Important! Please bear with us while we work on verifying the accuracy of these resources and reformat this information.
TLS is always searching for additional entries to share in this section of the resource guide. We welcome your suggestions and contributions. There are many commercially available materials made of hemp, kenaf, rice hulls, straw, bamboo, soy, sunflower seeds, recycled glass, and various fibers. We’ll try to include them here, but you can help by sharing those products you have discovered or use. We’d appreciate your help!
TLS assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of claims of the companies and/or products listed, nor does TLS guarantee or endorse the services, sales, or products themselves.
BALE NEEDLES
Bale needles can sometimes be found in farm and antique stores, farm uctions, junk shops.
Or make your own bale needle. All you need is a steel rod about 3/8-in to 1/2-in diameter or a flat piece of steel about 3/8-in to 1/2-in wide, about 28-in long or 32-in if you want a handle on it. If you use the steel rod, flatten one end, punch one or two holes in the flattened end. If you want a handle, bend the rod or flat piece of steel at an L about 4-in wide. The two holes are used by some people to keep track more easily of the twine or wire that goes on each side of the bale as itÕs being divided. You can add a notch in one side of the needle to hold the twine in place. (See TLS#51, Tech Tips, for more information.)
BALE PRESSES – Information posted on the TLS web site thelaststraw.org
BALES – See Straw Bales in this section of the resource guide.
BAMBOO PLANTS AND PRODUCTS
American Bamboo Society. Bamboo Source List c/o Mike Bartholomew, ABS Publications Office, 750 Krumkill Rd, Albany NY, 12203-6976
sourcelist@americanbamboo.com
www.americanbamboo.com
Bamboo Fencer. 179 Boylston St, Jamaica Plain MA 02130; 800.775.8641, fax 617.524.6100 Traditional and non-traditional bamboo fences and gates, some woven with copper-clad steel wire.
Bamboo Flooring International. 20950 Currier Rd, Walnut CA 91789; <sales@bamboo-flooring.com> www.bamboo-flooring.com
Bamboo Depot. 700A Independent Rd.,Oakland CA 94621; 888.273.6888, 520.430.2708, fax 520.430.9368
<eBamboo@aol.com>
www.bamboobridge.com
Basically Bamboo. PO Box 177, Kamuela HI 96743; 808.885.7722, fax 808.885.3431
www.basicallybamboo.com Bamboo matting, gates, and other bamboo products for the home.
Eastern Star Trading Co. 405 S Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville IL, 800.522.0085. Bamboo poles and other garden equipment.
FrankÕs Cane & Rush Supply. 7252 Heil Ave, Huntington Beach CA 92647; 714.847.0707, fax 714.843.5645 www.franksupply.com All manner of tropical decor, including bamboo poles.
Inter-Mares Trading Co. 1064 Route 109, PO Box 617, Lindenhurst NY 11757; 800.229.2263 or 516.957.3467, fax 516.957.1005
<canefish@aol.com> Bamboo, wicker, cane, and rattan.
International Development Research Center. Tanglin, PO Box 9124, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; www.idrc.ca Bamboo and Rattan Research Network has published an annotated bibliography, ÒBamboo as an Engineering Material,Ó which covers a full range of construction-related topics.
Resource Fiber International. PO Box 11461, Bainbridge Island WA 98110; 206.842.1528
<sostenson@resourcefiber.com> www.unifybr.com Source and develop bamboo products, and develop custom products.
Smith & Fong. 601 Grandview Dr, South San Francisco CA 94080; 650.872.1184,
fax 650.872.1185 <info@plyboo.com>
www.plyboo.com Plyboo flooring, paneling, gifts and other items made of bamboo.
Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery. 28446 Hunter Creek Loop, Gold Beach OR 97444, 541.247.0835, www.bamboodirect.com A source for bamboo plants and books, as well as rhizome barriers, poles, flooring, paneling, and fertilizer.
CASEWORK (CABINETRY, SHELVING, FILES).
Case Systems, Inc. 2700 James Savage Rd., Midland MI 48642; 989.496.9510, fax 989.496.9927 www.casesystems.com Case Systems Wheatstraw Casework.
CHEMICALS (copper sulfate and others)
J R Simplot. Utah; www.simplot.com
Chemicals for mixing in plasters can usuallly be found at any agricultural chemical dealer.
CLAY, CLAY PLASTERS
American Clay Enterprises. LLC, 551 W Cordova Rd #458, Santa Fe NM 87505; 886.834.1634 www.americanclay.com
DAWN SouthWest. 6570 W Illinois St., Tucson AZ 85735; 520.624.1673; fax 520.882.8676
<dawnaz@earthlink.net> www.caneloproject.com/dawn and sustainablesources.com/dawn Ask about other available materials.
