Experimental Rice Hull Tipi at HeartLand

HeartLand, in Southern Missouri, is quite close to the one of the world's largest rice growing areas. Rice hulls, an agricultural waste product, are abundant nearby.

Heartland was planning on buildings with straw bale, but because of the moisture in the area, was concerned about molds, mildews, and fungi that could grow in straw bale in such a moist climate. After learning about rice hulls, HeartLand wanted to try a rice hull building.

We wanted to start with a small building, ideally a storage building. HeartLand had just a location.


Earthbag Tipi

The building site had some interesting possibilities. In order to keep enough passage yet maximize the building size, a round building made the most sense.

We had been exploring pyramids earlier. Out of the seven original wonders of the world, the Great Pyramids are the only one still standing.

The shape of a tipi is basically a round pyramid. Since the site needed a round building and we plan on building pyramids, a tipi seemed like the right building to test.

There was also a dead tree standing at the site that was left standing years ago specifically to make a totem pole there. The site was asking for a tipi.


Other Green Buildings

We are blessed here at HeartLand with no restrictive building codes. We can build whatever we want, and we plan to build green and sustainable buildings.

After our earthbag tipi building comes together, we will build other buildings in tipi, dome, and even pyramid shapes.


Earthbag Tipi at Pine Ridge

If you are looking for info about the earthbag tipi the we are planning for the Pine Ridge reservation with Nature's Compassion, visit this page.


Build Sustainably with Us at HeartLand

Are you interested in sustainable green building? Are you interested in living in a community of people who are committed to spiritual and emotional healing for themselves and the planet?

Find out about our internship and volunteer programs.

Come Build with Recycled Rice

Get hands on experience building with rice hulls.

Come do an internship at the HeartLand Aramaic Mission in Missouri.


Come Build an Earthbag Tipi with us on the Pine Ridge Reservation

Get hands on experience building with earthbags while helping those in need.

In conjunction with Nature's Compassion, we are planning on building an earthbag tipi and an Eco-dome on the Pine Ridge Reservation beginning June 14, 2009. Come join us.