SB: Re: SB and a Better Mouse Trap

["Huff 'n' Puff Constructions" <huffnpuff@shoal.net.au>]

G ' day Balers

Just wanted to share some thoughts with you all.

"The usual way to go about developing a method is to ask
'How about trying this?' or 'How about trying that?'
bringing in a variety of techniques one upon the other.
This is modern agriculture and it only results in making the

farmer busier."  {Replace agriculture with building and
farmer with builder.}

"My way was opposite.  I was aiming at a pleasant, natural
way of farming {Building} which results in making the work
easier instead of harder."  'How about not doing this?  How
about not doing that?- that was my way of thinking.  I
ultimately reached the conclusion that there was no need to
plow, no need to apply fertilizer, no need to make compost,
no need to use insecticide.  When you get right down to it,
there are few agricultural practices that are really
necessary."

Masanobu Fukuoka - The One-Straw Revolution - Rodal Press.

Just received my copy of One Straw Revolution and I have not

been able to put it down and the above observations by
Masanobu Fukuoka really struck a cord with me.  Having woken

up at 4 am this morning and reading my email, as one does,
(could not sleep), and then reading the posts re a better
mouse trap and decided not to respond.  Then our post
mistress, it is Sunday, told me that I had forgotten to pick

up my mail on Friday.  Charmaine Taylor had sent me my order

of books which included One Straw and some stunning bamboo
books. {Great service and fast delivery, from the USA to
Ganmain.  Thanks Charmaine.}

Once I had read the above passage I decided to respond to
the better mouse trap post.  I am not knocking the
methodology of the Big Heart Balecage just wondering why we
have to make such a simple method of building (straw bale)
so complex.  Just a question regarding recycled steel come
to mind, without upsetting anyone I hope.

How sustainable is recycling steel?  How much energy is used

in the recycling process apart from the energy used to melt
it all down and turn it into angle iron etc.  Is there much
energy used to crush and transport the old steel, say a
Holden Ute or a Cadilac?  Also is there any pollution
created by the burning of the old steel and the other bits
and pieces that are in the vehicle etc.?

Also the method described by Mike Rubey brings up another
question does this amount of steel used in the building
create a Farady Cage and emissions of EMF forces?  If so how

can the EMF forces be negated in a building with a cage of
steel?

Just curious as I do not know the answers and it may be a
good way to go for professional builders but I have my
reservations.  I have always encouraged experimentation and
maybe this method that Mike used makes sense, for me, and
this is my personal view, I will stick to the methods that I

learned from Beeel and Athena:

No need to use steel, No need for pins, No need for steel
netting, Load Bearing small buildings, lots of Earth and a
little Lime, No need for cement and soon Bamboo Roof
Framing.  Just simplicity, as Masanobu says, "a pleasant way

to farm (build)."

A better mouse trap?  Not in my opinion but then again
someday someone will build a better mouse trap.

Kind regards The Straw Wolf
http://strawbale.archinet.com.au
61 2 6927 6027




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