<div dir="ltr">Carol, <div><br></div><div>Ok, I'm corrected, straw is important as a soil nutrient. Straw is unquestionably treated as a waste product in large-scale mechanized agribusiness, and is a by-product of that industry, whether or not that's a Good Thing. (Perhaps sustainable forestry, in which trees are grown to be used for construction, is a better alternative to using a valuable agricultural product, and we shouldn't have dreams of large-scale use of straw as a building material). </div>
<div><br></div><div>An enormous amount of rice is grown in California, exported into the international market. There is easily enough straw produced to build every new house in the state. The problem with rice straw is that it does not break down in a single season without plowing under <b>twice</b> because of it's high silica content (it grows in standing water). In the past the straw has been burned, as it is in many places around the world, but this is a problem for human habitation.</div>
<div><br></div><div>About 25 years ago, the California Air Quality Control Board put a ban on straw burning, and the farmers had to look for other ways to deal with their abundant straw. One was to flood the fields to hasten the breakdown, but the salmon fishermen and Indian tribes had a problem with that, because abundant water flow is vital to spawning in the rivers and streams. Bale builders had an idea, and the original straw bale code in California was pushed through by an alliance of fishermen, rice farmers and builders, who normally only ever meet underwater, during abalone season.</div>
<div><br></div><div>There have been difficulties, however. Burning also controlled weeds and insects, and the varieties grown were not sufficiently resistant to the new conditions, so the bans on burning were loosened. From the farmer's point of view, the straw is an expensive problem to deal with, and they are politically very powerful. Our friend, client and rice farmer, <a href="http://massaorganics.com">Greg Massa</a> has been growing organic rice and has learned that some crop rotation or cover crops are essential for weed control, but this is new territory--rice farming around the world is a monoculture. He doesn't see his straw as waste. He is growing on a small scale, and experimenting with techniques that other farmers could use, but his rice is expensive because of those techniques. Meanwhile the large-scale farmers burn it, to the detriment of humans, flood the fields, to the detriment of the fish and fishermen, or we can put it into buildings in place of fiberglass, wood, concrete, steel and a variety of toxic and polluting materials. We don't use anything close to even what would be available from a three-year rotation of straw, so I do think it's legitimate to consider the straw that we use as a "highest and best use". </div>
<div><br></div><div>I hope I'm not being cranky, like my alter-ego Upside-down John, on the underside of the globe, but I think it's important to really understand the web of interdependence we live in. Natural building sometimes makes strange bedfellows!</div>
<div><br></div><div>John</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 5:01 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:carolatkn@aol.com" target="_blank">carolatkn@aol.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><font color="black" face="arial">
<div>Sorry John, but straw is ABSOLUTELY NOT a waste product - its greatest value is as a soil improver - I can't stress how important that is - even if many "modern" farmers don't seem to agree these days. Farm soils have lost so much organic matter over the last 50 years that it is very a scary situation indeed. Of course, locking up carbon in a super insulated straw wall is the second best thing - and it would be sustainable to use straw for this wonderful purpose every third year or so - in an ideal world!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>best wishes</div>
<div>Carol Atkinson</div>
<div><a href="http://www.strawcottage.co.uk" target="_blank">www.strawcottage.co.uk</a> </div><div><div class="h5">
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: John Swearingen <<a href="mailto:jswearingen@skillful-means.com" target="_blank">jswearingen@skillful-means.com</a>><br>
To: Global Straw Building Network <<a href="mailto:GSBN@sustainablesources.com" target="_blank">GSBN@sustainablesources.com</a>><br>
Sent: Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:50<br>
Subject: Re: [GSBN] The EU wants 5% strawbuildings by 2020 says the Economist..<br>
<br>
<div>
<div dir="ltr">Jacob's points about supporting local and sustainable business are well taken, but these are choices that we can make, with our pocketbooks, in order to bring about better communities.
