How to Build an Earthbag Dome

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

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About This Instructable

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Owen Geiger (/member

(/member
/Owen+Geiger/)
/Owen+Geiger/)
EarthbagBuilding.com
(http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/

Follow

(http://cdn.instructables.com/FZI/R6J9/GJHVL5JY/FZIR6J9GJHVL5JY.LARGE.jpg)

649

Bio: Owen Geiger is the former director of

Builders Without Borders, a Mother Earth
News Green Home Adviser, The Last
Straw Journal Correspondent and the
director of the Geiger Research Institute of
Sustai...read more (/member
/Owen+Geiger/)
More by Owen Geiger

Note: If youre new to earthbag building, first read the introductory Step-by-Step
Earthbag Building Instructable (http://www.instructables.com/id/Stepby-Step-Earthbag-Building/) and How to Build an Earthbag Roundhouse
(http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Roundhouse/)
. Also, my new Earthbag Building Guide (http://www.earthbagbuilding.com
/articles/ebbuildingguide.htm) and Earthbag Building DVD
(https://www.createspace.com/326032) are now available.

(/id/How-to-Buildan-Earthbag-Roundhouse)

(/id/Step-by-Step-EarthbagBuilding)

We built this earthbag dome at our home in Thailand for Mother Earth News
Magazine in 2007. The article that describes the complete building process in
detail was published August/September 2009. It is now free on the Internet:
Low-Cost Multipurpose Minibuilding Made With Earthbags
(http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Earthbag-BuildingGarden-Shed.aspx) , by Owen Geiger.
This earthbag dome Instructable simplifies the process and illustrates each step
of construction with photos. The two critical drawings are also included here.
Please refer to the complete article before asking questions.

(/id/Insulated-Bamboo-Walls)
Tags:
earthbags (/tag/type-id/category-workshop/keywordearthbags/)
building (/tag/type-id/category-workshop/keywordbuilding/)
earthbag building (/tag/type-id/category-workshop

This multi-purpose dome can serve as a storage shed or cool pantry above
1 of 11
ground, or as a rootcellar or storm shelter below ground. No building permit is
typically needed, because it is below the minimum size required by building

/keyword-earthbag building/)

14-01-28 11:57 AM

earthbag house (/tag/type-id/category-workshop

/keyword-earthbag house/)

codes,
inhabited
and is not attached to a residence.
How to
Buildisannot
Earthbag
Dome

How to Build an Earthbag Dome

earthbag home (/tag/type-id/category-workshop

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/
/keyword-earthbag home/)

by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)

Earthbag structures provide a cool space in summer and an escape from the
vertical wall (/tag/type-id/category-workshop/keywordDownload (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
vertical wall/)
cold in winter (ideal for humans and animals), which means this earthbag dome
is(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)
well suited for many purposes, like a quiet space
17 Steps
for relaxing
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)
or playing music,
Owen Geiger (/tag/type-id/category-workshop
as well as those listed previously. Depending on your needs, the most practical
/keyword-owen geiger/)
combination of uses might be a rootcellar/cool pantry for daily use and a disaster
+ Collection
Favorite
dome (/tag/type-id/category-workshop/keywordshelter for emergencies such as tornadoes or hurricanes.
dome/)
The key concept that makes earthbag domes work is corbelling. This means
each course (each row) of bags is inset slightly from the course below. Corbelled
domes made of adobe and stone have been built for thousands of years. The
concept has been applied to earthbags in the last few decades.

earthbag dome (/tag/type-id/category-workshop

/keyword-earthbag dome/)

Related
Basic project information:
18 exterior diameter; 8 interior diameter; 11 exterior diameter, 50 sq. ft. interior
floor space; total cost of materials: $300, which is about $6/square foot.
Tools:
Tamper(s), round nose shovel(s), grape hoe or grub hoe (digging tool), 13 x 16
sheetmetal slider, knife, hammer, 2 level, 2 x 4 x 10 leveling board, tape
measure, fencing pliers, handsaw, trowel, garden hose with spray nozzle, 6 or
8 stepladder
The following instructions assume you have cleared and leveled the site,
removed topsoil, positioned fill soil around the building site to minimize work,
dug a trench to stable subsoil, put about 12 of gravel in the trench, and added
two stakes with string lines: a center stake with string line to measure the radius,
and a stake in front of the door to measure the dome curvature. Bags or tubes
can be used. We demonstrate bags, because theyre often available recycled for
very low cost. My YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com
/user/naturalhouses#p/a/572898D8C259FF4D/0/6ODplmnpSts) has a short
video showing how the dome was built.

