Stay in a Home Grown Home:
You've heard of grow-your-own vegetables and build-your-own houses. How about growning your own home? The people behind Home Grown Homes have built a house of straw bales, in Howden, near York, that is so eco-friendly that there is almost no carbon footprint. It's comfortable, warm and spacious and you can stay in it year round.I'll Huff and I'll Puff and I'll Blow Your House Down:
Well it would take a pretty strong pair of lungs to try. The straw bale cabin built by Home Grown Homes, is a substantial house. The walls are made of bales of locally grown straw - 96 full bales and 45 half bales - stacked like Legos and "stapled" with bent twigs. The cabin is insulated with sheeps wool and the walls are finished - with clay plaster inside and lime render outside. The walls are half a meter thick, keeping the cabin warm in winter and cool in summer.Watch a video of the Home Grown Home being built
A Bit Like Camping Out Then?:
Not at all. In fact, the straw bale cabin is fitted with all the modern conveniences - electric lighting, refridgerator, two burner stove with grill and oven, an electric kettle and a DVD player. Most of the appliances run on power supplied by the cabin's wind turbine and photo voltaic cells. Stove and small heaters run on mains electricity. But, according to the builders, the house is so well insulated and warm in winter that the heater only needs to be turned on now and then, for no more than an hour, to warm things up. If you're used to American style home heating, though, you might want to bring extra layers.What Are the Other Eco-Friendly Features:
The builders of the straw bale cabin, Richard and Carol Atkinson, got the idea on the Master of Science course at the Centre of Alternative Technology in Wales. To minimize your environmental impact while staying, they'll collect you at nearby Howden rail station - easy to reach by direct rail from London. (Check National Rail Enquiries for times and prices)They'll also provide groceries on request and prepare a slow cooked meal to greet you on arrival.There are bicycles for your use, a wind-up flashlight and solar/wind-up radio as well as organic bed linens and towels.
What Else is There to Do Around Here?:
The straw cabin is in the middle of a wildflower strewn field and is a perfect place to get away from it all. But if you are easily bored, there's plenty of East Yorkshire countryside to explore. And the lovely medieval city of York is just 40 minutes from nearby Howden station - the round trip fare under £10.Straw Bale Cabin Essentials:
- Where Straw Bale Cabin, Village Farm, Brind, Howden, Goole, East Yorkshire, DN14 7LA
- Telephone: +44 (0)1430 410662 or +44 (0)7930 212 804
- Accommodates? The straw bale cabin is a one bedroom accommodation with facility for an additional sofa bed. A two-bedroom cottage with an upstairs bathroom was scheduled to be completed by Christmas 2008.
- Price Band: Cheap
- How to book: By phone or email: carol@homegrownhome.co.uk
- Visit Their Website
- More about building a Straw Bale Home
