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Published September 17, 2010, 12:00 AM

Jason Haverly's Straw House


The Jason Haverly house on Perch Lake Road is being built with straw bales for building blocks and recycled materials in an effort to create a healthy home. Photos by Jon Echternacht

  • The Jason Haverly house on Perch Lake Road is being built with straw bales for building blocks and recycled materials in an effort to create a healthy home. Photos by Jon Echternacht
  • Ron Haverly, father of owner Jason Haverly, helps stitch wire mesh to both sides of the straw bale building blocks in the house. Stucco and plaster will be applied to the mesh.
  • Triple-glazed windows provide another insulation factor in the straw bale house in the town of St. Joe.
  • A view from the main floor looking up shows the second floor and a sizeable storage area in the eaves. The house also has a full walkout basement.
  • White oak beams, some 40 feet long, recovered from a circa 1880s barn in River Falls were used for support in the straw bale house.
  • The 10-inch by 10-inch white oak beam peg joints were reestablished in the straw bale house.
  • Faswall blocks provide the material for the foundation of the house. They are made of 80 percent recycled wood fibers, 15 percent Portland cement and five percent glue.