We’re just a couple of reformed (“reform-ing”?) city kids living out in the middle of nowhere, Alberta trying to plot out a sustainable life for ourselves. We intend to build a home out of natural and recycled materials and go entirely off-grid by 2012. Once we’ve established ourselves we hope to help others to achieve the same.
We call ourselves the “Canadian Dirtbags”, a tongue in cheek reference to our favourite building practice using earthbags.
well you old dirtbag how are you doing how can i send you a picture. It is a pictur of my grandparents first home in sask. i think you would get kick out of it.
Hey Dwight,
Things are going well here. We are involved with so many projects and endless research. You can send me that picture to info@canadiandirtbags.com
Shane
We have been wanting to build one for about a year but haven’t mustered the courage. I, at 66 years old, am not sure I can handle the work. I admire your courage and think you guys are doing great. I tried to “friend” you on facebook but it didnt work????? Anyway, I just found your blog yesterday and have been enjoying reading it so much! Keep up the great progress. Oh, we have a couple who live a short distance, who are building a dome too. Their video is on you tube (an Arkansas couple) and are about head high righ now with theirs. They say the work is brutal in the heat so it has slowed them down quit a bit this summer. See ya!
Hi Dawn! Thanks for the support, we really appreciate it. I think we’ve seen your neighbours on YouTube- are they the “crazy green” people? Can’t wait to see their progress. It is a lot of work, I won’t lie, but I think it’s one of the few building practices that pretty much anyone can do- with enough time. We only have about a 4 month season that is workable for building but that’s been chopped pretty near in half this year because of flooding and extreme weather. Had we had a full season to work with, I think the pace would have been considerably nicer. If I can build during the day by myself though, I’m convinced that anyone can do this. If you do decide to build the only thing I might recommend is starting with a single dome and adding on more later. We’d have been finished our 2 main domes had we taken that approach (instead of starting on 5!). Thanks for being in touch!
Brandee
Hi,
I’m wondering if you 2 are open to visitors? We’re looking for ideas for our own house before we get started. Please let me know – pcstockfarm@yahoo.ca
Thanks,
Darcy
I will message you.
Hey there,
I saw your “like” on our “gettin’ cultured” post a day or two ago, and wanted to reach out to say thanks! I was also interested to know how you found the post. We haven’t done too too much reaching out, other than tagging, so it’d be cool to know.
Also – really love to see and hear about what you’re doing. Would love to connect at some point and learn more about what brought you to where you are, and the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
All my best,
Dave (from permculture.wordpress.com)
Hi Dave. Great article! I was tag surfing and came across it the other day. Permaculture is the basis for a lot of what we’re up to these days.
I guess the short answer to what brought us to where we’re at, is we asked ourselves where we wanted to be. ‘Hanging out with each other’ topped the list. The next question was, what’s stopping us? Paying others for our basic needs.
And so the adventure began… Or maybe it could more appropriately be called an experiment. A whole lotta work for an even greater pay-out.
Keep in touch!
Brandee
Hello! You’d left a comment on my blog, so naturally I had to check out yours. I’ve only read a few of your entries, but how exciting! I am actually going to college for Environmental Engineering, so am very interested in hearing how the dome house works out.
Though I live in the city, my folks are in the country.. and surely I can’t resist experimenting with trying out your pocket rocket. =)
Hello,
My family just moved to AB and we are just starting to get interested in Cob housing. We are not sure what is allowable here as far as building is concerned, any advice? BTW did you know you can make rose hip jelly? yumm!
Hey there,
I’m following his lead. We have 4 kids to feed and not too excited about the future (peak oil, the economy etc) so we ARE excited about what we working towards in the next few years.
I just stumbled across your site and am very intrigued. I haven’t read much on it yet because I’m trying to find out where in AB you are living?! My husband and I are also working towards the same thing and have been told to start a blog site. (that’s why I’m intrigued) I can’t wait to read what you’ve done so far and see where we are in comparison. Jeff (my husband) took a permaculture course this past July in Olds and I’m going to take the Gull Lake one coming up at the end of July 2011. That’s what really got him started, and like a good wife
Juli and Jeff (aka J2)
Wow, love your site. I found you through earth-bag building’s blog.
