Generous Supporters

The Stronghold Project is made possible by the generous contributions of individuals and organizations.  One of the organization that has recently offered support is the Native American Ministry Team of the Diocese of Virginia.  The Virginia ministry team supports projects both with Native Americans located in Virginia and with Native Americans elesewhere.  The picture above shows members of the team on a visit to the Pamunkey Reservation in Virginia.   Episcopalians from Virginia also have a long history of involvement with the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations in South Dakota.

The contribution from the Diocese of Virginia will be used to defer in part the costs for the straw bales that will be used in the construction of the coffee house.

Bob Prichard

"Affordable" materials can have unintended consequences

Here’s an explanation on why I recommended wood or fiberglass windows rather than vinyl for Stronghold: 

As much as possible, Stronghold will use materials

that fit the Cradle to Cradle® model of sustainability.

Material selection represents one of the biggest challenges for safe, affordable housing.   Products and therefore buildings designed for the lowest possible price have to make compromises in quality—from physical performance to “offgassing” (that affects indoor air quality) to life cycle concerns.   These tradeoffs often press against the limits of building codes and environmental compliance, with success being unintentionally defined as the worst environmental solution possible without breaking the law.  To make matters more confusing, almost all products seem to come with “green” claims (see greenwashing link below).   Mainstream society’s approach to affordable housing can even create unintended environmental injustice, where economic necessity creates increased environmental risk through exposure to more toxic materials.

At Stronghold’s Borderlands workshop in the summer of 2010, straw bale construction emerged as a solution that would provide the greatest long term benefit to Pine Ridge.  This conclusion was based in part on the economics of straw bale—that more economic benefits would remain on the reservation compared to a more industrial prefabricated house with 100% “imported” materials- especially as more houses are built.  Jobs and industry and knowledge would remain local.   

Another part of the workshop explored Lakota cultural values, from the meaning of “dwelling” to the spiritual interconnectedness of ALL things.  It is this idea that points away from vinyl and toward materials that can return safely to nature as part of a healthy human and environmental metabolism.  Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has a problematic life cycle in terms of human and environmental health, from its manufacturing chemicals to release of toxins in combustion.  Material selection for health has as much to do with the health of others affected during the manufacture or disposal as it does with health during the life of the building.   

Advanced material technology presents bigger challenges since much of it cannot return to nature without creating waste and health problems.   Not all materials in Stronghold can be held to the green standards of reused wood and local straw and mud plaster, but the project team will make thoughtful decisions.  Most products need to be designed to a new level of true recycling so that a the end of their use they can be taken apart and returned to either nature or industry—what McDonough and Braungart call “Cradle to Cradle” in their influential book (see link below).  Such an approach to materials (which has been a large part of my professional career) seems very much in keeping with the Lakota ethic.

For more information on PVC and health:  http://www.healthybuilding.net/pvc/facts.html

Cradle to Cradle® is a registered trademark of MBDC.   For more information follow this link:  http://www.mbdc.com/detail.aspx?linkid=1&sublink=27

An interesting read on “greenwashing,” an unintended consequence of the green revolution where manufacturers marketing has become misleading.    http://www.buildinggreen.com/live/index.cfm/2011/6/23/The-Nine-Types-of-Greenwashing

This link is really inspiring.  It’s an internet-based design brainstorm seeking ways for social business to help low income communities.  Check out the winning ideas:

http://www.openideo.com/open/how-might-we-improve-health-care-through-social-business-in-low-income-communities/winning-concepts/

- Mark Rylander