We decided that we wanted to build using only Earth-Friendly and Sustainable Methods and, no sooner had we made this decision, we were met with a major obstacle - where and how to live during the years it would take to build suitable shelter.

Most people consider an old, used Mobile Home as having little intrinsic value, especially since the whole concept of the "Mobile" or "Disposable" Home seems to fly in the face of everything we Permaculturists believe.  But we also believe in returning surplusses back into Earthcare and Peoplecare, so that is what we decided to do. We were able to buy a 960 square foot, seventies-model doublewide with hardly any insulation, metal siding, but a good floor and roof, and a usable electrical installation, as shelter to live in while we transform it into a combination Earthblock / Light Straw-Clay home. 

This project has brought new insight and understanding to our Primary Ethics.  We are taking something that would have been a huge addition to the local landfill, with all its pollution, and we are transforming it into a sustainable structure.  The alluminum siding will be recycled and the proceeds donated to a local school for handicapped children.  The wall insulation will be relocated to the roof.  The Studwalls become a framework into which we are ramming Light Straw/Clay, and to which a skin of Pressed Adobe Blocks made from our own soil will be attached.  The foundation for this skin is our own fleldstones.  We will be replacing the indows and doors this summer.

We will end up with twelve in walls, which will give us the thermal mass we want to be able to more completely and efficiently utilize the energy of the Sun in heating the buildings.

At the same time, we have already put up one small Cob House which we use as a storm shelter and guest cottage, and we plan to construct a Bungalo using the hybrid wall system we have learned from the Mobile Home retrofit.  The end result will be Earth-Friendly living quarters, and a classroom/office/building for  our small Permavillage. 

We feel like our Project ought to reflect on more than just food production, although our food projects make up a great deal of the community effort.  We want our Permavillage to show that Permaculture has to do with issues of Culture which include all aspects of the Human Experience.  Being able to teach a positive use for one of the mose shameful wastes of energy out there is going to give us much more to demonstrate.