Straw Bale Houses

Here's an interesting brief article on straw bale houses.

Economic Slavery

Our culture has set us up to be in debt almost from the time we set foot on the ground.  Being able to "pay our way" seems an impossible dream.  Schooling has become phenomenally expensive, especially higher education.  So we set off in the working world already deeply in debt. 
Buying a home with cash seems an impossibility, so we end up with crazy debt via mortgages.
How do we free ourselves from this?  From my readings, it seems possible.  I found the suggestions in the previously mentioned books interesting, but not sure how feasible in the current economy.  Banks will not finance buying land these days (this knowledge comes from working at a commercial real estate appraisal firm).  I would love to buy a piece of land and try out some of the alternative building materials, but with a mortgage already on my shoulders, cash is tight.
So how do we do it?
Stay tuned....and suggestions welcome!

Interesting Books

I've been exploring options for earth friendly homes.  I recently purchased "Earth Sheltered Houses" and "The Hand Sculpted House".  These books are helping me learn more and more about alternative building materials.
I found the anti-government, anti-Christian slant of The Hand Sculpted House to be a bit distracting, but the book is still very informative.  Working my way through it....
Earth Sheltered Houses starts out by debunking common misconceptions about underground homes - many of which I believed!  So it has been a good read.

If only I didn't have to work and I could spend all my time reading and researching!