation but we're using flat boxes as it's also to cover gaps in the timber so that no clay dust comes through from the next layer.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L08g5yoJI/AAAAAAAAAJc/8v_tG_EkD0g/s1600-h/leichtlehmmix.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L08g5yoJI/AAAAAAAAAJc/8v_tG_EkD0g/s320/leichtlehmmix.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157453843754295442" /></a>Next layer is called "leichtlehm" - presumably a German invention, it means 'light-clay'. Made with as much straw as can soak up a sand/clay mix and water. You could do this barefoot (I did!) but it's quite prickly.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L08w5yoKI/AAAAAAAAAJk/3pK5whu--Zs/s1600-h/bucketup.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L08w5yoKI/AAAAAAAAAJk/3pK5whu--Zs/s320/bucketup.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157453848049262754" /></a>Then comes the complicated bit - getting it up two stories in a convoy of buckets and pulleys...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L09A5yoLI/AAAAAAAAAJs/bFMd67Znbh0/s1600-h/tamperdown.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R5L09A5yoLI/AAAAAAAAAJs/bFMd67Znbh0/s320/tamperdown.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157453852344230066" /></a>Finally it gets put in place, about 10cm thick in the end after much stamping down. As with the cardboard, we're just covering the area over the internal part of the house.Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-44089806096249332002007-12-10T04:58:00.000-08:002008-12-09T00:40:57.374-08:00New views inside and outside<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106iz6RfbI/AAAAAAAAAJM/PCfBYYI4Po0/s1600-h/entrancewall.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106iz6RfbI/AAAAAAAAAJM/PCfBYYI4Po0/s320/entrancewall.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142330719251561906" /></a>In some places we're using "adobes" - cob bricks. They can go quite high quite quickly and provide a strong thin wall in places where we don't want the thickness. Here is one near the front door.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106KD6RfYI/AAAAAAAAAI0/WlMcPW5Cehw/s1600-h/kitchendoor.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106KD6RfYI/AAAAAAAAAI0/WlMcPW5Cehw/s320/kitchendoor.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142330294049799554" /></a>There are more adobes here above the kitchen doorway, a doorway that had to be cobbed on one side but attached to the plumbing brickwork on the other side. Thick cob walls above would have been too much for the lintel.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106Mj6RfZI/AAAAAAAAAI8/3Pn5wnj5sSI/s1600-h/livingroom.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106Mj6RfZI/AAAAAAAAAI8/3Pn5wnj5sSI/s320/livingroom.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142330336999472530" /></a>Here's a view from the living room through one of the big north panels.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106OT6RfaI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GPDk9tkBHEs/s1600-h/guestinternaldoor.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R106OT6RfaI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GPDk9tkBHEs/s320/guestinternaldoor.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142330367064243618" /></a>Another doorway upstairs and some scaffolding in process at the internal entrance to the guest bedroom.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104kz6RfUI/AAAAAAAAAIU/2eHy7Pt9YDs/s1600-h/bedroom1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104kz6RfUI/AAAAAAAAAIU/2eHy7Pt9YDs/s320/bedroom1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142328554588044610" /></a>As upstairs gets completed we can see where the east light will come in to our bedroom...<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104mT6RfVI/AAAAAAAAAIc/FDwoZGL82r8/s1600-h/brahmastan.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104mT6RfVI/AAAAAAAAAIc/FDwoZGL82r8/s320/brahmastan.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142328580357848402" /></a>...and the 'brahmastan', a central still-point that's left empty from foundation to sky (a sky-light will be added later, and probably some hanging plants)<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104pT6RfWI/AAAAAAAAAIk/i0OVvtU-3MA/s1600-h/guestview.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104pT6RfWI/AAAAAAAAAIk/i0OVvtU-3MA/s320/guestview.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142328631897455970" /></a>...there's another mountain that's only visible from the guest bedroom<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104qz6RfXI/AAAAAAAAAIs/ngUDQ_u8v5U/s1600-h/simsshelves.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R104qz6RfXI/AAAAAAAAAIs/ngUDQ_u8v5U/s320/simsshelves.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142328657667259762" /></a>and in this area are windows that will give a sea view and a view of the Hottentot Holland mountains in the distance respectively, here seen with built-in shelves that have been simply cobbed onto.Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-23176552578999285142007-12-10T04:29:00.001-08:002008-12-09T00:40:58.356-08:00Complications and delays<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zWj6RfKI/AAAAAAAAAHI/Tx83F3v8qmo/s1600-h/garagedoor.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zWj6RfKI/AAAAAAAAAHI/Tx83F3v8qmo/s320/garagedoor.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142322812216769698" /></a> This is the one wall that has really been held up. There were due to be a couple of big windows upstairs above the garage entrance, but the cable got in the way when the engineer added that to the design to keep the gum pole straight! So hiding the cable in cob is necessary, but the cob is too heavy for a regular wood lintel over the garage door. Gavin (our engineer) has now constructed a big girder to go in instead, and we have a curved arch left over to make it all look nice - but nothing goes here until the carpenters have put that girder in. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zXT6RfLI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/nOMrCZYOIqg/s1600-h/panoramicnorth.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zXT6RfLI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/nOMrCZYOIqg/s320/panoramicnorth.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142322825101671602" /></a> All the big north facing windows were designed and built before the real, organic shapes of the holes appeared - and they are different to the window sizes. So everything here gets a lot more complex, and requires some clever carpentry to make it all watertight. Next house we'll only build these up once the space has been created!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zXj6RfMI/AAAAAAAAAHY/bG0Xk_zlYEQ/s1600-h/sunroomwall.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zXj6RfMI/AAAAAAAAAHY/bG0Xk_zlYEQ/s320/sunroomwall.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142322829396638914" /></a> This internal cob wall has collapsed a couple of times along the way - because it dries MUCH more slowly than other walls, as it gets much less light and heat to dry it. We're well warned now for when we add the cob floor, at least. You can see that this wall also connects to the front door, with its wood panel above. Like the north windows this also had to be resized as it was built before the second storey was laid - and was too tall!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zYD6RfNI/AAAAAAAAAHg/7WitWVkly9o/s1600-h/frontandsundoors.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ce2kR1KHeWc/R10zYD6RfNI/AAAAAAAAAHg/7WitWVkly9o/s320/frontandsundoors.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142322837986573522" /></a>Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703528219640863913.post-29012724825098150812007-10-11T05:28:00.000-07:002007-10-11T05:38:06.870-07:00Latest articles onlineWhile we continue to juggle joinery and cobbing, there are some new articles available online about the house: online in South Africa at <a href="http://www.urbansprout.co.za/i_ll_huff_and_i_ll_puff_the_rise_of_the_cob_house">Urban Sprout</a> or further afield at the <a href="http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=enonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED11%20Oct%202007%2009:43:11:060">Norwich Evening News </a>in the UK!Foolish Shamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16866427213110586429noreply@blogger.com0