We're Building A Straw Bale Pole Barn House! 

You two are the sweetest couple, you admire each other, respect each other and that's a wonderful thing to see💕

I read years ago that researchers feel that a darker home found in the deserts of the Middle East offers rest to the eyes from the intense light of the outside. So your dome home, although darker, is restful to your eyes.

One Third of my living space is straw bale. Be SURE to protect your bales from rodents. I think one is supposed to add borax to the bales. I bought this place already made. My neighbor bought a house made by the same couple. We both have issues with rodents in our walls. No Bueno! Another tip might be to ensure to place the bales upside down. For a garden you want the fold side down (to help hold moisture like, well, a straw) but for a house you might want the fold side up. Another tip I would suggest - try to make your inner walls as smooth as possible. Both my interior and exterior walls are "organic" - lumpy, bumpy, and difficult to decorate. Consider carefully where you might want to put your quaint little niches. I'd love to replaster my walls so that they are less stucco textured and a good bit smoother but I've already painted pictures on the two walls that there was room for a mural. Just curious, what are you going to be paying per bale? It's been a year or more since I bought my last 25 bales at about $6.50 each. That's a bit expensive. I hope you will be paying less. I am in high desert at ˜7,000' near Las Vegas NM.

Have you guys ever considered offering hands-on training or asking for volunteers to help finish the dome and/or new pole barn? I watch two other channels doing off grid, alternative structures in AZ. Tiny Shiny has offered hands-on earth bag structure training as well as asking for help doing large berms to direct rain water and planting landscaping that followers bought/donated. Other homestead projects, too. Recently they asked for donations to build a new goat barn and pasture. Donations exceeded their goal. Maybe they would mentor how to organize training or volunteers?

You two sometimes three are so hands on. Pouring heart and soul into the builds and your faithful fur baby. For a desert setting it is rich with all you are investing.

I've been watching since about 9K subscribers and I absolutely love you two, so don't get mad, but I dream of the day you focus on finishing a project before starting another, namely your dome. I want to see you living in your dome all nice and cozy and decorated the way you want. I'll always be a cheerleader.

The earthbag design incorporating an enclosed garden looks great.

Place plastic on the ground before putting any earth bags down to prevent moisture for wicking up to the bags.

I cannot WAIT to see this house grow. I'm so excited for you.

What about the outside of the dome? I'm worried you only have one layer of cob on it and it's getting wind and rain erosion. Hope it doesn't incur bad damage. Just wondering.😎

Very excited for you. IDK if I could start another part without finishing the dome. God Bless you. I'll be rooting for you.

11.37 minute House Sparrow, House Finch, Curve-billed Thrasher singing, and nice quick shot of great looking Black-throated Sparrow, and Canyon Tohwee also. Looks like you folks are enjoying your local birds.

I know people that have lived in the desert and have told me. The one mistake they made was not building an outdoor shower right when they got started Building there homestead. Because it keeps your trailer clean and no mildew grows, The towels dry instantly, My one friend does not let her husband or child into the trailer. Unless they've rinsed off in the shower first and rinsed the dirt and mud off their clothes and hang them up to dry on hooks in the sun to keep laundry. At Bay Just clean your clothes and rinse as you go day to day and the water can be channeled for a tree and little garden right next to it.

Sounds like a good plan.

Your home will be really beautiful when you get done. Yes with only 2 of you doing such manual labor is hard on you. Can't wait to see it.

Especially important to have a way to go forward together, incorporating the kitchen, greenhouse, cellar, and bathrooms. I'm happy you have found a faster way to build the newer, bigger space.

Things are getting exciting once again I love when you start something new. With health issues hopefully out of the way and Pete there part tiime you will be doing great ❤❤❤❤

Good morning to my Favorite Dirt Bag Couple. Love the progress you all are making. It is definitely going to get better as you get to expand out I bet just getting where you are now feels alot better then when you only had the trailer as your living area. Can't wait to see the next where your going from here. Congrats and keep up the great work.

