GHA had a very wonderful fall, particularly with our first 'green' build. The first 20 homes we built were of concrete block, reinforced with rebar. These have been good sturdy and secure homes. But we felt that moving away from cement, which uses vast amounts of energy to manufacture, would be beneficial to both the planet and to the home recipients. In late November we finished Casa #21, a home made of bamboo, cane, local pumice, lime, pine needles and adobe mud. It is beautiful, will stand up well to earthquakes and will breathe in a way that cement never could. Actually this is a hybrid house, for we still haven't figured out a floor that requires as little maintenance as cement, nor a roof as handy as lamina.
Narrow wood boards are attached to the vertical bamboo. On these, can~a is wired on both sides, creating a cage into which a mixture of adobe mud, pine needles and pumice is applied.
GHA welcomes its wonderful volunteers....these being homeschoolers from Seattle
Lime stucco is applied over the mud...first a rough layer, then a finished.
Above, the final coat of flooring is applied. This family chose green. The following photo is of the inside of this family's previous home. They had no beds and slept on the dirt/sometimes mud floor. With holes in the walls and roof there was no protection from the elements.
We are expecting to do our second bajareque build beginning in January. These builds take longer than a block build, an entire month, and cost us 50% more, but the outcome and benefits seem well worth it.
COME BUILD WITH US!!!