Plans of the house

North is top. Windows might change due to measuring sun angles in winter to maximise thermal mass. All water is located in the SW of the house, to maximise grey water movement. Electricity is also mantained on the back half of the house to limit cable use. Elevation plan to come.

View looking north

Here is a view looking north from where the bales have been stored. This is at about 4pm near enough to winter solstice, so still sun on the main part the house. Bales were stored on site. Most are wheat straw, well strung and fairly tight. Making a straw bale needle at the moment from some scrap I found, will provide a photo later. the shed is now full of straw bales and still wrapped in a tarp. The workshop is at the other end and the rise I am standing on is still getting sun all day which is good for pasture, bee's, orchard etc.

the shed and foundations

Things are finally happening, a slab for the shed and blockwork for the house slab have been completed and shed is roofed and bales out of the weather. The shed will also have a sleep-in workshop (straw-baled) on the northern wall.

The workshop will be strawbale and cob with an external colourbond wall for weather protection, due to the lack of eaves on the existing shed structure. We have acquired a large piece of cast iron to embed in the north-facing internal wall for thermal mass (see picture).

Straw bales got a little wet from a storm this week but only on the outside, can't wait for the walls.
This winter we have had over 500mm so far with alot more on the way.

Also have a concrete tank of 40000 litres with 10000 litres for fire fighting.