Earthbag Building: The Tools, Tricks and Techniques

Mother Earth News Wiser Living #8

by Kaki Hunter, Donald Kiffmeyer

The only comprehensive, illustrated, step-by-step guide to building with earthbags. Over seventy percent of Americans cannot afford to own a code-enforced, contractor-built home. This has led to widespread interest in using natural materials-straw, cob, and earth-for building homes and other buildings that are inexpensive, and that rely largely on labor rather than expensive and often environmentally-damaging outsourced materials. Earthbag Building is the first comprehensive guide to all the tools, tricks, and techniques for building with bags filled with earth-or earthbags. Having been introduced to sandbag construction by the renowned Nader Khalili in 1993, the authors developed this "Flexible Form Rammed Earth Technique" over the last decade. A reliable method for constructing homes, outbuildings, garden walls and much more, this enduring, tree-free architecture can also be used to create arched and domed structures of great beauty-in any region, and at home, in developing countries, or in emergency relief work. This profusely illustrated guide first discusses the many merits of earthbag construction, and then leads the reader through the key elements of an earthbag With dedicated sections on costs, making your own specialized tools, and building code considerations, as well as a complete resources guide, Earthbag Building is the long-awaited, definitive guide to this uniquely pleasing construction style. Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Sustainability, Construction, Nature

280 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so incredibly comprehensive. Kaki and Donald covered everything from top to bottom, inside and out. When I asked myself, "well what about this, how do I do this?" they told me. Not only did they tell me but they showed me. Their diagrams, pictures, drawings, and appendices were as equally as valuable as their words. This book will equip anyone with a wealth of knowledge on Earthbag building and give them the confidence and know how that they need. I took my time with this book because it was packed with so much information. I was going to take notes as I read it but instead decided, midway though reading, to buy the book since I was reading a library copy. And so that book is on its way to me where I'll go a round two with it and take notes because there is so much in here. I recommend this book to anyone interested in natural building, mortgage-free building, ecological and economical building and just overall sound structures that will outbeat, in strength, any conventional home. The research and experience that these two put into this book is much appreciated and highly recommended.

[Emily Culver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marking this as finished even though I didn't read through it all. The writing was really clear and straightforward. I was getting really excited about this type of building, but then I did some googling and couldn't find any permitted earthbag homes in my state.

There is one chapter at the end on code. I wish this was first and set the expectation first. To do this you will likely either need to do it without permission or small enough to not require permitting. Otherwise it will be expensive and an uphill battle.

[Myth Liberated · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب فوق العاده عالی بود که متاسفانه به نظرم تو کشور خیلی کم از این جور کتابها تالیف یا ترجمه میشه(البته با توجه به اینکه اصلا رشته و کار من معماری نیست میگم)،اما همون چند تایی هم که هست خوبه و کاشکی از کتابهای مرحوم نادر خلیلی هم بجز کتاب تنها دویدن بقیه کتابهاش رو هم ترجمه میکردند و یا از بازماندگان ایشان متن فارسی رو اگه داشت تهیه میکردند.به هرحال بودن این کتابها برای آدمای که نمیخواهند خانه های مدرن و گاها نامناسب با آب وهوا ی ایران را حداقل در مناطق روستایی داشته باشند مفید هستش

[Lewis Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are the best books on Earth building I've come across so far

I've been looking heavily at super Adobe. Kal-El Earth books are great but their workshops are pretty pricey. I think I got a lot of tips out of this book that I would have gotten out of one of Cal Earth's workshops. As much of this area in fact that you're sending it is a very dense read with lots of tips and illustrations it is very easy to read

[Suertudon GV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paso a paso el super adobe

[Manolo Macchetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ve read several Earthbag Building books: this one is the most complete and accessible for beginner-intermediate. When I did a live project and actually built one Earthbag dome i was able to relate a lot.
I am not sure you can learn earthbagging from book, but this is a great reference.

