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11/10/07, 09:47 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: near the current river in mo.
Posts: 1,370
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Grants for homebuilding Strawbale
My mail carrier said she had heard that our county here in Mo. that would be Douglas county,Mo. was giving grants of $15,000 for the use of building a strawbale home how would I find out about that? she did know that they wanted you to use Fesue did I spell that right? Iam new at all of this but would the $15,000 be enough to build one about 700 square foot?,thanks,paula 
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11/10/07, 11:06 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Mountains of Vermont, Zone 3
Posts: 8,878
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Make sure you really want to build with straw bale. I have heard of some serious mold and rot problems in humid climates. I did some tests - made me back away from the technique. It appears to work fine in dry climates like AZ and CO. It may be one of those things that is good for specific situations but not others.
Cheers
-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org
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11/10/07, 11:39 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MO
Posts: 914
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There is a flyer up in the courthouse in Gainesville. They probably have a contact number on it.
Rachel
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11/10/07, 11:42 AM
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I've been thinking that strawbales would be ok for a barn or chicken house, but I think I'd like something more substantial for my house.
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11/10/07, 12:06 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carthage, Texas
Posts: 12,261
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Hmmm... using fescue? It would more properly be called a hay house then. I have looked at strawbale, too... and realized, like Highlands, that strawbale is great in areas with low humidity, like the southwest, but poor for areas with lots of humidity.
Strawbale homes use straw. I'd hate to be the guinea pig that tried to use a non standard material, with a lot less structural integrity, like fescue grass. Unless ya'll's fescue is a lot different than our fescue.
On the other hand, if someone gave me an outright 15k grant, I could build a house for that (building it myself)...
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Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming
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11/10/07, 04:44 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: near the current river in mo.
Posts: 1,370
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Thank you Matt Man I'll be in gainesville on the 21st I'll go by there and take a look,paula
__________________
'It Is A Wise Father Who Knows His Own Child'
Shakespeare
A WOMAN MUST NOT RELY ON A MAN TO PROTECT HER, SHE MUST LEARN TO PROTECT HERSELF.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY
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11/10/07, 04:56 PM
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keep it simple and honest
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: NE PA
Posts: 2,362
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Grants are just tax payer money in many instances. I'd prefer that grants not be available for most things. This is not a personal dig at you paula, as I also give that opinion at our county government meetings.
BTW, two women have built a strawbale house here in NE PA. They took a week or two class in Mass. then helped someone else build their home, to get experience and go through the whole process. They have been living in it for about two years, and still need to get some of the "stucco" work completed. When they have major work to be done, they get their community support group (friends and relatives) and make a day or weekend of it with plenty of food. It's like a work party.
Ann
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11/10/07, 11:08 PM
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Domestic Engineer
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Back to the other side of the rainbow!
Posts: 705
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Paula - If you get info I'd be interested to know if it was only for your county in MO or others too. Our farm is in Dade Co.
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11/11/07, 07:02 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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This is quite eye opening for me as I never have viewed Missouri as a state with socialist/progressive tendencies. There must be lots of strings attached to acquire the $15,000. I simply can't see how they can lavish $15,000 on every tom/dick/harry rauol, pedro, achmed that wants to build.
As far as building goes, if one builds a 700 square foot house like a garage (no interior plumbing, no electrical, no running water, no septic system, no central heat/air, etc) they will be able to do it for $15,000, provided they do all the work.
If, on the other hand, one wishes to build a modern house that is up to code, with electrical outlets/lighting, fully functioning bathrooms, kitchen counters/cabinets, floor coverings, modern doors/windows, insulation, central heat/air, an up to code septic system, etc, it will cost you at least $70,000. $100,000 is probably more like it.
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11/15/07, 02:12 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: The Ozarks
Posts: 5,201
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I have that information somewhere... I think next year is the last year it will be offered.
Okay found it.
Richard Lorenz - Straw Bale Home Construcion Intiative
University of Missouri Extension Office
Douglas County Courthouse
Ava, MO 65608
417-683-4409
Cell: 417-683-4446
Email: LorenzR@missouri.edu
He'll send you a packet with the info.
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11/15/07, 03:30 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,722
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I talked to Richard Lorenz and the program is only available in limited counties. Douglas, Wright, Texas, Howell, Shannon, Ozark. Centered about 60 miles east of Springfield.
He recommends using rice straw for better insulation. We also discussed the possibility of using wool bales and cotton bales. Not in great detail, but it's interesting to toss out new ideas to think about.
He also told me that the best straw bale house site he knows of is at strawbalehouse.com
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