While the idea of building with straw bales is not new, the eco-friendly approach to building has been gaining interest in the past 15 years. In the low-tech method, bales of straw are typically ...

If you have never considered using a straw bale greenhouse, the first question is: why do you need one? Depending on where you live or what you want to grow, there are several compelling reasons. A ...

Interior designer Marcia Wolff wanted a house that's energy-efficient, ecologically sensitive, fire-resistant and, above all, beautiful. So she chose a building material that might surprise some ...

With the outdoor temperature near 87 degrees, Larry Biehn had ideal conditions to show off the virtues of straw-bale construction. "What's the first thing you notice?" Biehn asked as he stepped ...

Do you recommend building straw bale homes? And/or can you insulate an existing home with straw bales on the outside of the home and then finish it using siding, wood, or stucco? I wonder why this ...

In post and beam construction, straw bales serve as infill to form walls and provide insulation. The bales are stacked like big bricks and covered with stucco or plaster. With proper detailing, the ...

Would you build a house of straw? Contrary to the childhood story of the big, bad wolf that huffed and puffed and easily blew down the little pig's house, straw can be an excellent building material.