Where Did This Even Start
Off-grid living is a sustainable way to utilize the resources that the natural world has given us. The ecological benefits are huge for those who choose to build using a more natural or environmentally friendly approach. Solar is not the only example of this, although it is the most common. Using alternate construction materials is another concept that Is not new, but is starting to become slightly more accepted.
One such build would be the church house built by “Leaf Running-rabbit”. This was built of straw bale, and while this is not something that most people would consider building their homes out of, apparently it is a good option. Given the weather and climate where they were looking to build, straw bale would be good given it has the “highest insulation value, the highest fire-resistance rating, and the highest mold and mildew resistance rating of all building materials possible”, or at least it has as high of fire resistance as a concrete block structure.
While I would never build a home out of a straw at this point in history, looking back, this was something that was a great option for people at the time. it was a cheaper way to build a house for you and your family, and people could do it. The original idea was from Nebraska, nearly 100 years ago.
Just as this idea was considered slightly outlandish and odd, current-day off-grid houses usually incorporate odd elements into their builds. You need to be able to do everything yourself, and repair something if it goes wrong. Knowledge of how something works and why needs to be obtained and understood if you are going into any “unconventional” build.
Works Cited
References Running-rabbit, L. (2016). Off-Grid Living. Solar Today, 30(4), 44–47.
Ziggy. (2019, May 9). 99 Year Old Man’s 70 Year Old Straw Bale House. Retrieved October 7, 2020, from The Year of Mud website: http://www.theyearofmud.com/2019/05/09/99-year-old-mans-70-year-old-straw-bale-house/
(2020). Retrieved October 7, 2020, from Thebiooasis.com website: http://www.thebiooasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/100.jpg