How are you guys doing for internet out there? Are you getting it from a local tower or satellite?
I’m wondering because I’m trying to figure out how to get powerful internet in the middle of nowhere, but wondering if the problem might already be solved for me.
I became interested in Natural Homes in a weird way about a Year ago. I watch a lot of TEDtalks and found out that there is a larger independent global movement to bring internet to villages in 3rd world countries, to they have access to education and teach themselves.
And I though “Huh, that would be more efficient if I can live in a low upkept cost of housing but still have access to the internet, it would be far more productive, and I would have more time for my family…”
So yeah, LOL!, How are you getting your internet? And what do you use your internet for besides blogging and researching?
We have wonderful high speed internet access through a local supplier. Apparently we got here just in time, as the community used to be dependent on dial up. We use the internet for everything from work and research to watching streaming documentaries (we don’t watch regular television, or subscribe to cable).
Ahh, your streaming videos. Thats what I’m talking about. Thank you for responding.
Yeah, I don’t subscribe to cable. It doesn’t seem cost effective when the internet can entertain better, and you have your pick of what you want, not limited to whats available that day.
Last Documentary I watched was “Exit through the Gift Shop”.
I just got Mbps internet through At&t (We can get up to Mbps residentially down here in Miami) there is only one other competitor (Evil Comcast, but At&T is secretly just as evil) I got it so low because At&t wants me to pay a “Non-refundable service fee” of around $400.00 that is not a deposit and wont go towards my monthly bill at any point… just to start service at a higher speed.
I research it after it happened to me and it’s happened to a lot of people since around 2004. I don’t know why they are doing it (And getting away with it, doesn’t seem like a good business practice) But city life makes it so you can’t be bothered, so a lot of people pay it even though they know it’s BS… cause they need a higher internet, for at home work or whatever. So weird.
I haven’t had problems with the electric company, but from what I hear, it’s because I haven’t lived here long enough. Our elec is a monopoly and the politicians turn a blind eye, and wont let any other elec company move in… and they have random over charges and service fees… so wrong.
I’m no hippie trying to save a tree. I just looked around and realized if I don’t wanna put up with this B.S. I need to do something about it.
*Can get up to 24Mbps residentially
Hey Brandee,
Checking out all of your great pics on Face book. Richard wanted me to ask what you chinked your house with? We are working on our earthbag llama barn and it’s about half done and we need to cover the bags. What do you recommend? Mud plaster? will the rain and snow wash it off? Should we stucco the walls even though they aren’t finished? Tarps will blow away and I’m sure our neighbors will throw a fit if we tarp it for months. Looking for some advice. Your house looks great by-the-way.
Kerry
We chinked it with a mud plaster but the rough plaster that we used to cover it was clay:sand:cement. Only a tiny bit of cement but the plaster would have come off in the heavy snow and rain otherwise. I wish I had measurements for you but it kind of went the way that my baking often does- a little of this, a little of that, until it feels right… Doesn’t take very much cement at all to make a sturdy enough coat to hold though. We gave the whole exterior and all exposed bags a rough plaster, but left the ones not exposed to any light. You don’t have a whole heckuva lot of time to get the exposed bags covered before the UV damage starts, and it takes longer to plaster than you’d guess, so the sooner the better.
Hi Brandee / Shane
Have you considered adding lime to your plaster mix? Firstly, lime absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it cures, and secondly, it makes for a more waterproof plaster.
Cheers
Dani
We’ll be doing a lime plaster once the building is complete. Last year we threw up a quick scratch coat (without lime) as we worked late into the season and the temperatures were too low for lime to properly cure. With any luck we’ll be done earlier this year.
Dear City Kids,
Could I share your story at naturalhomes.org and my facebook page?
Regards, Oliver
Sure thing Oliver. Very cool page! Haven’t had time to really go through all of it but one of these evenings…
Hey Guys, I stumbled across your blog just today and have enjoyed scrolling through your posts. We love finding things like this here in Alberta. We teach permaculture and are based out of Calgary – we should connect. We’d love to see your place and potentially collaborate. We have students that are always looking to get their hands dirty and would also love to bring you in to speak to our classes. Anyhow, get in touch if interested!