I'm excited to watch this unfold. The mix of material and building techniques is very interesting. Great work. I wish you the best

I strongly recommend looking in to Geothermal heating and cooling for your home and green house. It's far easier than you might think, though you would need to rent a backhoe with a fairly long reach to do it. The upfront cost of the piping as well as the heat pump will quickly be offset. And you will be able to keep your greenhouse cool enough for the summer heat.

That plan looks awesome Jim and Jess. I know Jim, that you will take great care in the build to make sure it is a sound structure. Jess, I was happy to hear you express your feelings and thoughts today.

You need to put the shade cloth on the inside of the greenhouse so they lasts longer. Maybe a grommet through cabal slide system she can just pull herself

If you have wind, not sinking the poles in depth, could be catastrophic. The best method of sitting poles, is a foot below the freeze line. Pouring about a foot of concrete, then back fill. Allowing the poles and walls to flex, instead of snapping. Our pole buildings were still standing, after the neighbors pole buildings, were in the fields.

My in-laws built a straw bale house years ago. It kept a moderate temperature year round and was located in northern Idaho. I know your home is going along marvelously 😊😊

I've always liked the idea of a straw bale house, maybe in the style of an earthship so you could look into the green house. Maybe wrap it with chicken wire and add some plaster or cement to the cob to keep out critters

Have you thought about a swamp cooler for the greenhouse? I had a couple of greenhouses one had 2 big fans at one end where the entrance was and in the back i had a swamp cooler set up. It ran most of the width of the greenhouse. I had an aluminum tray on the botto. And astrap at the top where it held a cardboard honeycomb sheet about 5 inches thick. At the side i had a poly 55 gallon drum set in the ground with plastic pipe running from a pump to a plastic pipe 1 and 1/2 diameter that the underside was drilled and one end caped with a screw off cap. Water pored from the holes saturating the cardboard and the tray on the bottom had a return pipe going back in the water drum. I also had water flowing in the barrel fro another source and when the float on the pump reached a certain level it cut off. Behind the cooler was a big cover covering the whole thing from the outside and when temperatures reached what i had set the automatic opener opened the flap for air flow from the fans at the front to draw threw. I mounted the thermostats that controled it half way. You may want to try. You can look this up at greenhouse supply places.

Just a thought.. Maybe do the barn house round, to match the work yall's have been doin.. maybe do the one side you want square.. then the square works too IMO.. Heck.. Connect everything, that way you have what your needing and keep going with the art-deco/look (IMO), you got goin., no matter what, lookin forward to the huge build 😊👍👍

I have seen in some of the earth ships that they utilized fish ponds in their green houses to water and fertilize their greenhouse gardens. Will you be doing something similar?

I'm looking forward to seeing how the straw bale building goes and how you guys do it.

A word to the wise from experience, if your doing straw bales, you gotta do something before hand to prevent mice and other rodents from entering and making homes in the bales.

Exciting news! We wish you all the best as you start this phase. I see more rain water catchment ahead. 😉 Those movable windows will release that excess heat. Hmm... could they be used under the eaves of the higher roof areas on south side? They'd provide winter light, and summer heat release. Kind of like a passive solar home feature. Straw bale is good insulation. May they stay very dry. And may things go up well and quickly for you. Build on!😊

Looking forward to the build

I saw one being built and the staw ,from what i understand is a high rating insulator.i watched start to finsh a it was quite amazing. God speed with your build.

I think that's a great idea good luck guys

Use of lime over strawbales makes for breathable walls and weather resistance.

Your plans look just like the garage they are building on the Trent & Allie channel!

Its your home but i really would love to see the dome finished outside and inside before the next project.

