So today we built with a local affordable housing organization here in Moab, Ut - Community Rebuilds. The whole mission of Community Rebuilds is to provide energy efficient, affordable housing for the workforce citizens of Moab who are currently living in pre-1976 single wide trailers, using only local materials. In Moab, they are focusing onbuilding with green materials and practices. Therefore, when they are working on a home, they recycle as much of the existing home as they can and then build the new home using straw bale hay and earth.
From what I could see on the site, straw bale hay construction is incredibly efficient and sustainable for Moab. The materials they use are earth, clay, sand and straw, which all come from the local area. The homes are durable, well insulated and have very little impact on the environment. Not to mention they are beautiful!
The straw bale hay home we worked on!
Because Moab is a major tourist destination, it is an extremely expensive place to live. Additionally, the people who are specifically living in pre-1976 single wide trailers do not qualify for loans to finance a mortgage. With the help of Community Rebuilds, the family applies for a loan to finance the cost of construction of their new home that will replace the trailer. However, because the organization uses donated labor and materials, the loan amount is significantly less than what it would be for a different project.
Another major component to the Community Rebuilds organization, is their education program. Each semester, they recruit students to come work on the construction of their green homes. In doing so, not only do the students get invaluable on-site experience in the building of green homes (that they can then take with them wherever they go after Moab) but they also have classes on sustainable living.
It was such a cool experience to work with an organization that was small scale, working from a grassroots level, and getting so much done! It was so evident that everyone involved in the Community Rebuilds projects was completely dedicated and so passionate about their cause and mission. The organization is so impressive and progressive. While we have worked with other AH groups on projects where there were green components or aspects to the materials or construction, but this is truly sustainable building here. Local materials, local labor, local homeowners...for the people, the earth and the community, it is win-win-win all around.
Tamp, tamp, tamp it out! Tamping the earth with homemade tools. It was surprising how hard pact we were able to get the floors just by pounding it with simple tools....
I find that it can be easy to lose sight of, or forget the core reason why we are here doing what we are doing. It is organizations like Community Rebuilds that kind of spark a re-inspiration in us if you will. They too are young, getting things done, and changing people's lives. It is such an empowering thing to think about.
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