Ella had a great fieldtrip this week, so I went along as well. We visited a home being built nearby that is being insulted with straw. Did you know that rice straw is best for using in strawbale houses becaause it has a high cellulose content? In fact rice straw has more cellulose than wood. This property makes it the most fireproof of the straws.
The local paper was there and Julie French wrote a cute little piece about it (
Click here to read the article - Ella made the front page!). Ella got to help stuff straw into crevices and open spaces. It will be covered with chicken wire next and then covered with plaster. Straw bales will give the wall a 44 R-value, which is pretty nice. It is usually not used to insulate floors because you cannot control for moisture as well and it is also more of a fire hazard under the house (that was my question).
I think just about everyone has had an experience with straw or hay and can relate to this picture. It's dusty stuff!
