Straw house to be constructed in Bloomington

The construction of the first ever straw bale house in Bloomington is being postponed from June 15 to Sept. 13. \nThe straw house is a Habitat for Humanity project and is being co-sponsored by Bloomingfoods, the Center for Sustainable Living and Harmony School. The Natural Building Group, an organization within the CSL, approached Habitat for Humanity a year ago with the idea of building a straw house in Bloomington, said CSL President Mike Englert. \n"We wanted to build an ecologically safe house in Bloomington to promote safe alternatives to traditional building construction," Englert said. \nHabitat agreed with the proposal and June 15 was set as the day to break ground. However, that date was postponed to allot more time for fundraising. \n"Our aim is to raise $47,500 between three organizations and so far we have $16,500," Bloomingfoods Manager of Member Services & Education Jeff Brown said. \nWhen the house is built, the individual chosen by Habitat for Humanity will purchase it at an affordable price and will pay no interest on it. Candidates for the house have to "show financial need and help in the building of the straw house and other Habitat for Humanity projects," Bloomingfoods floor manager Josh Craig said. \nThe construction of the house in September should take 13 weeks with hundreds of volunteers working each Saturday, Brown said. \nBloomingfoods is active in recruiting these volunteers. \n"Bloomingfoods is a co-op, so we have an interest for the community," Brown said. "Since our establishment, we have had a vested interest in serving the community and eco-technologies. The straw bale house addresses both of those so it's right up our alley."\nThe Center for Sustainable Living and the Harmony School are also working on recruitment for the project, an advertising campaign for the house and are involved in the raising of funds and materials for the project. \nThe contributors to the project have been mostly individual donors living in Bloomington, said Englert. The house will be built on Adams Street between 10th and 11th streets on Bloomington's west side.