What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
Made completely out of natural materials: clay, sand, straw, with strawbales for wall insulation and cellulose insulation above the bamboo ceiling: this home breathes. The walls are two feet thick, making it extremely energy efficient. No air conditioning required, since it's in the woods and never really gets hot. Plans are for a hybrid Rumford/Kiva fireplace in strawbale house. A branched-drain graywater system comes to daylight in 5 places downhill from house, and feeds pecan trees. Both units have underground piping for geothermal air conditioning, which need fans attached, to complete. (I don't remember how to put a number on Home Energy Rating system (below), but it is good!)Property Description
Driving up a winding lane through trees, one encounters this artistically designed cozy cob cottage nestled in the woods. There are 20 acres of deciduous woods (featuring a sycamore tree measuring over 200 inches in circumference) and about 10 acres of native tallgrass prairie. Cob building was begun by owner in the summer of 2003. The cottage has a radiant heat system under the earthen floor, heated by the propane water heater. Electricity is all solar. Connected to county rural water. Rooms are kitchen, bath, utility, and sleeping loft, with a deck off the kitchen. Bathroom has a whirlpool tub with mosaics on two sides. Symbolic bas relief sculptures grace the lime plastered walls, inside and out. Cookstove is half wood-burning, half electric, which is convenient and energy efficient. Large south-facing windows allow the best of passive solar gain. In 2007 a second unit was begun. It is a two-story post-&-beam strawbale house with full basement, stemwall of Faswall blocks, clay tile roof, and half second floor/balcony with cathedral ceiling. Exterior lime plaster and partial interior earthen plaster completed in 2012. Plans include floor-to-ceiling colored bottle-glass window and hybrid Kiva-Rumford fireplace, as well as connection between the two buildings. This is a great potential retreat center, as the new addition is large enough for small meetings; and there is plenty of room for more cottages to be built in the woods for a cooperative community, perhaps utilizing permaculture practices. Native plant medicine is plentiful, as well as raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and "possom" grapes. American Ginseng grows wild and could be cultivated as a cash crop. Two ponds support plenty of wildlife, including deer and wild turkeys. A creek runs through the property, as well.
Neighborhood Description
This is a rural area, with low rolling hills, plenty of green space, open skies and fresh air. Located on the Potawatomi Reservation, which means no building codes to hassle with, since the Tribal government is sovereign, and they don't have restrictions. The property is on a major road through the reservation, only 3 miles from a State highway. The people in Jackson County are very friendly, and wave when you meet them on the road.Market Area
The county seat of Jackson County is Holton, located about 12 miles away; and Topeka, the capital of Kansas, is about 20 miles in the other direction. Lawrence, Kansas, which is the home of Kansas University, is about 35 or 40 miles away, and Kansas City another 25 miles beyond that.School District
Royal Valley Consolidated schools.Community
A farming community, located on the Potawatomi Indian Reservation. There is a buffalo herd a couple miles away; also a casino 2 miles away, and various pow wows are held throughout the year, open to the public. Tribal agencies, such as the Road & Bridge Dept., have been very helpful to this owner/builder.Location of Home or Land
Rural
Elevation of Home
Sea Level
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Hydronic Floor Heat (radiant) |
| Cooling System | Cool Pipes |
| Ventilation System | Other |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Energy System | Photovoltaic (PV) |
| Water System | Other |
| Wastewater System | Other |
Construction Information
| Construction Type | Straw bale |
| Exterior Finish | Plaster - Earth Plaster - Other |
| Interior Finish | Earthen Plaster |
| Interior Paint | No VOC |
| Floor Material | Other |
| Roof Material | Tile |
| Window Material | Wood Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Other |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | no |
| Garage Type | attached |
| Number of Cars | 1 |
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