Earth Accents (American Clay). 866.223.9990 www.earth-accents.com
Hopper Handcrafted Specialty Finishes. Phoenix AZ; 602.273.1338 www.hopperfinishes.com (earthen plasters)
CONCRETE STAINS
ChemTone Acid Stain. 800.788.0014
www.decosup.com
Kemiko Concrete Stain. 903.587.3708
www.kemiko.com
MasonÕs Select. Superdeck, 800.825.5382
www.superdeck.com/masonselect
Acid Stains for Concrete are available through concrete and buildersÕ supply companies including www.acidstain.com
For cement stamping supplies and ideas. Visit www.decosup.com
EARTH BLOCKS – COMPRESSED (CED)
Compressed Earth Block Machines. OSKAM V/F, Opperduit 66, 2941 Al Lekkerkerk, Holland; +31 (0) 180 663998, fax +31 (0) 180 664380 <info@oskam-vf.com> www.oskam-vf.com
FIBER
LanderLand.com – Tom and Satomi Lander. HC66, Box 123, Kingston NM 88042; 505.895.5029; <Lander@zianet.com> www.Landerland.com Fine straw fiber for earthen plaster/floors and natural paints.
FIRE RETARDING COMPOUNDS
Flame Stop II and Flame Stop I-DS. commercial applications for straw and thatch. Flame Stop, Inc., 877.397.7867 www.flamestop.com
Inspecta-Shield. Northeast Fireshield, 631.563.0960 www.northeastfireshield.com
No-Char Fire Preventer. RainDance Enterprises LLC, PO Box 910, Tijeras NM 87059; 505.281.4040 www.raindancefire.net
FLOORING
Eco-Friendly Flooring. 100 S Baldwin St., Ste 100, Madison WI 53703; 866.250.3273, fax 608.441.3264 <ecofriendlyflooring@aol.com>
www.ecofriendlyflooring.com
EcoTimber. bamboo, engineered hard wood, salvaged/reclaimed wood, exotic hardwood flooring.
1611 4th St., San Rafael CA 94901; toll free 888.801.0855, 415.258.8584, fax 415.258.8455 wwww.ecotimber.com Also available at Earth Accents, 866.223.9990 www.earth-accents.com/walls.html#floors
Green Building Supply. 800.405.0222
www.greenbuildlngsupply.com Bamboo, cork, Marmoleum, wood.
Natural Cork, Inc. 800.404.2675
www.naturalcork.com Natural cork floors – eco-safe and durable.
Smith & Fong DuraPalm. coconut palm flooring and plywood, 866.835.9859 www.durapalm.com
GREENKRETE
GreenKrete Buildling Systems. Ron Bessette or Kurt Kleinschnitz, 2007 W Grimes Ave., Fairfield IA 52556; 641.472.0067 (o), 866.306.0939 (sales), fax 642.472.0219 <info@greenkrete.com>
Combines plant fibers (rice hulls, hemp hurds, kenaf) and ÒnaturalÓ cement into building blocks.
GRIPPLE TIE-DOWN SYSTEM
Gripple Inc. 313 Oswalt Ave, Batavia IL 60510; 630.406.0600
Laconia Earth Anchors. 603.598.9100
www.laconiaearthanchors.com A low-tech tie-down option; may work for non-concrete foundation attachment.
Loos & Co. Naples FL; 800.321.5667
www.loosco.com
HAY SAW
Used Ð antique and junk shops, auctions.
HAWK
Hyde Manufacturing Company. 54 Eastford Road Southbridge, MA 01550; 800.872.4933, fax 508.765.5250 <custrelations@hydetools.com> hydetools.com
LanderLand.com – Tom and Satomi Lander. HC66, Box 123, Kingston NM 88042; 505.895.5029 <Lander@zianet.com> www.Landerland.com. Japanese style wooden hawk.
INSULATION MATERIALS
Recycled Cotton Denim Insulation
UltraTouch. Bonded Logic, Inc., 411 East Ray Rd, Chandler AZ 85225; 480.812.9114
www.bondedlogic.com Known as blue jeans insulation, 85% post-industrial denim treated with borates, a fire retardant which also acts as an inhibitor to pests, mold and mildew. R-value 3.45-3.71 per inch depending on thickness, Class-A fire rating (60 minutes).
