Re: SB: more ideas for the Wolfie's building

[Deanna Hurstfield <deanlah@telus.net>]

Hello Everyone, 

In the area where I grew up, the Shuswap people build winter homes called
pit houses.  I don't how suitable the would be for strawbale, but my
understanding is that we quite effective in keeping heat in or out. 

A description as I remember them is as follows:

A pit would be dug - the one I saw was probably 30 - 40 ft across. 
Then support beams would be laid to form a inverted cone shape with an
opening at the top of the cone - this was the entrance / exit as well as
a smoke hole for the fire. Smaller logs and branches would be fitted
between the support beams.  Then dirt would be packed over the whole
structure except for the opening at the top.  A log with steps
notched into it, would be placed down the entrance hole (note: it maybe
easier to place pole at the same time as the support beams).

We used to play in the one at the Provincial Park near where we lived -
although now I know it has been cordonned off to prevent damage to
it.   But it has to be at least 25 to 30 years old if not
older. 

It may be possible to modify the design to suit your needs.  The
Wiradjuri people of the area may have some ideas of the suitability of
the design.  As well, whether it can be modified to the size you
need. 

Below is a rough depiction of the pit house (using the Paint accessory in
Windows)

Good luck. 

Deanna Hurstfield
BC, Canada

At 09:28 AM 1/17/02 -0600, Jo Wilhelm wrote:
> There have been some interesting
> thoughts put forth on this subject
> (though at times it seemed some real tongue in cheek stuff was
> issuing
> forth!) but I posed a question to John about how the native people
> built.
> Here is part of the reply I got--
>
> "Excellent question.  The Aboriginals were river people in the
> Riverina
> and
> lived in round buildings made of tree limbs and bark covering.  They
> were
> simple buildings as they moved around according to the seasons.  I
> do not
> know enough about there buildings and I am learning all the
> time.
>
> Their method of recording history was mainly the spkone word and
> sandstone
> paintings on stone walls etc."
>
> If the building to be built this fall is a memorial to these folks,
> perhaps it could be based on their history-- sandstone for footer,
> tree
> limbs for posts, bark for trim or cosmetic treatments????????
>
> JoMaMa
>
> Jo Wilhelm 
> home_place@juno.com   830/868-7077
> www.the-home-place.com
> Tours, workshops, seminars and speakers are all available from THE
> HOME
> PLACE-
> A sustainable living demonstration center in the hill country of
> central
> Texas.
>
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