James Wesley,
A lot of people are restricted in how much money they can spend on a tract of land for a home or a retreat for when TSHTF or TEOTWAWKI happens, but if you can manage to find even a small lot, like an acre or so and hopefully it is wooded, you can construct a home or cabin of sorts that isn’t really something to be ashamed of. And also, consider this, something happens, like a tornado or earthquake and your home is completely destroyed as well as your neighbors—you could possibly construct a temporary survival shelter with some of these methods in the links below. The links below are a collection of links to different methods and results in wattle and daub construction and also straw bale construction. Also, I might add in this kind of construction you need a good roof with a overhang of probably a couple of feet to protect the wattle and daub walls from water and wind erosion. You can also paint these walls when cured or dried. It resembles adobe or stucco walls for the most part in my opinion. I have a pet idea of building a pole type structure, frame in the windows and doors, etc. and cover the walls with woven wire fence wire. Then layer over that with hardware cloth. Then proceed with daubing it with a mixture of clay earth and straw or grass clippings mixed in for strength. This mix can also be used to construct a fireplace and chimney. Another consideration if this is to be a survival retreat, etc.
how to wattle and daub construction – YouTube
I like the next links in particular for illustration of the work and how it is done:
Making History – Shelter (wattle & daub) – YouTube
How to choose a natural building material (i.e. cob or straw or a mix) – YouTube
I hope this information will be of much use to someone out there. Thanks for your attention. – Darrell in Ohio