[Strawbale]straw woof insulation??

[Brand J.H.J.]

Dear All,

We are starting a small new ecovillage in the Vosgues region in France. we
bought beautifull land with a farm on it. Of course that house is poor
insulated. One of my first thougths is to insulate at least the roof and
some other parts with strawbales. Roughly i think of taking the tiles off,
extend the roof edges well to protect the walls better from rain, put a clay
plaster on the wood structure, embed the bales in the clay, finish them with
a plaster. put wooden ribs on top of the plaster and bring the tiles back
on. the plaster just as a protection against rodents. 
The weight of the plaster will be considerable but i think if e.g. every
bale width there is a vertical plank that connects the old frame with the
new, the roof will become a stiff sandwich that can easily bare heavy loads.

is there any experience with such modifications of existing houses?

bye

DeeTale or Joost

Amsterdam