I decided to start up this blog to chronicle our attempt at eco building and hope that it may be of some help or interest to some. Although our dream was to sell the family home and self build using straw bale, the recession has dictated otherwise. The next best thing was to experiment with a studio in the back garden.

The initial brief to husband was simple. Cob walls and a living roof, however the builder has altered the plan (as he's entitled to) and aims to construct a round building with load bearing straw bale walls and a reciprocal roof with thatching. Watch this space as it continues to evolve!

The progress so far ...

January 2009
Husband and eldest son mark out and dig foundations

February

Once dug down to solid ground, a layer of gravel is laid, followed by a drainage pipe which runs to a ditch and finally filled in with more gravel.

Ds3 is a super help!

The next layer consists of free clay from a farm down the road which will be placed into coal sacks. These items were obtained in exchange for Landrover repairs - just the way it should be!