Hobbit Holes

Hobbit Holes

Have you heard about these? There is a guy in Wales built one for his family... You can get plans for them and there is a movement there to build more as they are green... they are self sufficient... solar electricity, wood heat, really quite amazing.

I am just getting started but I am looking for support to build one myself. I plan to put together a paper and apply for a non-profit grant to build 2. It will be myself and my sister. We will build ours as examples and then plan to help others build them as well as low usage green houses for low income people and families. The power companies will not like them but that is part of the glory. They are low cost, the ones in Wales costing about $4000 to build in US dollars. So the cost of the property and then the cost of the materials, most of which are naturally cut and used from the property if possible. Check out the site and support the cause. Would love to see a lot of interst as this could help us get this project off the ground.

Love and light to you all..

Journey

Some key points of the design and construction:

• Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter
• Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc.
• Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland
• Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthaetically fantastic and very easy to do
• Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building
• Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease
• Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)
• Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings
• Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring...)
• Woodburner for heating - renewable and locally plentiful
• Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat
• Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
• Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
• Solar panels for lighting, music and computing
• Water by gravity from nearby spring
• Compost toilet
• Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.

Want To See More?
Plans of the house

How they did it

Why they did it

The family's perspective

The NEW HOUSE we're working on now!