Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
A guide to Earthen Plaster
Posted on 9:43 AM by cristile
We have made half a dozen earthen plasters with varying ingredients. Below is a guide to a successful mix and application of our plaster.
1) Sift 3 (5 gallon) buckets of soil -- We used an 1/8" screen
2) Mix in water until a smooth (slightly liquid) mix is achieved
3) Sift and mix in 1 1/2 (5 gallon) buckets of sifted horse manure
4) Cook wheat paste
a) Boil 8 cups of water
b) mix 4 cups cold water with 3 cups flour
c) add flour to boiling water and simmer for a few minutes until thickened
5) Add wheat paste to mix and blend thoroughly
Application
1) Wet down wall
2) Apply earthen plaster with hand or trowel
3) (For best results) Listen to Mumford and Sons
1) Sift 3 (5 gallon) buckets of soil -- We used an 1/8" screen
2) Mix in water until a smooth (slightly liquid) mix is achieved
3) Sift and mix in 1 1/2 (5 gallon) buckets of sifted horse manure
4) Cook wheat paste
a) Boil 8 cups of water
b) mix 4 cups cold water with 3 cups flour
c) add flour to boiling water and simmer for a few minutes until thickened
5) Add wheat paste to mix and blend thoroughly
Application
1) Wet down wall
2) Apply earthen plaster with hand or trowel
3) (For best results) Listen to Mumford and Sons
Monday, October 27, 2014
RMH update
Posted on 5:49 PM by cristile
Thought I should post a video of the rocket mass heater (RMH) that will be keeping Katherine and I warm this winter. Many people are skeptical of the design, use and function of this amazing stove. I forgot to get a shot of the cob bench our duct runs through (thermal mass of the heater), but our 8" ducting runs horizontally through 30' of cob mass before exiting the house. The thermal mass traps all of the heat passing through the barrel.
How it works
The chimney within the 55 gallon barrel gives a chimney effect creating a draft down the feed tube (where we burn the sticks) and keeping any flame or smoke from escaping into the house. The incredible heat in the burn tunnel reburns much of the smoke before reaching the barrel. The gases cool rapidly in the much cooler barrel and shrinks adding an extra pull to the system. The hot air is then forced through the bench (losing all of its heat) and exits the house at little over 100 degrees F. This amazing heat transfer allows us to burn less wood, less often and still heat our home.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Roof edging
Posted on 7:24 PM by cristile
The roof edging was very labor intensive, but totally worth it when finished. All of these boards will serve to hold our living roof from falling off. Hopefully next spring we will be posting some great photos of new growth on top.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)








