Welcome to my Walden! This load-bearing straw bale house was built by me, Carolyn Roberts, consultant Jon Ruez, and many friends, using natural (straw bale walls, earthen & lime plasters, earthen floor) and recycled materials. We passed 23 county inspections. It's an incredibly sturdy, beautiful and well-insulated house that will last for many years and only cost $50,000 to build (land not included). The straw walls offer insulation from the summer heat, while the earthen plasters and floor give thermal mass to maintain an even interior temperature. The south-facing sunroom heats my home in the winter. The house uses between 5 and 10 kwh per day. I can collect 500 gallons of rainwater in a 1/2 inch rain. A hand-made solar water heater with a small tankless heater as backup provides all my hot water. This website is to pass along some of what I learned for those who are interested in simple living and natural building. The book chronicals the emotional ups and downs, along with some how-to's and some how-not-to's of building this house when I knew almost nothing about construction. Got questions or comments? Write on my wall on Facebook: facebook.com/ahouseofstraw

We act as thought comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to be really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." --Charles Kingsley

These web pages offer photos and costs of building the house. There is also a video and facebook page where you can leave comments. I will answer, if you have questions.

I hope this encourages you to live simply and independently, but also inspires you to pursue your dreams no matter what your life circumstances may be.
Where there is a will, there is a way.