Hello Dirtbags!
I was thrilled to remember your blog and catch up where I left off last year. I am part of your blogroll (eating with SOLE) and we share a similar path in working ridiculously back breaking-ly hard towards an off grid homestead.
This year our building focus is our out buildings (out house / passive solar shower house / root cellar / expanded gardens and animal systems / and finally clearing land for our home construction to begin next season) and your building is very inspirational!
It is funny how close we came to being in the flats of Alberta (where we are both from) building a passive solar straw home. Rather we opted for a lush and diverse mountain range ripe with flowing fresh water in the Kootenays, but I feel a certain nostalgia to where you guys are at and what you are doing.. as our challenges are so very different.
I wanted to applaud you guys and remind you just what a wonderful path your on (cause I know it’s hard to see some mornings)
Cheers, Congrats and Blessings
Thanks so much for dropping by, and for the positive words! I’m at the stage where I’ll take any positive feedback I can get, just to keep me motivated. With any luck, this heat wave will pass soon and motivation will be a little easier to come by.
I haven’t been keeping up with my favourite blogs so I’m happy for the reminder. I just subscribed to your blog so that I can more easily keep track- looks like I’ve been missing out on some incredible recipes! Will you be blogging about your adventures in building as well?
Hello,
I stumbled across you guys on facebook and just wanted to touch base and say hi! I have cool project I am working on you may find interesting. We are building six workshops out of cob that we are going to offer up to artisans as a free space to practice their crafts. We are located right on the main highway to Yosemite National Park and the artisan workshops will be part of a hostel we are building also out of cob. The local building and planning departments are supporting the project too so we have a real shot at making this happen and even more important to the natural building community is that our cob buildings will be fully permitted!
The goal is to help the artisans get established by offering them free lodging and a workshop where they can make their crafts and to promote natural building. If the artisans are successful, we hope to build them standalone cob workshops for them to operate out of with the goal of the region becoming known for cob structures and artisan goods. We realize the project is ambitious but we do have a realistic plan to see this thing through!
By reaching out to you and others in the natural building community we hope to get the word out that we are looking for a certain type of adventurous artisans and natural builders that are willing to get on board and bring this idea to life. We are fully committed to supporting anyone interested in the project in any way we can so send them our way if you know of any folks! Specifically this offer is geared toward amateur artisans and builders that are passionate but do not have the financial means to establish their own natural building projects or artisan facilities. We are inviting anyone who wants to be a part of our project to come pitch in!
Once complete the six artisan workshops under construction will have a very “hobbit” like look and feel which will really be an attraction to visitors heading to Yosemite. We hope that the high volume of traffic going to Yosemite, our hostel guests (up to 48 visitors per night), and local patrons will provide an immediate market for the artisans to sell their product and the exposure alone will generate more interest in natural building.
Long story short, I think we have a great project going on and we are innovative in our approaches to seeing it through. An example of this is a grant we are working to secure at the moment. If we secure this grant, we will have $50,000 to apply toward our cob workshops for artisans. Any help you can provide spreading the word, whether it is just posting the link for voting on facebook would be extremely helpful, and would put us one step closer to reaching our goals! Participants can vote daily between now and September 30th and its free!
http://www.refresheverything.com/earthbornartisans
Thanks so much for your time! I would love to answer any further questions you may have and I look forward to contributing to the natural building and artisan community in any way I can!
Guy McBryde
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.earthborneartisans.com
http://www.ederbickems.com
info@ederbickems.com
Sounds like a wonderful project Guy! I’ve removed your phone number from your post- you’re welcome to republish it if you like but I thought you might prefer to leave it off this public post. Best of luck!
Hi, i really like your blog and was wondering what gardening books you’d recommend to a novice Albertan gardener. Or what gardening books, if any, have you come to use most?
BTW your hard work is looking fabulous! After building a straw-bale cabin in smoky lake county (NE of Edmonton) I’ve found that hard work is a foundation for being actually happy. So it makes me very happy when i see people such as yourself living your dream.
