I also remember hearing that strawbale construction stands up well to earthquakes - I can't remember where I heard that though.

Don't you run into problems actually finding square bales? They were pretty common when I was a kid but almost all I see today when I go home are the big round bales.

I've tried my hand at plastering a little here and there. Practice a bit, it's not rocket science, but it is a pleasure to watch someone who knows what they're doing. It's almost like the stucco jumps up on the wall by it's self.

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-livin' in the terminally flippant zone