Johns Manville. Product Information Center, 800.654.3103; JM Headquarters, 303.978.2000
PO Box 5108, Denver CO 80217-5108
www.johnsmanville.com/insulation
Thermal, Acoustical, Mold and Mildew Resistant Fiber Glass Insulation. Lightweight thermal, acoustical insulation. Long, resilient glass fibers bonded with acrylic thermosetting binder. Facing serves as integral vapor retarder additionally protected against potential fungi growth. Pre-cut batts, including EasyFit, that fit standard wall cavities. MRª Faced Batts are available in a variety of R-values up to R-38.
MASONRY AND PLASTER SEALERS
HLQ-125 Masonry and Plaster Sealer. Sinak Corp, San Diego CA; 800.523.3147 www.sinakcorp.com
Keim Mineral Systems, Lewes DE; 302.644.1007 www.keimmineralsystems.com
Moxie 1400 Sealer, Moxie International,
800.356.3476 www.moxie-intl.com
MICRO-BALES FOR SB MODEL MAKING
Cracker Barrel. 800.578.4889 www.cb-sales.com/mats.htm
The Craft Place. PO Box 150559, Grand Rapids MI 49515; www.thecraftplace.com
MOISTURE METERS AND TESTERS
Balemaster, Digital Balemaster. Protimeter Inc., 500 Research Dr, Wilmington MA 01887;
800.321.4878 Also available through Building with Health Materials Center, PO Box 113. Carbondale CO 81623; 970.963.0437, fax 08-/073/3318
<contactus@buildingforhealth.com>
www.buildingforhealth.com
F-2000 Hay Moisture Testers. Delmhorst Instrument Company, 51 Indian Lane E, Towaco NJ 07082; 800.222.0638, fax 973.334.2657
www.delmhorst.com
New Holland Model HMT-2 by Farmex. Available from New Holland dealers.
Protimeter, Protimeter Mini, Protimeter
Hygromaster, Surveymaster. 87 Modular Ave., Commack NY 122725; Meter House, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow Bucks SL7 1LW England; +44 (0) 1628 472722, fax +44 (0) 1628 474312 <moisture@protimet.demon.co.uk>; Protimeter, Zweignlederlassung dar Bowthorpe GmbH, Wilhelp Rupperstr. 38 D-61147 K8ln, Germany; (02203) 62091, fax (02203) 62700 Digital instrument for assessment of moisture levels in straw and hay bales.
MAKE YOUR OWN HOMEMADE MOISTURE METER TLS #22 Spring 1998, pp 31- 33.
MASONRY HEATER
Masonry Heater Association of North America. 1252 Stock Farm Rd., Randolph VT 05060; 802.728.5896, fax 802.728.6004
<bmaroise@sover.net>
www.mha-net.org
NATURAL BUILDING PRODUCTS & MATERIALS
See also Catalog & Mail Order Sources, and listings in the appendices of books listed in the resource guide.
Building for Health Materials Center.
<contactus@buildingforhealth.com>
www.buildingforhealth.com Non-toxic building materials; knowledgeable and helpful in answering questions about natural and healthy building options.
Environmental Home Center. 206.682.7332 www.environmentalhomecenter.com
Green Building Supply. 508 North 2nd St., Fairfield IA 52556; 800.405.0222, 641.469.5558,
fax 641.469.5601 www.greenbuildingsupply.com Natural linoleum, bamboo, cork and other natural flooring; cabinetry, paints and finishes, and many other products and materials.
NOTCH AND NICHE CUTTERS
Lancelot. King Arthur Tools, 3645 Hartsfield Rd, Tallahassee FL 32303; 800.942.1300
www.kingarthurtools.com Chain saw teeth around a wheel.
Twisted Wire Flat Wheel. Generally available at welding supply and industrial tool supply stores.
PAINTS AND STAINS
Bioshield. 3215 Rufina St., Santa Fe NM 87507; 800.621.2591, fax 505.438.0199
<info@bioshieldpaint.com> www.bioshield paint.com
Earth Accents. 866.223.9990
www.earthaccents.com/walls.html#floors AFM Safecoat Paint.
Eco-House Inc. PO Box 220, Stn. A, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 4Y9 Canada
www.eco-house.com
Joelee Joyce – DAWN SouthWest. (See Natural Building Materials Showrooms and Sources for listing)
Keim Mineral Silicate Paint. Cohalan Company, Inc., 3 Port Lewes, Lewes DE 19958; 302.644.1007, fax 302.644.0866 www.keimmineralsystems.com
Low- and No-VOC paints. Listing of manufacturers is available at: http://oikos.com/products
Southern Diversified Products. 2714 Hardy St., Hattiesburg MS 39401; 601.264.0442 American Price Vegetable oil-based Latex Paint (Interior Latex Paint).