How to Build an Insulated

Earthbag House (/id/Howto-Build-an-InsulatedEarthbag-House/)
by Owen Geiger

Insulated Earthbag
Foundations for Yurts
(/id/Insulated-EarthbagFoundations-for-Yurts/)
by Owen Geiger

Step-by-Step Earthbag
Building (/id/Step-by-StepEarthbag-Building/)
by Owen Geiger
(/member/Owen Geiger/)

How to Build an Earthbag

Roundhouse (/id/Howto-Build-an-EarthbagRoundhouse/)
by Owen Geiger

How to Build Dirt Cheap

Houses (/id/How-to-BuildDirt-Cheap-Houses/)
by Owen Geiger
(/member/Owen Geiger/)

See More (/tag/type-id/?q=)

Next (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)
View All Steps (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)

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limit=40&offset=40#DISCUSS)

gratefulnathan (/member/gratefulnathan/) says: 2 months ago

Reply (C15F8SJHO232SSI)

Thank you Owen for all your wonderful information!

inspired my son and I to build a semi subterranean earthbag dome.
We have been hard at it for 2 months now and are finally getting close to the top.
It has been a learning experience to say the least!

of(/member
11 You have
/gratefulnathan/)

14-01-28 11:57 AM

Wanted
to ask your
opinion about waterproofing material.
How to Build
an Earthbag
Dome

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

Our Build
plan is toan
haveEarthbag
a living roof when
we areby
done.
How to
Dome
Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)
I am looking at the different materials available and it is all kinda confusing.

Download
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
You suggested
using 6 mil sheeting. Could we use recycled 5 mil tarps as we have

no budget. Also what do you think of a light weight

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)
17 Stepsroof underlayment?
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)
The material is a little pricier but would it offer any better protection from leaks?
We want it to last forever. Thank in advance!

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http://www.lowes.com/pd_283849-711-5008030_0__?productId=3151833&
Ntt=roofing+underlayment&
pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Droofing%2Bunderlayment&facetInfo=

lsuydam (/member/lsuydam/) says:

2 months ago

Reply (C799X69HNICWXXC)

I LOVE this. What do you think is the largest dome you could build this way?
(/member
/lsuydam/)

bthorson139 (/member/bthorson139/) says:

9 months ago

Reply (CHQASODHFD15W6T)

Owen,
trying to make this dome for my cousins do you think it would be big enough?
Or would it be better if I just made a roundhouse or regular one. I have a lot of
cousins and I want there to be enough room for all of them.

(/member If I'm
/bthorson139/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to bthorson139

Reply (CEU9VUTHFD1KJ5Z)
9 months ago

This dome is too small to live in. It's

shed or emergency

8
really just a tool
(/member
storm shelter.
/Owen+Geiger/)

I suggest making roundhouses. See

my Roundhouse Instructable. It's
easy to make roundhouses large
enough for your needs.

instructamaker (/member/instructamaker/) says:

11 months ago

I knew that hobbits would eventually take

over the world.

Reply (CU5W00NHDRS5X1G)

1
(/member
/instructamaker/)

Terralive (/member/Terralive/) says:

11 months ago

Reply (CJMTVFSHCJOGD15)

Hi everyone. Does anyone know ho big in diameter I can buid an earth dome with
normal size bag:

(/member an
/Terralive/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to Terralive

Reply (CRBFXC0HCJOGHDD)
11 months ago

Somewhere around 20' interior

8
diameter is about the limit. That
(/member
would be 23' exterior diameter.
/Owen+Geiger/)

3 of 11

The largest earthbag dome at this

time is the Om Dome. It's 27'
exterior diameter. They had
problems and had to rebuild part
of it. Don't risk doing a large
dome like this unless you're

14-01-28 11:57 AM

experienced.
building it.
How to Build an Earthbag
DomeThe dome could collapse on you while you'rehttp://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/
http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/omdome.htm
How to Build
an Earthbag Dome by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)
Download (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)
vsergeyev (/member/vsergeyev/) says:

