House of straw

There are some interesting possibilities on the alternative edge of the green building movement, including the use of non-traditional materials, like bamboo. Or even a return to very old traditional materials, like straw. Yes, there are people out there today who build houses out of straw. According to enthusiasts, the advantages of straw bale construction include insulation, use of natural materials, and sturdiness -- these structures are very resistant to fire, earthquake, and even the huffing and the puffing of the big bad wolf.

Here are a few links for those who want to learn more.

• This realistic introduction to the topic considers both strengths and weaknesses, especially the danger of moisture.
• The Australian Straw Bale Building Association site has a lot of good info.
• This overview of green building is skeptical about the benefits of straw bale construction.
• This collection of straw bale links has many that are out of date, but many that are still quite good.