mud for everyone

I found yet another great website for

" all-things-strawbale"

as well as many other types of sustainably built homes, walls, gardens etc.

in this gem of a blog
www.dayonedesign.blogspot.com
Amazing use of bamboo and more....

Thank You! to Erica Ann

I am still actively searching for a landowner who would be willing to rent-to-own ( a.k.a. "Lease option") me an acre or two upon which I might build an Octagon Strawbale House. It would be tiny and self-sufficient.
It would be surrounded by vegetable and flower and herb gardens and I would use it for a sanctuary and art studio, a home base from which to travel out. Please contact me at

annie.siemer@gmail.com I am also on Facebook

Here's a great link and pictures that Lloyd Kahn recently posted on his blog. I go there every few days to renew/respark my dream of building a strawbale house. One of the things that I want to incorporate is cob and clay in a variety of places. This is a really inspiring website. Check it out.
http://www.verticalclay.com/gallery/
Also here's another plug for Lloyd Kahns books and blog. He is the most amazing creative spirit .
His books Shelter, Homework and Builders of the Pacific Coast have inspired countless numbers (millions perhaps nowdays with the internet helping) of folks all over the world.
check out his blog by clicking on the link to the right in my Favorite blogs list.

Check out my other blog at
www.anniebsiemer.blogspot.com

Lloyd Kahn again!!!!

Check out lloyd's latest blogs. http://www.lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/
He really never ceases to amaze me.
There is a cool new coffee label inspired by him there and a really
nice link to a Natural Building book.

manifest my dream please

Here is a "houseplan doodle" I did years ago. I have been sketching various versions of my possibilities for the shape and feel of the shelter/sanctuary/studio that I wish to build for some years now. If you know a benevolent soul with an acre of land to spare/rent to me to manifest this dream...please contact me at annie.siemer@gmail.com

Bill and Athena Steen

The first books that taught me THOROUGHLY what it is to
build a sustainable Strawbale Structure that I found more than
10 years ago were written by Bill and Athena Steen.

They head the "Canelo Project" and have done the most( in my opinion) to dispel myths (fire, climate etc) about Strawbale Structures and spread the idea that anyone can build their own house up from the ground. They also finish what they start and do most of the work needed to complete their structures themselves.

Check out their books :
The Straw Bale House
The Beauty of Straw Bale HomesBuilt by Hand:Vernacular Buildings Around the World
Small Strawbale: Natural Homes, Projects & Designs
The HandCrafted Life of Don Juan Morales
and their website is also very inspiring: http://www.caneloproject.com/