Reply (CC6T0PCHAWSMB9R)
171Steps
year ago (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)

Thank you much for your prompt response :-). Yes, you are absolutely right that it
quite challenging to gain sufficient solar gain in cold and cloudy climates for any
stryctures, including domes. For that reason I plan not to use short term solar gain
chargers ( classical old school greenhouse) as it is proven not to be affective and
sufficient. Instead, I am counting on the long cycle chargers ( the technique known
as passive annualized heat storage). PAHS does not require greenhouse and lots
of windows on the south side of the house. On top of that it utilizes the earth
sheltering on the 3 sides of the structure. Thus I am confident a bermed earthbag
dome must be the perfect solution to leverage the pahs technique in order to reach
100% off the grid sustainability. I have searched the Internet and did not find any
bermed earthbag domes houses build in cold climates or bermed with a living roof
except your little dome shelter. I am trusting 20" or 25" does could be bermed as
well, yet, I have no practical and theoretical knowedge on how to design and
analyze the earthbag structure to mate sure it could bear the top load of the soil as
well as the side forces to the walls. My essumption is the dome must be adjusted
to the 3 side berming loads. Ideally, the walks are to be built leaned outwards
(likewise the retention walls).
I would like to be sure of how to estimate the strength of the earthbag walls and
the vaults (top of the dome) to make sure it is safe.
I would be very grateful to you if you could kindly share your vision, knowledge
and experience on how to design such a structure.
Thank you once again for your kind support :-)
Yours,

(/member is
/vsergeyev/)

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Volodymyr

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to vsergeyev

Reply (CQQK14NHBNXUZ8X)
1 year ago

PAHS is an excellent system that

8
should work well in your climate:
(/member
http://naturalbuildingblog.com/pahs/Owen+Geiger/)

earthbag-house-near-completion/
http://naturalbuildingblog.com/pahsearthbag-house/
I was suggesting 24" or so small
berms on the sides, but you're
wanting near 100% efficiency and
that will take extra cost and labor.
What I'm saying will work and be
easier and faster to build. So in
summary, you might want to do PAHS
and south facing windows on a
rectangular structure. Or bury
earthbag domes and add a living roof.
Both will work. One provides a more
conventional appearance and more
square footage. Domes are more
organic, stronger and can be covered
with as much soil as you want. In both
cases take care to channel water
away and add multiple waterproofing
layers.

4 of 11

14-01-28 11:57 AM
vsergeyev (/member/vsergeyev/) says:

Good
dear Owen.
How to Build
an day
Earthbag
Dome I

1 year ago

Reply (CW5MNH2HAQ2ZECL)

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

admire
your work
How to
Build
an and
Earthbag Dome by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)
experience
you
put into all
(/member
Download
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
/vsergeyev/)
your earthbag
projects. I am
considering
designing
an
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)
17 Steps
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)
earthbag home structure
(consisting of a few 20-22"
+ Collection
domes) for cold and cloudy
climate of Ukraine (Eastern
Europe) that I would like to
berm it on 3 sides (with
mostly windows /
greenhouse on south side)
and put a living roof on top of
it. Ideally the house should
take the best of of the
earthbag / earthship / pahs/
life support systems to allow
100% sustainability and off
the grid eco lifestyle.

Favorite

With these thoughts in mind,

i would like to seek your kind
support and anvise on how to
design and ensure the
strength of the structure to
bear the topload and
sideforces of the berm. Could
you please kindly share your
best considerations of how
the shape of the domes must
be adjusted to balance the
external forces? Could the
dome walls ,perhaps, lean
onto the berm likewise the
retantion wall do to
counterforce the berm
forces? What about the top
part of the dome, should ut
just be more tall? What shell
be the rational on the shape
geometry vs the size of the
dome? Would there be any
corelation? Thankyou very
much in advance :-)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to vsergeyev

Reply (CZSKBCZHBFFJETM)
1 year ago

It's very difficult to get sufficient solar

You

8
gain in cold climates with domes.
(/member
can't make too many windows in
/Owen+Geiger/)

domes because all the weight is in

compression and would weaken the
structure.

