Employees

It’s funny that, in all of the straw bale books and during all of our conversations about building with bales, there was never any mention of how tired one would get of straw and dirt. Brush up against a bale, and you release a shower of straw. Walk across the base of an earthen floor, and clouds of dust mushroom up with each step. On the other hand,  I didn’t think we would be in a fourth year of construction. (Yes, this is taking more time than my original 3-year estimate. At this point Scott reminds me that he always knew it would take longer to finish than my initial 3-year plan and perhaps even forever.)

Still, this season is the one where we are determined to cover all of the straw with plaster and put down our earthen floor. In order to do that we have hired two employees. And they have experience! Lots of it!

Community Rebuilds is an organization in Moab, Utah whose mission “is to build energy-efficient housing, provide education on sustainability and improve the housing conditions of the workforce through an affordable program.” That efficient housing is made possible through the volunteer efforts of interns who come to Moab from across the country. While gaining skills in bale building and natural materials, the labor of the interns reduces the cost of construction thus enabling the building of affordable, straw bale homes for qualified families.

Scott contacted Emily Niehaus (the executive director) asking if she could recommend any of her former interns to help us complete our project. And here they are...our two very welcome employees, Cali and Jerry. With their help, all of that dust and straw will quickly disappear.