<div>
<div>That said, I think the bottom line is that straw is a<i> waste product</i>. Unlike wood, it's not grown for construction, and it has limited use--for erosion control (composting) or to spread over muddy paddocks for livestock. Extra straw, and there is a lot, would likely be burned. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Following the very sound sustainability principle of "highest and best use", <b>any</b> use of bales for construction involves taking garbage and putting it to good use and that's worthy of support. When you consider that bales sequester carbon, that's an extra benefit. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>John (Trash Talk) Swearingen</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Dec 18, 2013 at 6:37 PM, Jacob Deva Racusin <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:buildnatural@googlemail.com" target="_blank">buildnatural@googlemail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
Valentina,<br>
<br>
I appreciate your perspective. This is a conversation that has come
up a number of times in our courses and conversations with our
colleagues - namely, the roll of agribusiness in providing feedstock
for our construction. I think 'greenwashing' may be a bit strong,
when I compare to the claims of the concrete and foam industries as
being 'green'. That said, the impacts must be considered, and the
benefits of using straw in regards to deep ecological and social
impact should not be overstated if the source of straw is not being
considered. We have access to straw that is grown from medium- and
small-scale farms, which come closer to the higher potential of
working with this material. It is very analogous to working with
wood -the same framing member can come from a local sawyer
practicing sustainable silviculture, or from a
genetically-engineered clear-cut plantation pine shipped across the
world.<br>
<br>
From data I've seen, even industrial straw is a fraction of the
embodied carbon of other common forms of insulation, so context is
relevant when evaluating materials for deep impact. You make an
especially good point about the danger of introducing this material
to industrial scale, and losing more of the benefits/exacerbating
the liabilities in favor of snapping the technology into the mold of
industrial housing/building development. We would do well as a
community not to lose sight of the importance of scale, and as you
mention the relevance of the social benefits of working with straw.
At the same time, access to a much larger market and making the
technology available to many more people is an arguable net gain,
even if there is a sacrifice for environmental and social impact in
production - again, compared to the alternatives. I think there is
room for both, and as long as we continue to engage in the debate, I
have confidence that we'll continue to move the ball further down
the field.<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Jacob<span><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
-- <br>
Jacob Deva Racusin <br>
Co-Owner<br>
New Frameworks Natural Design/Build<br>
<br>
Author, The Natural Building Companion<br>
Chelsea Green Press, 2012<br>
<br>
<a value="+18027827783">(802) 782-7783</a><br>
<a href="mailto:jacob@newframeworks.com" target="_blank">jacob@newframeworks.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.newframeworks.com" target="_blank">http://www.newframeworks.com</a></font></span>
<div><br>
<br>
<div>On 12/18/13, 12:43 PM, valentina maini
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">Martin, John, Caroline, and all
<div>as Herbert Gruber recently suggested on Leonardo group, this
article maybe very well connected with the EU funded
( eco-innovation) investigation on @Modcell ....based in the UK
and with BathUniversity support </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I personally got in touch with the founder of this panels in
2011 and met with professionals here in spain that are
collaborating in this EU funded program of analysis and
implementation of this "patent" strawbale panels....i've seen
fantastic software and marketing tools they were presenting at
Eco event in London 2011</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>From my point of view and with very recent experiences on
professional development of strawbale in Spain i think and see
this article as a call for action to present the real value of
strawbale and strawbale network..that goes, in my view, very
much beyond the "simple" energy efficiency issue...</div>
<div>and i very important reminder for all that straw is not at
all a really safe for the environment product...since is a
byproduct of one of the most contaminated human "fabric"...as
industrial agriculture ...as very well reminds Luc Foissac in is
great book on strawbale...</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>from my point of view...The very big risk/reality at the
moment is that straw is used very much as a "simple"
greenwash.....</div>
<div> and even if i really celebrate the greenwash for what it
means in terms of getting rid of toxic materials...i think and
personally value much more the social innovation related to
strawbale... the ability of people and networks to create
opportunity and solutions.... </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>what is happening is just "business as usual" with a more
eco-material... what the strawbale network gave me me is much
much more than simple "strawbale tech"... i learned.... thank to
you all.... the value and the tools to innovate and collaborate
and manage uncertainty.... and adapt and always look for the
best solution for people, planet...and even profit... </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>and personally i'm really convinced that the risk for
environment and quality (equality) in our society is so
big....., that is not enough anymore to "change" material...
and hope that the strawbale network (that i value for itself)
can make a huge step and show the world that strawbalers are
bringing much more to community and economy that a "simple"
prefab panel for passive house... a huge step to defend as the
real value the mission and vision of all the pioneers in
strawbale .... at least this is how i see you all ...</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>hope my english is good enough...and...my mind is getting
clear on this issue just in this lasts months... so hope this
comments are of some interest for you ;-)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>best regards to you all, valentina</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>
<span><span>
<div><span>
<div><span style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">Valentina Maini</span><br>
<font color="#888888">italy-spain<br>
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<font face="'trebuchet ms', sans-serif"><span style="font-size:x-small"><font color="#666666">John Swearingen<br>
Skillful Means Design & Construction<br>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><font face="'trebuchet ms', sans-serif"><span style="font-size:x-small"><font color="#666666">John Swearingen<br>Skillful Means Design & Construction<br>
2550 9th Street Suite 209A<br>Berkeley, CA 94710<br>510.849.1800 phone<br>510.849.1900 fax<br><br>Web Site: <a href="http://www.skillful-means.com" target="_blank">http://www.skillful-means.com</a><br>Blog: <a href="https://skillfulmeansdesign.wordpress.com" target="_blank">https://skillfulmeansdesign.wordpress.com</a></font></span></font>
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