5 of 11

It's much easier to build a rectangular

structure like the ones popular in the
1970's. The 'energy crisis' (oil
embargo) back then prompted many
designs and builders to come up with
more energy efficient designs. With
the passage of time we now know
what works and what doesn't. This

14-01-28 11:57 AM

information
is available for free on the Internet. The common
characteristic
How to Build an Earthbag
Dome
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/
is lots an
of south-facing
windows
for solar
gain, thermal
mass to absorb and
How to Build
Earthbag
Dome
by Owen
Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)
store the heat, and insulation to prevent loss of heat. Earth-berming also

Download (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
improves efficiency.
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)

17 Steps

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)

See:
http://naturalbuildingblog.com/underground-houses/
http://naturalbuildingblog.com/pahs-earthbag-house-near-completion/

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One spin-off of this research was Earthships. They have the south-facing
windows and other features listed above, but also curved back walls to
resist the thrust of the earth. The basic design works great. However, the
plans are very expensive and ramming tires is slow and very difficult.
Numerous builders have chosen to use the concept to make earthbag
earthships. Search this phrase on our Natural Building Blog:
http://naturalbuildingblog.com/
You can see a prime example on my Instructable -- How to Build an
Insulated Earthbag House http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Buildan-Insulated-Earthbag-House/ This should work perfectly for you.

KMH (/member/KMH/) says:

(/member
/KMH/)

1 year ago

Reply (CANSEFPH8CVGD11)

Could I make a 20' diameter geodesic dome of steel pipe welded solid, and
covered with re-bar/wire to support the earth bags filled with gravel/sand
/cement/and a little water?

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to KMH

Reply (CNJSDG1H8FYP9M3)
1 year ago

Yes, if you use lightweight fill material

pumice, lava rock
great. They're fast
and easy to work with, lightweight,
non-combustible, insulating and don't
attract pests. Do not use regular
earthbags on geodesic shapes or the
structure would likely fail (unless you
use a huge amount of steel to resist
the weight, but that's not efficient).
That's why earthbag and adobe
domes look the way they do -- they
use a shape that works with nature,
sort of like an egg shell.

8
in the bags. Scoria,
(/member
type materials work
/Owen+Geiger/)

km21324 (/member/km21324/) says:

1 year ago

Reply (CMBV2U7H6MEVNQI)

Can this hold a snow load of 7ft or over? I know everyone says its strong, but
hate to build one just to have it fail in the winter.

(/member would
/km21324/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to km21324

Reply (CJKWYNLH8FYP9LV)
1 year ago

That's nothing. There's around 20

8
truckloads of soil on top and the dome
(/member
has never budged. You could put
/Owen+Geiger/)

6 of 11

another 100 truckloads of soil on top

and it still wouldn't budge, because of
the nature of domes. The dome shape
channels the forces down and away
from the building.

14-01-28 11:57 AM

How to Build an Earthbag Dome

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

AneuchResinousMolybdenum
(/member/AneuchResinousMolybdenum/)
says:
How to
Build an Earthbag
Dome by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)
1 year ago

Reply (C7HXEQYH67NS88K)

I am so so curious, what does this look like

Download (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
(/member inside? Could you post a few pictures?
/AneuchResinousMolybdenum/)
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)

17 Steps

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)

Is it hard to live in there with cramped

quarters?
Are winters unbearably cold?

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Thanks!

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to

Reply (CFZOZM1H8FYP9LQ)
AneuchResinousMolybdenum
1 year ago

Inside looks like white poly bags stacked like big

8
(/member to a point. It's only 8' wide at the base and so it's
/Owen+Geiger/)

bricks. The walls curve up

a little difficult to take
photos. We use it for storing tools, and it works great for that purpose.
You'd want to build a bigger dome for living -- say 16' diameter minimum.
To determine the best size, simply put a stake in the ground, tie on a piece
of rope and scratch a circle in the earth. That will help you visualize the
space better.

BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) says:

1 year ago

Reply (COI6XXAH4ZN4PP6)

Do we need a specific size? i just would like to know before i order it, if some one
help me out asap that would be great :)

1
could
(/member
/BigDogDahler/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BigDogDahler

Reply (C9L9TKPH4ZN4SOT)
1 year ago

Everything you need to know is in this

the Mother Earth
need 18"x30" bags
(measured when flat and empty). Lots
of people are now using poly tubes,
mesh tubes and mesh bags -- all 18"
wide.

