[Strawbale] Got permit

[Denise Ohio]

Just a quick announcement to share the joy...

I picked up our building permit yesterday. Took about 6 weeks (building 
department is really busy gearing up for the spring season), but no 
callbacks, questions, or doubts. In fact, when I dropped off our packet and 
told the guy we were doing loadbearing SB, the guy at the desk said, "Have 
you ever done cob?"

Our application packet included engineering done by a neighbor who has a 
great rep as a structural engineer and I think that helped a lot. The 
structure is 32'x64', one story with hipped roof and clerestory, 
loadbearing SB on a rubble trench foundation. We'll be starting the ground 
work in a few weeks, once I clean up the slash from the trees we took down 
and milled for the interior finish work.

Habib John Gonzalez will be helping with bale and stucco work. Such a nice 
fellow and worth every penny, Canadian or U.S.