I love adobe and straw bale, what a great way to use our natural resources.

Laura - thank you! You have a nice wish list! I love your organic garden! What grows best in your parts of the country? Are you able to garden year round?

Thanks, Dena.

Mary, the organic garden is actually one part of the "wish list" that we've had for many years. We can grow most anything non-tropical in this climate, and our half acre garden has produced everything from apples, artichokes and asparagus right through the alphabet to yams and zuchini! WE loved raising our kids on homegrown, organic produce!

Laura, I realize that in New Mexico Adobe is big, but you realize that it harbors fleas?

Your farmstead is a very good idea. We should all try to be more self-sufficient.

Bill Roberts

Bill-- fleas in Adobe? LOL! I've lived in NM over 40 years, and never heard that one before!

Hi Laura,  I need to learn more about straw and bale construction.  Does it hold a lot of moisture?  

You have a fascinating list here.  I too would like a huge garden.  :)

I like your ideas, Laura, especially the garden and farm animals.  Being self sufficient is about as green as you can get.

Thanks, Bonnie. Stephanie, as far as "holding a lot of moisture," adobe and straw bale construction is very popular here in the desert Southwest, where there's precious little moisture to retain! It's very energy efficient in a high desert climate, but there's probably a reason why it's not used in Louisiana, say. Adobe is basically dried mud; add too much moisture for too long, and it turns back into mud. Straw that absorbs too much moisture sounds pretty unpleasant to have inside the walls, too. I'm not wure where in Texas you're located. Those would probably be good building techniques for San Antonio or AMarillo, say, but I'd not like to count on 'em in Galveston!

Laura- First of all, congratulations on your participation. Straw and bale are reappearing in building in NM--as ecofriendly materials and definitely non-toxic.

Straw...hmmm..any wolves live in your neighborhood?  Know any loved ones with a curly tail?