All the Best, Samantha
Thanks so much for your comments Samantha! I loved, loved, loved Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Homescale Permaculture, but that’s more focused on design aspects than actual plant care. I’ve gone with a more hands on, experiential approach to plant care. I’ll have to write a blog later in the season (once things have slowed down) on which pairings seemed to work well and what didn’t fare so well.
And yes, I’d have to agree that hard work is wonderful for a person! There’s something almost spiritual about it. (On days I’m not cursing it.
Brandee and Shane (aka cdndirtbags),
Much Respect !
A few days ago I found your blog on http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/. I must say I am very impressed with what you have started and accomplished so far ! With out a doubt, I consider this to be “modern pioneering”, stepping away from the pack and carving your own path for the good of your spirit, your bodies, your country and the planet. You are showing great leadership here (not only in Canada, but Worldwide) by embracing sustainable living and working to prove that it is possible.
You are both doing what I plan to do in the future… I look forward to reading your full blog and following your future progress.
Thank you for leading, sharing and teaching !
I often think about these great lyrics and relate them to what you are doing:
“It has to start somewhere,
It has to start sometime,
What better place than here?,
What better time than now?”
Thank you very much for the kind words and support Gustav!
Cool blog you have here with a lot of good info!
Hello.
I was wondering if you are open to visitors also (I read darcy’s post above). I am interested because I am attempting to do the same thing as you are, and sometimes it is scary not knowing where to start. Also, the pictures you have posted look suspiciously a lot like where I live…
agweldservices@gmail.com
Thanks
Karl
Sorry Karl, I haven’t been on top of monitoring my account. I will email you.
Hello, I’m also wondering where in Alberta, you’re located. I currently live in Edmonton and this spring we will be starting our first Earthbag structure on some rural land. Wondering if you have any tips and advice. We want to build a small one first, to get the feel of it and then go through all the hoops and permits to build a 800 sq foot residence that we would like to make off grid. Eventually add on so my son and his family can move out too. I look forward to talking to you.
Thanks
Debbie
We’re in East Central Alberta, well off the beaten track. Yes, I probably do have some tips for you, based on mistakes we made along the way. LOL
I will email you Debbie, I’m just home from a trip and a little bagged right now. And congratulations on embarking on natural building! I’m pretty sure you’ll love it!
Hey there,
It’s your fellow blogger here from eatingwithSOLE
I was hoping you would email me as I would like to ask you a few questions about where you sourced your sand bags from! We are working on a hybrid bag plan for our next building… and would love to pick your brain!
Cheers
Shauna (at) rbrand (dot) ca
I too just stumbled across your blog whilst searching about Rocket Mass Heaters. I visited Paul Wheatons site as well. Im interested in building one to heat my greenhouse. I live in Prince Edward Island. I have a small greenhouse now but building a 12×16 soon. I also have solar, 1.6kw to be exact and an Outback Power VFX2812 and six Surrette S530′s wired in series/parallel.
Awesome! Whereabouts in P.E.I.? I haven’t been back there in ages. Shane is plugging away on the mass heater again now that it’s started to warm up. Had to rework the design a bit- they’re rather finicky- but it’s looking good so far.
Brackley Beach, North Shore.
Hey dirtbaggers,
In Thailand at the moment after finishing an EBB course/workshop and visiting with Owen he mentioned your site. For some reason I hadn’t stumbled upon it in the last few years while researching. My wife and I are flying home shortly and plan to cycle from Ont to BC where we were living before we left. Your house would bea great stop on the way across. Could you email me where you are in Alberta, I’d love to hear about how your highmass home feels in the winter, and how you’ve addapted the technique to suit a Canadian climate.
Thailand- how wonderful! We are definitely off the beaten track and if you’re cycling I’m not sure how convenient a stop-over we’d be but I will email you. (P.S. We’re still building so we’ve yet to over-winter in the house.)
Hi, I’m from Manitoba and I’ve been researching earth bag homes recently. Your progress looks really good and I’m excited to see the end result! I’m particularly interested because climate in MB is similar and I’d like to know how comfortable this home would be in the extreme temps. I too would possibly be interested in seeing this in person if you guys were willing. Let me know as I’m currently working in Calgary and then will be back this summer as well possibly.
Thanks!
I will email you.