Frank & Ingrid Leusch Thomas. Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow Strawbale Construction, 16 Fisherman Rd., St Georges Basin, New South Wales, Australia; 61 (0) 2 4443 5282, mobile 61 (0) 408415806 <strawbales@bigpond.com> www.strawtec.com.au Specializing in natural paints, renders and surface treatment products including casein and render primer, clay, casein lime paints, marble fiber and soft fiber render, floor ois and waxes, pigments, lime putty
PEX PLUMBING PIPE
Radiant floor heating PEX plumbing supplies. www.pexheat.com
POLYESTER CORD STRAPPING AND BUCKLES
Carlson Systems. 8990 F Street, Omaha NE 68127-1491; 800.233.7447 www.csystems.com
Portable Strap-Pak. National Bag Company, 2233 Old Mill Rd, Hudson OH 44236; 800.247.6000
La Habra Products Inc. 1631 W Lincoln Ave, Anaheim CA 92803; 714.774.1186
www.lahabrastucco.com
Omega Products Corp. Midwest Sales,
419.320.7369 www.omega-products.com
Thoro Wall. Harris Specialty Chemicals, Jacksonville FL; 800.327.1570
POLYPROPOLENE BAG (Earth Bag)
Arizona Bag Company. 602.272.1333
POLYPROPOLENE BALING TWINE
U-Line Shipping Supply. 800.958.5463
www.uline.com
Frank W. Winne & Son Inc. 44 N Front St,
Philadelphia PA; 888.266.7590, fax 888.266.9555
RECLAIMED MATERIALS AND WOOD
Keith Robertson – Sons Devel-opment Co. and Green Building Supply. 563 Idaho/Maryland Rd., Grass Valley CA 95945; 530.273.7875 <morningsun@oro.net>
www.sonsdevelopmentgrnbldg.com
Emphasis on recycled beams, materials.
Scott Turner, Birch Creek Builders.1924 Haywire Ln., Corvaillis MT 59828; 406.369.0584,
fax 406.961.4046 <BirchCreek@aol.com> www.BirchCreekBuilderMT.com
STRAPPING
Caristrap¨ International Inc. 1760 Fortin Blvd., Laval , Quebec, Canada H7S 1N8, 450.667.4700, fax 450.663.1520 <sales@caristap.com>, www.caristrap.com
STRAW BLOCK
Oryzatech, Inc. PO Box 429, Yolo, CA 95697 info@oryzatech.com Called O Block also. The culm ( the rice straw stalk extremely high in silica) block derived from California rice straw contains thick-gauged, recycled wire webbing reinforcing the block for structural support, as well as conveniently providing a surface for stucco application that seals the wall from harsh weather. (See TLS#42, p19 and TLS #53 p10)
STRAWJET
Ashland School of Environmental Technology. David Ward, President, 5765 Colver Rd., Talent OR 97540 greeninventor@jeffnet.org www.greeninventor.org/strawjet.shtml
Strawjet system uses the strength of undamaged straw by bundled into 4-in.x4-in. continuous ÒbeamÓ which is then coated with a plaster-like papercrete (a mixture of paper pulp, clay bearing soil, and Portland cement). The 4×4 can be cut to desired length and combined to form rafters, panels or other structural forms. (See TLS #53, p10)
STRAW WALL PANELS
Prestowall. Affordable Building Systems, 2747 State Hwy 160 Whitewright, TX 75491; 866.364.1198, 903.364.1198, fax 903.364.1108
<sales@affordablebuildingsystems.com>
www.affordablebuildingsystems.com
Agriboard. Agriboard Industries, PO Box 151, Electra TX 76360; 940.495.3590, fax 940.495.3597 www.agriboard.com A straw panel system of compressed wheat or rice straw covered in a stress-skin of OSB that has both structural and insulative properties. Also used in roof systems. Commonly known as a SIP (structural insulated panel) or SIP system.
Rocky Mountain Environmental Services. a division of Gen-X Systems Ltd., Jason Whitfield, Box 1658, Didsbury, AB T0M 0W0 Canada; ph/fax 877.782.6839 <jason@quanitexdesign.com> www.genxsystems.com
SHEEPS WOOL INSULATION
Thermafleece. sheepsÕ wool thermal insulation. More information at: www.cat.org.uk
Australians also use sheepsÕ wool thermal insulation. Contact AUSBALE members for information. See Associations/Guilds/Networks for AUSBALE web site address.
