MillNeckFarm

Cob is basically adobe that is free-form vs. molded into "bricks" & left to dry on its own vs. baked. A very old method of building which is being revived. There are cob structures in the damp environs of the UK that are 400+ yrs. old & still in use.

Here's a few links that will give you more info.

Latest News: | Cob Cottage Company
Kleiwerks International
Cob Workshops
Cob Projects - Cob Houses and Timeless Art of Cob Building

This one isn't cob, but it is an interesting site for another method of sustainable building.

Earthship Biotecture Green Buildings

And a pretty good forum for "green" building in general.

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Lots of books on the subject, from Cob for dummies types to in-depth how-to's from the foundation to the roof. Many can be found via the links that I posted or through sites such as Amazon.

If I can get assurance from my local gov't that they will approve this type of construction, my wife & I plan to attend a hands-on workshop in order to learn to do the work ourselves. I have a fair amount of construction experience/knowledge so feel pretty confident that we can do it. We'll most likely start with a very small structure that can later either be added on to or used for other purposes than a primary dwelling.

farmertim

Sounds Good Terry, and thanks for the Info, I have been involved in construction quite a lot but you learn a lot (about yourself too) when you build your own place, you know what they say; bite off more than you can chew and chew like Bu33ary!!!!
cheers

__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

MillNeckFarm

Best of luck with your projects. If I can ever get in a financial space to get started, I'll post pics.

BelarusBulldog

When I saw the picture of your barn I started to grin, and called to the wife to come have a look. We had been fooling around with different designs and finally settled on this one for our tractor/welding shed. Yours is so much like it, thanks for posting.

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__________________
Plowing, it's snow much fun!

farmertim

Hey BB I am glad that you were able to decide. I must admit I am happy with the layout (not much to it; very basic). thanks for the feedback.

Cheers

__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

Daedong

Nice shed mate, did you buy that as a kit, or did you build it from scratch?

farmertim

No, I actually got the shed builder to erect it for me, the tyranny of distance was my enemy there.
Cheers

__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

farmertim

Update June 26th 2011.
Well we spent the last two days erecting the frame of my wood shed, I prefabricated some of the steel work, which is used pallet racking from my workplace (free) and the 2x4 and 2x3 timber framing also free, (it works out it is cheaper for the company to scrap the timber framing that is used as packaging for the products that our shipping Dept dispatches, than it is to pay wages for someone to remove the screws and nails to reuse it).
I had a lot of left over TEK screws so the only thing I have spent so far is on quick set concrete $40.00.
It was my Wife, my Son in Law Matthew and myself on Saturday, and My wife and I on Sunday that got it to this stage.
You will notice that I have used a rough natural pole in the front centre of the roof, this is to be a little sympathetic to the surroundings!!!
Next weekend I will be putting the sheets of roofing and wall cladding (colorbond) coated steel, that is also excess stock from my workplace.

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__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

BelarusBulldog

What a great idea using racking legs for your posts. Can't wait to see it finished.

__________________
Plowing, it's snow much fun!

Bryan1

G'day Tim,
Looks like ya getting there mate

I did notice the rain water pipe on the back of your shed is above the tank. I have found by using extra pipe and going underground then put in a riser for the rain water intake will stop any leaves and other crap entering the tank. Just make sure you put in a drain point at the low point so say once a year you can flush out the crap and see how much of it would of gone into your tank.

With your RE system I can offer you some guidance there to help you save a heap of $$$$.

Cheers Bryan

farmertim

[QUOTE=Bryan1;133953]G'day Tim,
Looks like ya getting there mate

I did notice the rain water pipe on the back of your shed is above the tank.

With your RE system I can offer you some guidance there to help you save a heap of $$$$.

Thanks Bryan,
The wood shed is finished but the rain came down on Sunday morning and effectively stopped anything else but a tidy up.
The rainwater pipe at the back of the shed is only temporary until I get another tank for the southern side of the shed these tanks actually have debris sieves in the top where the pipes run into.

What do you mean by RE system Bryan?
Cheers

__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

Bryan1

Hi Tim,
RE stands for Renewable Energy and I did see you say you were going put in some solar panels etc. I make my own wind generators and my own charge controllers too. I do have a heap of the fisher & paykel motors here that make for a cheap wind generator and I can let you have one if you want. The most expensive part is the batteries so one must take great care that they don't over/under charge especially if one isn't around to keep a check on them.

Let me know if you want a hand as I'll be happy to help out.

Regards Bryan

farmertim

That sounds brilliant Bryan, I have always said that I would like to set up wind generation. we actually have a large wind farm about 5 miles stretching ot to 30 miles from my property.

I would like to get instructions and plans, if that i s OK?

__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

farmertim

Here is a photo the wood shed, it is 2.5 metres high by 2.5 metres deep by 5 metres wide for all you 's out there that is; 8'3"X 8'3" X 16'6".
It bucketed down rain just after I had finished it so was unable to get the firewood into it this weekend, oh well I can't have everything to plan can I?

Cheers

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__________________
Einsteins theory of insanity; doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result

G'day from Tim in Australia.

Bryan1

Hi Tim,
Looking at the third photo on post #28 in the paddock tothe right of the station wagon would be the best place for wind generator and would need to get a decent height over the top of the trees for some decent wind.

A F&P washing machine motor as a wind generator will give you around 500 watts max which isn't too shabby. What voltage do you plan to run the off grid power from ?. Now forget 12 volts as you would need close to 400 amp welding cable for power wire runs and the cost would be huge. I run both my off grid arrays on 24 volts and my wind generator output runs wild AC to my shed where I rectify it to DC at the batterybank.

In order to get started you will need a batterybank first then an inverter for 240 volt power. Forget those cheap inverters as the idle current draw will drain a battery quicker than a dog can find a tree in a forest. I use a selectronic inverter here on the house array and I reckon they are a top inverter. It's a 24 volt 2400watt and it runs our house fine and has done for over 8 years.

As far as a charge controller goes I do make my own and I can design and make one to suit your system once you get it designed.

Regards Bryan

BelarusBulldog

Looks good Tim ! Maybe you could line the floor with some old pallets to keep the wood off the ground and to let air circulate.

__________________
Plowing, it's snow much fun!

pogobill

G'day Tim,
Great looking place you got there! Love the barn. The wife and I were going to build a monitor barn similar to yours, but eventually opted for the traditional gambrel roof that was popular around this neck of the woods years ago.
Had the place for 29 years, eh? I feel much better seeing I've only been at my place for 2!
Just kidding Tim! Your place is coming together very nicely, and by the sounds of it, you do have a many more considerations when building than I do. Keep us posted on your progress, looks great so far.
Cheers
Bill

jc56

Hey Farmertim!Just wanted to drop a quick line and say I really enjoy looking at your pics.Looks like a great place!!!jc