You all are making good progress. Even with the temporary setbacks you've had in the pass, it's great to see you continue to move forward. It's awesome to watch as you learn and adapt with changes that are functional and realistic. Keep up the great work. 😊🙏👍🏼

Hey buddy how you doing today keep up the good work I hope everybody's doing okay help the animals doing okay keep up the good work and one step at a time❤❤❤❤❤❤

Have you ever thought of doing a workshop with you and Jess’s knowledge it would really be beneficial in more than one way you would be helping people learn and a plus is you would be getting help with the build. Just a thought

I think that you guys made a great decision! Wishing you all the best. I’ve been enjoying following your journey since the beginning. You two are awesome!❤❤❤

I totally get it, about working in clutter. It's extremely frustrating. Designing then implementing your living work spaces is hard work but worth it, I know. It requires creativity, vision and ambition to see it to completion many people lack. The rewards are so fulfilling, especially seeing it coming together. Cheering you on from Ohio.

I am looking forward to following your next build. Praying 🙏🏽 for your success before the next monsoons 😊

The sky is so beautiful.

Pole barn construction works well with the straw bales, chicken wire and cob method

That ol’ dawg Crew is damn lucky to have ya’ Jess.

I'm so very excited. : ) Y'all let your creativity, direct you. I'm onboard.

My late uncle built a straw bale house in Colorado. It was beautiful.

This stage sounds fantastic and should go a lot faster than the dome

I believe you guys are doing a great job keep it up ! pole barn is cool love how your using different materials for heat and cooling and climate changes.

I'm so excited for you guys! You do need to be cognizant of clay in the gravel for your foundation bags, may need to throw it on a screen to loosen it off.

so glad you're going with this design. pole barn framing with straw bale infill is beautiful. i have similar plans and wish you good luck with the design and build.

Oooooh, exciting! ❤

Going to be interesting to watch. My livestock shelters are falling apart and with the price of lumber I am not sure I want to just replace materials that can rot again. Especially since my place is full of free rocks. So eager for ideas.

Eyyy I sort of guessed right on the last video! I didn't guess the monitor-style roof part of the plan but after reading up on it, I can see the benefits. The earthbag dome is awesome but I know how back-breaking that work was for just the two of you with the occasional help of a third...I feel like those are best suited to much larger groups of people to share the load and speed up the process. A pole barn with straw bale and polycarbonate walls is going to go up so much faster! I know it'll be more expensive cost-wise, but the time and labor savings isn't nothing. Very exciting! Also I love the shots of the doggos...old bear Crew and sweet, energetic Lluvi ♥

Here's wishing you the best with your new and, exiting project. This will certainly give you improved living conditions and lots of necessary living space. Good Luck.

Try Closed Cell soray foam. Solar fans for your greenhouse

How exciting to break ground on your house!!! Good luck and I am very interested to see the straw part of your build!!!!

I’d suggest you finish the dome. 💯 inside and out. then cellar before starting on something else. But great channel, enjoy watching

🌴 Aloha. looking at the straw bales that were on the root celar. That was giving us a HINT on what you were planning for over the root celar. Happy to see how it turns out. I miss seeing those kinds of clouds in hawaii. 😊🤙

Homemade Home and Kris Harbour both build using this method. You can learn a lot from them.

Although the IDEA of using a gabion as a stem wall sounds good and looks good, Structural Engineers advise AGAINST using gabions for ANY weight bearing walls in structures. They have determined that gabions shift too much. I was surprised to learn this because I have used gabion weirs in fish habitat restoration. My guess would be that a gabion stem wall would be fine for a green house which doesn't weigh much, as compared to building upon a gabion stem wall with strawbales or anuthing of significant weight will be situated.

1:40 Nice dance moves :D

Just LOVED the music 🎵🎶🎸 Looking forward to the next stage.. hope all goes well 👍🦘

I am very interested to see how you can fireproof the straw bales on the new building.