[Meg Mirza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modified version of the rammed-earth technique for building earthern homes, the writers, a goofy, sincere hippie couple detail step-by-step how to build a house using feedbags of dirt. The book is not a home design fantasy volume full of glossy color photos, instead relying heavily on black and white photos and easy to understand, how-to illustrations. Being pioneers in this form of construction, the writers come up with their own ad-hoc terminology. They aim to keep things, "FQSS" (Fun, Quick, Simple and Solid) as opposed to "fqss" (frustrating, quarrelsome, slow and stupid) and employ techniques such as "dimpling undone diddles", "hard-assing", "bag-whacking" and "scooching". They don't stint on details and every stage of the construction project is carefully covered step-by-step.
The authors' assertion that a team of adults could produce four bags per person per hour seemed wildly optimistic (that's one feedbag every 15 minutes... sounds like a grueling pace to me, but then again, I've never attempted a project of this sort.)
Their lone building project, (aside from earthern walls and the like) is a small one-room structure in their backyard which looks very appealing in a hobbit-like way. It looks perfect as an artist's studio, or even a kid's clubhouse. The writers were deeply inspired by Nader Khalili (author of Ceramic Houses & Earth Architecture), having worked with him on previous projects.
You'd have to be extremely, extremely handy with home construction to attempt a project of your own of this sort, but doubtless there are some who will be inspired to try. For a prettier, even more compelling look at low-tech, low-impact building, check out Yurts: Living in the Round by Becky Kemery.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential for anyone thinking about building or currently building an earthbag structure. It includes detailed drawings showing exactly how to make the earthbag process work. In the appendix, it shows how to make the tools necessary (for the least cost) to work on earthbag projects. We began building ours November 2013. See our website for progress. home-farm.org. Also, check the website earthbagbuilding.com, brought to you by the authors with very appropriate FAQs. Excellent book. Highly recommended.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicely done book that has given me a lot of ideas. I would benefit from much more of the sort of information included in the final section - costs, estimating materials, time allocations - but that may be my background and practicality rather than any deficiency in the writing.

Intending to use the technique to complete a retaining wall this summer season, and evaluate for potential further use.

[Dom · Rating 4 out of 5]

--Earthbag Building, The tools, tricks and techniques, Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer, New society publishers, a mother earth news book for wiser living.

(this book is very good, its what finally swung me to earthbag building over the other building materials, it shows the amazing possibilities and versitility of earthbag construction and breaks down the process so is really easy to follow. strongly reccommend this book.) --8/10--

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read! I am starting my first bag, this weekend. Plan to go down about 12 feet and creating a 45' diameter home. Will add five 24'diameter bedrooms off center in a star pattern, each with a composting bath. Planning to have it done by summer. Already have the land, creek, and plans.

This book will help me to build a great home for the price of a squallid piece of crap in the worst parts of town. The average person can save 50-75% using the techniques in this book.

[Audacious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I contacted Kiffmeyer, who is the co-author of this book along with Kaki Hunter. A reply email was sent later that day, very nice individual-he even asked around to see if there were any projects in my area that I could go visit...there aren't any.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

enough here to build a house. i'm developing proof,

[Pam P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it cover to cover many times.Perfect coffee table book. Friends and family seem to love browsing through it. I will need another copy by the time I can finally build my own.

[Cheryl Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book on the topic of alternative building. I learned so much from this book that I'm going to build an earthbag home

[Megengelter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually skimmed this via overdrive ebook!

[Kruip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earthbag building seems to be fun.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful (and very informative) book. Answered pretty much all the burning questions I had about earthbag building, and all that is left now is for me to say: Yes, please!

[Mikhale Rogers II · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still awaiting the first project to commence. My review may change according to actual experience. The knowledge shared within does inspire the confidence to move forward with investment.

[Hbksmile · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it is not feasible for you to study at Cal-Earth, this is book is a must. It is a must read either way.

[Darnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great and comprehensive resources for anyone who wants to learn about earthbag building.