Straw has countless uses for almost any situation. When you think of the uses of straw, you probably think of using it for your gardening or animal bedding. While straw will help your garden immensely and keep your animals warm, it can be used for more than that. Here is a list of unique ways that straw can be used that you may not have known about:

Building Materials

Did you know that straw can be used as a building material for your house? Building your house out of straw bales comes with several benefits, including energy efficiency, fire resistance, and soundproofing. There are multiple different ways to build your house out of straw including the load-bearing method, the infill method, and more. 

In the load-bearing method, the straw will act as the structure of your home. Straw bales that are up to 500 mm thick will be raised by a brick plinth and laid in courses, and each bale with be centered on the bale joint under them. They will then be attached to a base plate to secure them in place. After the straw bales are compressed to improve their structural integrity, a form of lime render will be added to the interior and exterior walls. The render will add an additional structural layer and strengthen the walls of your home. 

The infill method uses a frame construction that is filled with straw bales that act as an insulating material. There are two different ways that this method is done. The first requires the bales to be positioned within the structure and then the wall plate will be lowered into place. The second requires the bales to be positioned within the structure and then be compressed to add the final layer of bales. 

Wheat Straw Plastic

Wheat straw is being used as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. Wheat straw is a byproduct of the leftover material after harvesting wheat. Straw contains cellulose which can be broken down to create polymers. Polymers are formed by loose monomers, which are used as the building blocks to create other substances. Plastic products are made of artificial polymers, but plastic produced from straw contains natural polymers. Wheat straw plastics can be used to create durable and heat-resistant mugs, cups, plates, food containers, and more. Plastics create helpful products such as sturdy toys for children, but we now know that plastics are becoming a problem due to their mass production. Creating plastics made from straw has several benefits for ourselves and the environment. The number one benefit of plastic made from straw is that it is entirely biodegradable. If you have an at-home compost, it will take 3 to 6 months to decompose, and it will take 1 to 2 months to decompose using a city program. Because straw is natural, plastics made from straw can also be broken down to be used as fertilizer. Plastics made from straw would also benefit local agricultural farmers by allowing them to sell their products for a reasonable price. Wheat straw plastics are also non-allergenic, gluten-free, easy to clean, microwave and freezer-safe, mold-resistant, and more.  

Call us today at (615) 310-0749 or (615) 427-9799 for more information about our straw bales.