An Enlightened Business Management Program, Adobe Club Makes Eco-Friendly Building Products

 

Winter 2009 State of The Club

The manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal of building materials contribute 40% of global co2 emissions and the largest volume of materials into US landfills. Over 100,000 toxic elements and processes with these materials contribute to the “sick house” syndrome where people get sick just living in them. And the costs for these highly processed and transported building materials are skyrocketing. Compounded with interest rates, its costing Americans upwards of $700,000 on a 30-year, $250,000 home loan, for 95% of American homes built as they are today. As much as an environmental issue, we need to help Americans get out of the Free Slavery System.  The Adobe Club continues its commitment to explore ways to protect life through less expensive living. The club looked at ways people lived successfully on this land for thousands of years, without toxic and financial side problems. They discovered what materials are locally available, with which historically was the only material people could build. According to some sources, it was the advent of the train across the nation that changed architecture and started modern day problems of polluting an entire planet. The club concluded locally available materials are usually better suited to climatic conditions, are far less toxic to produce, are less expensive and support local economies (that’s us!). And The Club's materials and methods development are producing excellent results.   In our case in the southwest, there is an abundance of adobe mud, sand and hardwood timbers, such as mesquite, cedar and pine. True of all communities worldwide, there is also an abundance of recyclable paper trash. It’s been shown that by amending mud with the paper (wood) cellulose, an improved adobe building material results. So keeping our local community’s paper trash out of the landfills, we amend locally available mud and produce non-toxic, eco-friendly, high quality low cost building materials, keeping our local economy strong and environment cleaner.   Wild harvesting construction grade timbers and salvaging used building materials completes a comprehensive picture of locally available building materials. Another important benefit from a locally based materials system is that processes are scaled and tailor-made to embrace children and the elderly, Diamond Mountain students and other in-need populations as identified in related EBM programs. These programs create opportunities for every individual in the community to be vitally important to the overall health and development of their community, and to provide links to socially important support services when needed.       News Paper adobe block production evaluation was completed summer 2009. Three formulae were tested for adobe code compliance. Two of the three passed for load bearing walls, with the third, lightest weight paper block perfect for insulation and sound proofing. This now confirms compliance for construction on permits issued by Cochise County. With documented and legal performance, block production continues at the Lama House and Jamyang yards for the Peace Shrine. The Land Laboratory of the Montessori in Tucson invited the Adobe Club paper adobe mixer to their school. The kids made a 16’d fire ring curb on which to sit around a bonfire. They used clay and dirt dug out of the fire ring itself, they got sand from the wash a few feet away, and, they added two large trash bags of waste paper from their school. Middle school students were transformed while playing in and working with the mud. Teachers were so pleased with the response from the kids they bought the mixer on the spot so they could immerse in further projects. Through contact with mud, it is known to improve and balance mental and emotional functions, and the children’s easy and creative manners seemed pointed at this result. They will continue to recycle their school paper trash and earth, making their own school yard equipment in a very non-toxic, sustainable and fun way!   Adobieros and environmental ed teachers Trini and Chabela from Mexico came and taught us adobe plaster methods and mixes (we’re now using recycled KFC oil for sealant!), as well as brick and cast dome methods. The Club also learned the pampas grass growing at Jamyang is the very best mud reinforcement of all metals and plant species. Chabela advised everyone should plant it, along with the corrizo grass used already as a locally grown building material and shade plant.     Plans are underway to invite members of all ages from the local San Carlos Apache Reservation, to spend a week at Diamond Mountain and learn how to build a domed paper adobe guest house. This particular group of Apaches comes to DM regularly to pray. They tell us they like to come here for the peace and freedom to pray as they wish, away from conflicts at their reservation. They have asked for housing here, to accommodate the elders and children, the spiritual practitioners, for stays of several days to weeks. They want a round house, like the kiva at Jamyang.   Through building this project, they will also be empowered to bring knowledge of this affordable housing option to others at the reservation, and hopefully help residents out of old, inadequate and unsafe trailers that currently dominate reservation landscapes. This visit will be co-administered by other DM EBM programs.   This method of construction has the potential to offer quality and affordable housing for many people around the world. A how-to video of the process can now be found at youtube.com, search “paper adobe”, and includes enough detail to be shared at building conferences, trade workshops and other schools and outlets.   A list of locally made and gleaned building materials currently offered from the Jamyang yard follows.   Gardening at the Adobe Club, is also a vital aspect for eco-friendly human infrastructure development and the Club continues efforts towards establishing community food security. The same travesties that exist in our building materials industries also prevail throughout our food production industries: we produce poison and toxicity that are directly attributable to disease and death on planet earth for all species and for all ecosystems. This must be changed and the Club continues with this commitment.   Thanks to you for caring to make a difference towards world peace in this way.