Is building with Straw Bales a new thing?

Not at all, it was first initiated in North America at the turn of the century. The oldest documented bale building was a one-roomed school building in Nebraska, built in 1886. Straw bale construction is presently experiencing a major revival in today's housing market. It is worth pointing out that many of our countries oldest buildings especially in the Cape which suffers from wind driven rains are in fact made of mud brick - most of the old city centre of Cape Town, and its suburbs - Woodstock, Salt river, Observatory, Wynberg etc. They were always built off the ground with a good stone or fired brick foundation and protected with breathable lime based plasters and paints.