8
Instructable and/or
(/member
News article. You'll
/Owen+Geiger/)

BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) in reply to Owen Geiger

Reply (C37OHISH4ZN4ZD1)
1 year ago

ok thank you, so if i order just that size

do u
500
be enough?

1
i should be fine? and how much
(/member
think were actually used? would
/BigDogDahler/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BigDogDahler

Reply (C0X43GFH5035KAZ)
1 year ago

The article explains how many you

8
need.
(/member
/Owen+Geiger/)

BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) says:

1 year ago

Reply (CRIITZDH51AS9G0)

where do you buy your earthbags? im having trouble finding them cheap

1
(/member
of/BigDogDahler/)
11

14-01-28 11:57 AM

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BigDogDahler

How to Build an Earthbag
Dome
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

How to Build Everything

an Earthbag
related to Dome
earthbag

Reply (C29EM10H5035KAN)
1 year ago
by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)

building is on our websites. Go to

the Resources page at
/Owen+Geiger/)
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)
17 Steps
EarthbagBuilding.com
8

Download (/member
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)

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BLUEFOOable (/member/BLUEFOOable/) says:

1 year ago

Favorite

Reply (CZ61RBNH4VQA46U)

Do you think it would be possible to use a marsh clay for foundation bags, still with
ground covering>??, because i live in South Africa and i do not have all
of the necessary resources.?

(/member the rubble

/BLUEFOOable/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to BLUEFOOable

Reply (CL9B2GTH5035K0C)
1 year ago

It's always best to use gravel in

8
foundation bags so water can drain
(/member
away. The foundation supports the
/Owen+Geiger/)

walls above and so everything could

collapse if the lower courses turn to
mud.
However, I do know of one project that
used marsh mud successfully. This is
NOT recommended, but in this case it
did work. Build above grade (raise the
site so water drains away quickly or
build on high ground), use wide roof
overhangs so water doesn't hit the
walls, use plaster to deflect any snow
or rain. Berming earth around the sides
about 24" high would also help protect
lower walls. I would only do this in a
dry climate on a small house or cabin
where no other options are available.
Again, this is not good building
practice. I'm just saying that sometimes
you may have to break the rules out of
necessity.

urtlesquirt (/member/urtlesquirt/) says:

1 year ago

Reply (C76Z80IH337JN7X)

Build a life size model of Bag End. Challenge Accepted.

2
(/member
/urtlesquirt/)

wakojako (/member/wakojako/) in reply to urtlesquirt

1 year ago

No, no, no! Build a life-size model of

Hobbiton, wait, no, The Shire!

Reply (C1PB8MLH4VQSWWY)

1
(/member
/wakojako/)

wakojako (/member/wakojako/) in reply to wakojako

1 year ago

Wait a second, is this why Bag End is

called Bag End?

Reply (C6TXT56H4VQSX14)

1
(/member
/wakojako/)

8 of 11

14-01-28 11:57 AM
urtlesquirt (/member/urtlesquirt/) in reply to wakojako

Of course.
Owen
How to Build an Earthbag
Dome

How

Geiger's
name is
to Build
anreal
Earthbag
J.R.R.
Tolkein.
2

1 year ago

Dome

Reply (CL3PYG0H4VQA01F)

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)

Download
(/member(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
/urtlesquirt/)

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)

17 Steps

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)

timmycutts (/member/timmycutts/) in reply to wakojako

Reply (CTUB4EDH4VQDEHY)
1 year ago

+ Collection

Favorite

"The name comes from the

2
farmhouse in the tiny Worcestershire
(/member
village of Dormston, in which Tolkien's
/timmycutts/)

aunt lived. It can also be seen as a

pun on "cul-de-sac" (literally, "bottom
of the bag")." - LotR wiki.

More to the point, it's also a slight pun

on "Baggins", since if you say "Bag
End" quickly as one word, it sounds
not entirely unlike "Baggins".

wakojako (/member/wakojako/) in reply to timmycutts

1 year ago

Oh, I know it's Bag(gins) End - I was

just fooling around.

Reply (C61N4P7H4VQDYST)

1
(/member
/wakojako/)

jediwhiz3 (/member/jediwhiz3/) in reply to timmycutts

1 year ago

Precisely!

