[Cob] Cob in the cold, with bears

[Sharon Conboy]

I hope this reaches Iona. I am somewhat tech challenged! Considering what
trouble I have heard of people having, when trying to add a door/window to
regular cob, I can't see a bear having a chance. You can't sledgehammer it,
you have to *create* an auger to drill through it.

On Tue, Apr 4, 2017 at 3:56 PM, Bill Wright <bill at auburnacupuncture.net>
wrote:

> Hi Iona,
> If I were in your shoes I would also suggest, "bale-cob". Cut straw bales
> in 1/2 lengthwise, or use them whole. Use a cob straightening coat on the
> inside and the outside 2-3" thick over the bales. I would also suggest you
> make it round and make it as small as you can get away with. Bears won't be
> able to get thru bale-cob; not that I've had to test it ;^) but my building
> is bale-cob, and it's amazingly strong. I staked the bales together w/ 4'
> stakes, pinning each row to the one beneath it, and stacked like bricks.
>
> Again if it were me. . . I would put a reciprocal roof up first and build
> the walls in after that. Reciprocal roof w/ a living/earthen roof that is.
> Conversely, you could put the walls up, and put the reciprocal roof on them
> w/ a cable tension ring. Or if you have access to timbers, build your ring
> 1st out of timbers, and put the reciprocal roof on that. If you don't like
> the idea of bales, then I would suggest cordwood cob, especially if you
> want to do it during a short building season in the North Eastern US.
>
> Have you decided on a heat source? Have you considered a Rocket Mass
> Heater?
>
> Happy Building!
> Bill
>
> Bill Wright, L.Ac., DNBAO
> Wright Acupuncture and Massage
> 251 Auburn Ravine Rd., Ste. #205
> Auburn, CA 95603
> 530-886-8927
> "There is no path to healing, healing is the path"
>
>
> > On Apr 3, 2017, at 7:13 PM, Iona Fairlight Hawken <ionahawken at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all--
> > This has probably been covered before, but if I really want to build a
> cob house in a very cold area (like Maine), what are the options? Can I
> build a double cob wall with insulation (wool?) in between?
> > Also, is cob vulnerable if a hungry bear is trying to enter? Or would it
> withstand a bear?
> > Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
> > Best, Iona
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-- 
Sharon