h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Building using Natural Materials - A1146502
Author: frenchbean - U236943

I'm interested to have your views on this Guide Entry. It's my first one, so treat me gently!

Comments on content, style, details are all welcomed.



F/b

Hi F/b!

I very much liked your entry. It was an eye-opener for the likes of me. It made me wonder what areas of the world would not be suitable for some methods versus others.

I noticed that your section on Polehouses mentioned old telegraph poles. You may want to include old telephone and old power poles in their too.

(I was too nervous to write a first entry, so I skipped right to #3)

Thank you FordsTowel for being kind to me! It's very sensible advice about skipping to your third Entry. why didn't I think of that?!

That's an interesting point about different climates for different methods of building. I have mentioned that bamboo and polehouses are better for warm climates, but I'll do a bit more detail on it for the rest as well.

Actually, there are heaps of strawbale and mudbrick houses in quite wet climates: as long as there's a good overhanging roof and the outside of the walls are well coated with waterproofing material, there's no problem. I'll get some example references together.

Aren't telegraph poles the same as telephone poles? Power poles would be good. And old railway sleepers are a godsend for footings and doorways. Oh no, I'm getting onto constructing buildings from recycled stuff: there's a whole new Guide Entry in that.


F/b

Thanks to Fords, I've added a section on climate, which I hope makes sense and helps round out the Entry a bit.

There's a dearth of Hootoo links for any of this. If anybody can come up with any, I'd appreciate it, although I don't want to put some in just for the sake of them.


F/b

An interesting entry, f/b.

This bit 'From personal experience, I believe this is optimistic.' will need rewording to avoid the first person - easily done.

I can remember reading a year or so ago that someone got a mortgage on a house constructed of straw bales.

Reading the entry made me wonder about facilities - electricity, plumbing etc. What effect does the method of house construction have on this sort of thing?

Hi ZFS

I'll edit out the first person no problem.

On the electrics, plumbing and so on, there seem to be no hassles about any of that with any form of building. However,the building designs need to be good enough to get a building permit, which MUST be obtained before you start (to avoid disappointment and potentially huge bills). Part of the requirement of such a permit is the detail of all the services, such as power, water, phone etc. It's always good to get an expert in (and pay for their time) to get that bit of the process done, as it's so crucial.

I should perhaps add a para. to that effect? This is turning into a magnum opus

In most countries you can indeed get a mortgage for an earthbuilt house: well, those countries where you can get a mortgage at all, that is. And many countries will now subsidise the build, in an effort to make us all more sustainable. Of course, if you add solar panels, a wind turbine, or water turbine power to the build, there's even more of a saving in many places.


F/b

Yes, it might be a good idea, f/b.

This has happened to some of mine too. The great thing of PR is how entries are mostly improved by the process.

Thank you ZFS. I've added a bit about services and edited out the first person.

I don't mind comments at all: it's good to be peered at. I agree that most of the Entries going through the PR end up improved, as a result of various comments and amendments.



F/b

Something I spotted...

Mudbricks - 'It is simple to make the bricks - messy but fun' It might be fun to start with, but I suspect that it might be significantly less fun after a few thousand bricks...


A good read though, should make it into the EG soon

J

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Nice one!

Well done frenchbean!

Wow!

Thank you!

I am surprisingly excited about having an entry recommended: and my first one too. Yippeeee! indeed.

Archangel Dr Justin: you are spot on. I made most of the mudbricks for an outdoor oven (which is another good topic come to think of it) and by the end I was pooped. We only had to make 300 for that! There are machines that will do it for you. And in Australia (probably elsewhere) there are firms who manufacture and sell mudbricks. But somehow that's a big cheat.


F/b

Well done, F/b! Yes, the feeling is great isn't it. I can remember when my first couple were recommended how pleased I was.

So ... you've new entries in the pipeline?

Thank you ZFS. still...

Yes, I'm thinking about a few ideas:-
- building and using a mudbrick oven;
- using recycled materials to build a shed / home / garage;
- using renewable energy sources to power your life.

What do you reckon?

I need to check out the Guide and see what else has been written on those subjects, but something along one of those lines will potter around my brain for a few days. Then I might put finger-tip to keyboard and transfer my ideas into the Writing Workshop.

I really want to contribute to the Guide in a useful, positive, interesting way. I find so much of the content inane. I had a great rant to Fords Towel last week about how insignificant a lot of the stuff is on here - and how sad it is that DNA's legacy could become just like anything else on the net. I shan't get into a rant again (all too easy!), but will concentrate on thinking about the next entries.

Anything's better than the meetings I've got to go to today!



F/b

Oh, I've a day off, while I'm waiting for a freezer to be delivered, F/b. And yes, I agree with you about making a positive contribution. Similarly, I've tried to do the same with mine.

Have you come across the 360 site? It might suit you down to the ground, although it is not as lively as h2g2.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360

Oops, didn't mean to post just then.

Yes, I think all these are good subjects for entries. I like the sound of the mudbrick oven.

On camp a year or so ago, we had the opportunity of making a clay oven to bake bread, and I remember treading in delicious blue clay from the river in my bare feet to homogenize it. As I remember, the clay was packed round a lattice frame of small saplings/branches.

I didn't get to see it working, though.

The mixing of mud and water is definitely the best bit! Feet are good. There is something very sensual about smooth gloopy stuff sliding between your toes.

I've not seen an oven made like that, with a lattice-work. I'll dig around in the mags I've got which give various 'recipes' for making mud ovens and see what else I come up with.

We made the BEST pizzas in our mudbrick oven and roast meats were great as well. We had a mudbrick oven party just after it was finished and spent the whole time helping friends pile toppings onto their personal pizzas, then cooking them. Pizza production line. It was great craic, except by the time we'd stopped cooking, the party was half over!

I was about to go on to tell you about how we built our oven, but I think I'll save it for an entry.


F/b

Oh, yes! I agree! Very sensuous - except occasionally coming across stones!

I'll look forward to this entry, F/b.