STRAW BALES
Before you buy, read Bale Wisdom on the TLS web site (click on Back Issues and scroll to 2003 Resource Guide or Command or Control F and type in Bale Wisdom). Remember that ÒhayÓ is not Òstraw.Ó Hay is baled grasses; straw is baled stalks of grain crops.
We have moved the TLS Bale Suppliers list to the web site strawlocator.com so that you will have a more up-to-date and interactive database to use as you search for bales anda more extensive list of suppliers. There is a link at strawlocator.com and on the TLS web site for the Hay Exchange list (HayExchange.com) and for AgriSeek
(www.agriseek.com/sale/e/Ag-Products/Plant/Cereal/Straw-Bale) to broaden your search and RiceStrawMarket.org for rice straw.
Other sources might be the grain associations in your state, local cooperatives, and nearby farmers and ranchers. Check with associations and networks listed in this Resource Guide as another sources for bales. See Human Resource List 2006 for additional suppliers.
Please let us know about your sources for bales so we can share that information with others. Thanks!
STRAWBOARD
PrimeBoard. 2441 N 15th St., Wahpeton ND 58075; 701.642.3286, fax 701.642.3287,
<sales@primeboard.com> www.primeboard.com Particle board-like product made from wheat straw and a non-toxic, emission-free binding agent. Meets same specifications as industrial-grade particle-board.
Meadowood Industries, Inc. <Contact@constock-interactive.com> www.meadowoodindustries.com
GrassBoard and MeadowBoard are designer materials used in residential and commercial buildings as accent walls, ceilings, room dividers, and as components for cabinetry produced from rye grass stems.
STRAW CORE DOORS
Humabuilt. 16869 SW 65th Ave #335, Lake Oswego, OR 97035; 503.699.0052, fax 503.697.3982
<info@humabuilt.com> www.humabuilt.com
STRAW MATTING
Ortech. (03) 9580 7766 <ortech@ortech.com.au> www.ortech.com.au Australian manufactured straw wall and ceiling panels.
Solomit. (03) 9793 3088 <neville@solomit.com.au> www.solomit.com.au An Australian straw panel product; straw is reinforced with galvanized wire running along the full length of the sheets and held in compression with wire stitches.
STUCCO COATING
Elastomeric Specialists. 866.352.7835
www.elastek.com All-Weather Extreme EWC elastomeric stucco coating; Flex Seal Coat, high performance elastomeric coating for stucco, and other products.
STUCCO NETTING
Landware – Plaster Reinforcement Mesh. 4800 E Monument St., Baltimore MD 21205; 877.452.6397 <info@Landware.net> www.landware.net
STUCCO NETTING – CAGE CLIPS
ecker Manufacturing. PO Box 370, Keokuk IA 52632; 319.524.3304 Galvanized Loxit clips. Order Item #00-B.14 ga.
STUCCO PUMPS/SPRAY GUNS
Building for Health Materials Center. 970.963.0437 (See Natural Building Materials Showrooms & Sources for listing.)
Lanzadora Stucco Gun. Westox, Corregimento 21411; Independencia, Santiago, Chile, ph/fax 562.732.1573
Quick Spray Carousel. Quik Spray Inc, Port Clinton OH; 419.732.2611
MAKE YOUR OWN: Homemade Spray Gun, Plaster Pump Designs. TLS #13, Winter 1996; TLS #39 Fall 2002, p 17; TLS #42, Spring 2003, p 27.
WATERPROOFING FOR MUD PLASTER (Interior and Exterior)
Topleem. Contact Erik Vermue at <topleemxs4all.nl> for more information about this product manufactured in The Netherlands.
WHEAT PASTE, RICE STARCH
Natural Craft Supply. 1831 North Belcher Rd. Ste B-2, Clearwater, FL 33765; 877.770.5500, fax 727.669.0700 www.naturalcraftsupply.com Offers a small collection of completely organic, chemical-free products including wheat paste and rice starch.
WINDOWS
The following organizations offer valuable information on window selection, energy efficiency facts and tools, plus product lists and locators.
Efficient Windows Collaborative. Washington DC; 202.530.2245
www.efficientwindows.org
Energy Star Windows. 888.782.7937
www.energystar.gov/products/windows Voluntary partnership between DOE, EPA, and the fenestration industry to promote energy efficient windows, doors, and skylights. The Energy Star Window label is placed on products that meet energy efficiency performance standards.
National Fenestration Rating Council. Silver Spring MD; 301.589.6372 www.nfrc.org
Building Materials and Products Databases