<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">This weekend Jenna Yu and I, attended the Rebuild Expo, a
building expo geared toward people who had lost their homes in the Valley Fire--1200 homes burned in less than a day.</span><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">  The area is not wealthy.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">It was definitely a good place for us to be. Saturday morning
began with a long, long line of registered people who lost their homes and who
were given early access to the event.  Usually at these sorts of events
there are people toying with building their own house, or remodeling their
kitchen. This was different-- a mass of people desperately trying to figure out
how to put themselves in housing once again.  They're highly motivated.
Many, probably most, face serious obstacles--insurance settlements (if they had
insurance) and property values, but also things like county requirements to
bring infrastructure up to code (water, septic, electrical)--many people had
older buildings with grandfathered systems. Our table was next to the County's,
so we overheard a lot of discussions.  The County is doing its best, and
will stretch regulations whenever they can for people's benefit, but....</span><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">Jenna & I, representing Skillful Means, were the ones there
identified with straw, so I think we got most of the questions. There was
a lot of interest. Perhaps "longing" is a better word, because people
want to choose a natural home but are on limited means. We introduced strawbale
to the many people who had little familiarity with it, and were pleased at how
open they were to new ideas. And there was a LOT of interest from everyone in
the possibilities of low-cost construction and the panel system we're
developing (with help from "upside down" John). They really want to be able to afford it, and not be condemned to
buy a toxic manufactured box.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">We're offering free house plans of  completed projects, and
most people felt they couldn't afford what we normally design. Folks have been
hammered with every conceivable building method--promising very low bottom
lines--but definitely were interested in something natural and healthy, and
were excited that it was being presented to them. We need to do more
outreach to these communities. They are working hard to
sort out their futures, and the future of their communities.</span><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">There's also a number of people who have heard of strawbale and
dismissed it, but they're often happy to tell us about it; "rodents!! they're everywhere!".  I'm always happy to chat with them.</span><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">Strawbale has been fueled and financed in California by the
well-off, and that's allowed us to learn a lot about how to design with straw. The folks this weekend don't have a lot of money to spend on housing, and having the opportunity
to work with people who fled from the woods with only the shirts on their
backs, was personally very satisfying.</span><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">The thousands of people of modest means who are now homeless can inspire us to use our knowledge and experience to make good
housing available to average people. I’m inspired by their
determination to make it work, and I would urge the strawbale community to
respond to their needs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">John (don't flame me!) Swearingen</span></p></div>