Cob: stucco question & malcolm X

[LuceLoosey at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/7/01 1:28:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jamie.ayres at m2.com writes:

<< I'm guessing that you'd have to be careful with the lime mortar that 
 you used to hold this stonework together in order to ensure the wall is 
 strong enough to bear the weight of the house on top of it? >>

Actually I've read that if the stones are stacked properly (facing inward and 
not outward) that they can bear the weight of a very heavy structure 
(including cob) without mortar altogether.  I'd check out a good book on 
stone stacking (masonry).

Also, I'm happy to report that I visited the cob greenhouse in Berkeley at 
Malcolm X Elementary School this past weekend.  Now that I've seen how it 
works and what it looks like, I realize how do-able it really is.  Their's 
had wood upright supports (I assume to hold up the glass roof?), some built 
in metal shelves, and a few small animals molded onto the outside.  Very cute 
& productive!  Awesome garden, too!

I can't wait to build my first structure! :)
~Cat