Morning, Love your future plans and agree with your excellent choice of easly obtainable materials. Get going ❤❤👍👀🇯🇲

Hi i have been watching for some time. I thought the dome was going to house at top floor bedroom. Like the new house plans looks like a big project but ideal. Looking forward to the build. Remember to have time out ... maintain your health and pressure to not rush enjoy life too

need to visit the tao New Mexico area where been building straw bale homes for 50 yrs ...worth the trip,might save you lots headaches ...n another couple nearer to you ...called " Tiny shinny Home" doing lots same as you......learn from others mistakes ...saves $$ ,time n energy....best wishes ....

Straw bale walls would make for a very stable inside temperature. Would you be using house wrap to protect the bales against moisture until you are ready to cob/

You could put in some rain gathering gutters along the roof sides to drain into the house areas

love how you're working with different techniques/materials/processes - really appreciate being in the audience - i get to watch and learn, thank you! (p.s. live in tucson currently, when i move will be staying in the sw desert.)

I think I would put a bedroom in the new house also.

Permies: doubling the power of an RMH by cooling the feed tube

What wonderful plans, 🙏❤️🌺 so love your dog, greetings from Grandpa Pete from France 🇫🇷

Dutch walls nice 👍 😅, congratulations on this stage of the build, been looking forward to it also.

I can’t wait to see the rest of this build!

My favorite channel in the County.

this is going to be Great! excited for yall!

Talking about hay bales have you thought about fire hazards? I would hate to of something bad happen.

Are you using a standard set of plans? If not has a structural engineer reviewed yours. A solid frame, maybe even a little over built will give you options now and in the future. Try to mix technologies. Theoreticaly your framing should last indefinitly (no rot) If you use concrete pilings with metal supports so the wood doesn't make contact with the concrete

Oh I'm excited for this! New project 🎉

Straw bale walls very favored by mice and bugs.

I like you didn’t waste the water and made some cob.

I know lots want that dome finished. I do too. But I also want you to have a bigger space to live in and to make the dome the home isn’t all you need. Yup a light bright place to go with the cozy dome! You will never completely finish. That is life. Changed plans to fit your needs as you go along is completely acceptable! (Love the bale build and green house 👌🏻☺️)

So fantastic! I will be watching every step! Very excited!💥💥💥

Ha ha ha! Finish planning ya right. The longer it takes and the more positive your life is the bigger the fantasy becomes (it’s all good). Time to draw back will come latter in life. Ride the wave while chopping wood and carrying water.

Im assuming the straw bales will be covered with the mud straw mixture? Or would you use a plaster product.. so youd have a thick solid wall. And how would you put things like pictures, shelving.. attached or hung on the bale straw walls? Would you have a wooden frameork for hanging things on the walls? My sister in law and her hubby are planning on buikding a straw bale house... He is hiring a builder whos experienced in doing it, and have picked a city and lication in CO where several other straw bale homes have been built, and from my casual viewing they look like adobe, stuco type of builds on the outside, but very energy efficient. Good luck.

Sounds good, I'm in construction, and I like to see projects go up quickly. 👍👍👍

So much of your build sounds like a modified Earthship

Pulbah Pioneers. This build is going to teach us so much. So glad to be on this journey of discovery with you. All the best.

Im very excited for this next phase of my favorite show!!!!

Have you heard of aircrete? Just saw it talked about. It makes lightweight concrete and foam blocks. Thought you might want to check it out.

That's all very exciting ! I'll be watching 🤓

Was about to ask how crew was doing. The design looks great.

FYI-I used 75 or 80% shade cloth in Phoenix and it was too much. The gardening groups here recommend 50%.

I seen a monitor structure made from a medal RV carport. The two wings were stick framed and insulated. This could cut back on construction time.

reccomend 70%but for a green house you might need 90% how are you sealing the gabion baskets so you dont get critters in there

Why the gun Jim? Looks safe out there, you can see trouble coming a long way off. 👍

I am tired from just listening. Big job ahead. Good luck. Looking forward to all the videos. ❤

You will finish weatherproofing the dome before starting on the pole barn right?