Reply (CXUZ9RDH4VQT0WJ)

1
(/member
/jediwhiz3/)

unleavened (/member/unleavened/) says:

1 year ago

Reply (C6T07YBH4VQKJTQ)

hi i saw this article and thought it sounded crazy - i've got to try it!
pretty hands on, but i've never done anything nearly as complicated or big as
this - i'm a complete beginner. if i want to investigate this possibility, aside from a
patch of land, what do i need to look into if i want to incorporate electricity, heating,
water, bathroom facilities, and pretty much everything i need for a normal house?
do i need planning permission? do i feed off someone else's electricity/water etc or
do i organise it independently? (you can see i'm a real beginner!)
i'm living in israel where it gets pretty hot and pretty cold, raining quite a bit in the
winter. i'd like to build a two bedroom house - got any suggestions? how long do
you think it'll take?
cheers, this looks like the revolution of the century! my family will think i'm mad - i
can't wait!
thanks so much!

(/member i'm
/unleavened/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to unleavened

Reply (CYAWTJZH4ZN4SO7)
1 year ago

There are many possibilities. You

8
have to investigate the options where
(/member
you want to build. Maybe you have to
/Owen+Geiger/)

9 of 11

add solar, etc. if you're off grid. Maybe

you can tap into local power and
water. But this typically requires
following strict building codes. Codes
vary considerably from place to place,
so you have to investigate what local
building authorities require. We
typically recommend building in rural

14-01-28 11:57 AM

areas with
few or no building codes to minimize costs.
How to Build an Earthbag
Dome

How to Build an Earthbag Dome

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)

Time of construction will vary depending on your skills and strength.

Download (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
Earthbag is very labor intensive. It's best if you're strong and healthy or can

hire low cost workers.

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)

17 Steps

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)

Start with a small tool shed and take it from there.

supershot1 (/member/supershot1/) says:

2 years ago

+ Collection

Favorite

Reply (CR8AFGHGOV8DTFS)

how much are the earthbags alone??

(/member
/supershot1/)

BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) in reply to supershot1

Reply (CMBL7E5H4ZN4PS2)
1 year ago

Apparently there is a place where you

for only $75 but i
However I did find
this website, but i dont know if i
selected the right size, 500 of them
comes out to about $160 which is fairly
cheap.

1
can get 500 of them
(/member
wasnt able to find it.
/BigDogDahler/)

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/utilitybasics/utility-supplies/sandbags
/polypropylene-sandbags/14-x26-polypropylene-sandbags-.htm

BigDogDahler (/member/BigDogDahler/) in reply to supershot1

Reply (CS5HYBLH4ZN4PRQ)
1 year ago

Apparently there is a place where you

for only $75 but i
However I did
find this website, but i dont know if i
selected the right size, 500 of them
comes out to about $160 which is
fairly cheap.

1
can get 500 of them
(/member
wasnt able to find it.
/BigDogDahler/)

theshedlife (/member/theshedlife/) in reply to supershot1

Reply (CMWX9ZIGYQFRTCL)
1 year ago

about 12 hours a day?

(/member
/theshedlife/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to theshedlife

Reply (C1JKKFRGYQFMWR5)
1 year ago

Not sure what you're saying. I sure

work outside 12 hours a day.
of my time is spent researching,
writing and designing houses. The
earthbag dome was finished a little at
a time on weekends.

8
don't
(/member
Most
/Owen+Geiger/)

Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/) (author) in reply to supershot1

Reply (CCLXCDOGOW47BNC)
2 years ago

You have to shop around just like

10 of 11

8
anything. Prices range from 6 cents
(/member
(our latest price for recycled bags in
/Owen+Geiger/)

new condition) up to 45 cents or so

each.

14-01-28 11:57 AM

How to Build an Earthbag Dome

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/

How
to Build
an Earthbag Dome by Owen Geiger (/member/Owen+Geiger/)
1-40 of
Next (http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?&sort=ACTIVE&
289

limit=40&offset=40#DISCUSS)

Download (/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?download=pdf)
(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/?ALLSTEPS)

17 Steps

(/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/step1/Dome-Plans/)

+ Collection

Favorite

Make Comment

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