[GSBN] [Strawbale] Bales for Haiti

[Amy and Jim Rankin]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in a very cursory look at this thread is 
the problem of termites.

Haven't been to Haiti, but did go on a misson project to Jamaica a few years 
ago.  Any wood or wood product not treated or naturally termite resistant 
was quite soon lunch for termites.  I spent some time tearing out masonite 
which had been installed by a previous mission group a few years before.  I 
spent some more time treating for termites, but no guarantee that they 
couldn't reinfest the structure.  Thankfully the old building was 
predominantly constructed of native timber which was termite and rot 
resistant.

Like RT says, the predominant type of construction was masonry with very 
little wood.  I would say the poor people of the areas in the central part 
of that country used hardly any wood in construction at all.  They also 
didn't tend to use any metal roofing, instead the predominant type of 
building was "reinforced" cinderblock walls with poured concrete floor and 
roof.  When they wanted more room, the roof became the floor of the next 
story!  Just the thing to pancake down on the occupants in an earthquake!  I 
saw one being poured one day.  A complete crew of 50 or more men were mixing 
and placing the concrete of the roof by passing buckets of concrete hand to 
hand up the line to the roof.  Truly a local solution to a local problem.

Jim

James R Rankin, DVM
Cedarcrest Farms, Inc
Faunsdale, AL USA