Building with Cob & websites

Catherine Todd Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 9:24 AM
To: Sue Pearson

Dear Sue,

Yes, I finally found this email (which I have retitled so I can find it again in the future). THANKS! I was panicking over money, and then remembered about cob and your email! What a relief! I even have books on building with cob, but just forgot about them with all the sales pitches from "traditional builders" and not seeing much of the work around. That says something, doesn't it? I have to make a list of all the ways I can build without much money, and make a website, DVD and book. Including your artwork and ideas. We both make money, yes? I can't believe you spent the time to do this, and THANKS AGAIN!

On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 4:29 AM, Sue Pearson wrote:

"I know what you mean about building material costs: they are sky-high in Guatemala, too, while wages are still very low, at $5.00 to $10.00 or $20.00 per day, depending on skill level. It's pretty incredible & not easy for many people down there. Build with COB, you say? This is possible in Central America?"

Remember we spoke about Ianto's book on cob building? all his places are built out of cob only (would be great to use outside of your plastic recycle bottles!) You said there was a cob builder across the lake from you...There is TONS of information on the web about cob building and lots of books at the library. I checked out as many as our area had, then go to the used section on Amazon and buy the one's I really liked. You should have plenty of sand, clay and straw in your area, its certainly a good cheap way to go! Be careful its addicting! you'll be looking at the websites and reading the books, its a very cool thing! Its just like clay, you can model stuff and carve stuff and shapes are only left to your imagination! you can make all your furniture shaped right into the walls! I love it and can't wait to try it in Mexico,. If I had a house I'd be at awhile here, I'd start with an oven and then make lots of remodel jobs with it, arched doorways, half walls, its endless!!!

Hate to give you something that will just eat more of your time but here are a few of the websites I have booked marked. It is not a bad time taker though, cause it could give you a good, cheap way to build one (or some) dwellings in Pana! Just save this email for future reference..

http://www.appropedia.org/Blue_ox_earthen_oven

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=797446823830833401

http://www.amazon.com/Pizza-Peel-10Handle-12-Blade/dp/B0001MRS9I/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1210314363&sr=8-11

http://www.cobworks.com/mexico2005.htm

http://handyprojects.blogspot.com/2005/04/earth-mud-cob-adobe-horno-oven-links.html

http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com/buwicostgu.html

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/cob.htm


I'm sending a floor I just finished painting for a friend who had plywood put on her cement floor studio. Its done with a wood grain tool and it does a great faux wood look. This floor was done with 4 colors and came out super. It was a big job but it looks great.
The tool, if you haven't seen one, is only $5.... [see other post for photo of floor]

Well got to go... later!