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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Jun 7, 2008, at 2:44 PM, Jerry B wrote:

>  I have always thought
> that having the underground tubes large enough to provide cleaning
> access was probably the solution to the mold problem. In the earth
> sheltered house I am designing (and still hope to build after all  
> these
> years) I've included a long, earth-formed, arched tunnel around the
> perimeter to serve this ventilation/heating/cooling function as well  
> as
> provide an  emergency exit for each room.

Jerry, keep throwing fuel on my tunnel fire, please. I have long  
visualized a tunnel that would be used for movement to the shop in  
nasty weather, for a root cellar, for a wine cellar, for tornado  
shelter. It would also make running wires and pipes from one building  
to another a piece of cake. Magnolia can do the digging. Safe walls  
and roof seek inexpensive solution--my best so far is ferrocement, and  
that may in fact be the best possible.

I am presently designing a Bed House. Sweet Christina has sweetly  
requested a flush toilet. She shall have it, although only because she  
defers to my decision on ultimate treatment or lack thereof. The Bed  
House design has crawl space with a tunnel going through the middle,  
then to the porch, under the porch, around a corner and into the  
existing basement under the kitchen. Gonna be lots of fresh, cool air  
coming up into the house from that tunnel. The tunnel entrance faces  
east at the garden. I envision a cool, arched sitting place where to  
recover from heavy weeding.