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Off-the-grid home uses nature’s best

House won't have electricity or plumbing, be made of totally natural materials

Photos by Dylan Buell Published: October 16, 2012 10:48AM

Chris Schimmoeller, left, watches as her daughter Natalie Dufour patches part of a wall. Mark and Chris Schimmoeller are building an off-the-grid (no electricity or plumbing) home for their parents, using only natural materials found nearby, such as wood, straw and clay. Mark Schimmoeller sprays clay slip on the straw, which will help seal the walls and provide insulation. Lopez Morales patches up the wall with pieces of straw and clay slip, a combination of natural products that will serve as the walls of the home. Antonio Alvarez, left, adds clay slip to Mark Schimmoeller’s bucket to be sprayed on the walls. Manuel Cortez trims the straw with a saw, which evens out the walls and provides spare straw to patch areas. Chris Schimmoeller prepares to add straw and clay to a spot on the wall.

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  • October 17, 2012 7:36PM

    This is similar to a house built in Metcalfe County Ky several years ago. The Courier Journal wrote an article about it. In response to 1896, not sure what there would be about this type structure that would not pass county codes--no plumbing, no electricity. In reality, I could build an outbuilding and live in it if I wanted to and inspection wouldn't be needed.

  • Steve_Fry

    October 17, 2012 3:57PM

    Interesting. Where is this house?

  • October 17, 2012 12:31PM

    What do the building inspectors have to say?

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