Blog
Straw Bale Is in the Code
A quiet worry stops some people before they start: will the building department even allow straw bale? The blog explains why it is code-recognized and permits like any custom home. Read it. ...more
Blogs
August 18, 2026•4 min read
The Land Is the First Line: Wildfire Defense Before the Wall
A plastered bale wall stands up to fire. But in the foothills, the land around the home is the first line of defense. The blog covers defensible space and firewise landscaping. Read it before you buil... ...more
Blogs
August 15, 2026•4 min read
Building a Custom Home to Fit the Whole Life
The features that let a home serve you for life cost almost nothing to build in at the start, and a fortune to add later. The blog covers how to design a custom home that ages with you. Read it. ...more
Blogs
August 11, 2026•4 min read
Radiant Floors in a House That Heats Itself
Everyone loves the idea of warm floors. But in a straw bale home that mostly heats itself, radiant does a very different job than it does in a conventional house. The blog explains what changes. Read ... ...more
Blogs
August 08, 2026•4 min read
The Toe-Up: The Detail Below the Floor That Makes the Wall Last
There is a detail at the base of every straw bale wall almost no one has heard of, and it is one of the most important parts of the whole home. The blog explains the toe-up. Read it. ...more
Blogs
August 04, 2026•5 min read
Why Every Room Changes at Eighteen Inches
Straw bale walls are eighteen inches thick, and that changes every room before you ever get to insulation. Deep sills, window seats, softer light. The blog explains what thick walls make possible. Rea... ...more
Blogs
August 01, 2026•4 min read
The Other Half of the Wall: What Plaster Does for Straw Bale
Everyone talks about the straw. The plaster is the other half of the wall, and it does more than you would guess. The blog breaks down what plaster actually does for a bale wall. Read it before your b... ...more
Blogs
July 28, 2026•4 min read
Custom Home vs Production Builder Idaho What to Choose
When people say they want to build in Idaho, they often picture one process. There are really two: a production builder and a true custom builder. They are different businesses with different goals an... ...more
Blogs
July 25, 2026•4 min read
Building a Straw Bale ADU in Idaho: A Smaller Footprint, the Same Performance
Building a straw bale ADU in Idaho’s Boise Valley brings R-45 walls, passive solar, and clean air to a smaller footprint. Learn the uses, value, and zoning basics. ...more
Blogs
July 21, 2026•4 min read
The Carbon Story: How Straw Bale Construction Locks Carbon Into Your Home
How does straw bale construction lock carbon into your home? Straw stores carbon as it grows, sealed in your walls for 100+ years. Learn the embodied carbon story. ...more
Blogs
July 18, 2026•4 min read
Do You Need a Furnace High-Performance Idaho Home
Do you still need a furnace in a high-performance Idaho home? Straw bale, passive solar, and R-45 walls mean minimal heating. Squaw Butte ran zero HVAC for 3 months. ...more
Blogs
July 14, 2026•4 min read
What Is Cost-Plus Construction and Why It Protects You on a Custom Build
hat is cost-plus construction and why does it protect you on a custom build? Learn how transparency and aligned incentives beat fixed-price padding on a custom home. ...more
Blogs
July 07, 2026•4 min read
How Long Does It Take to Build a Custom Straw Bale Home in Idaho?
How long does it take to build a custom straw bale home in Idaho? Design, permitting, and construction phases explained, plus why design-build keeps timelines on track. ...more
Blogs
July 04, 2026•4 min read
How to Choose Land for a Custom Home in Idaho’s Boise Valley
Most people choose land for a custom home by falling in love with the view first. That is backwards, and it can cost you more than any other early decision. ...more
Blogs
June 30, 2026•4 min read
Do Straw Bale Homes Have Moisture Problems in Idaho’s Climate?
Straw plus water equals rot, right? It is the second question everyone asks about straw bale, and the answer surprises people. The blog breaks down the moisture myth, what Idaho’s climate has to do wi... ...more
Blogs
June 27, 2026•4 min read
Will a Straw Bale Home Survive a Wildfire? What the Fire Testing Actually Shows
Straw burns, so how does a straw bale home survive a wildfire? It is the first question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer surprises people. The blog breaks down what the fire testing actuall... ...more
Blogs
June 23, 2026•4 min read
How Straw Bale Homes Are Gaining Market Recognition in Idaho's Boise Valley
Straw bale homes in the Boise Valley are earning market recognition and in some cases, commanding a premium. The blog covers what is driving the shift, what completed Idaho projects mean for the mark... ...more
Blogs
June 21, 2026•3 min read
The Idaho Statesman Came to See What We Build
The Idaho Statesman spotlighted Bitterbrush, an EarthCraft straw bale home in the Boise Foothills. Here is what the story got right about how these homes perform. ...more
Blogs
June 18, 2026•3 min read
Why Operating Costs Matter More Than Construction Costs in Idaho Custom Homes
You are comparing two custom home options in the Boise Valley. One costs more to build. But the blog breaks down what the full 30-year financial picture actually looks like utilities, maintenance, HV... ...more
Blogs
June 16, 2026•3 min read
Passive House Standards Are Not the Same as Passive Solar Design (And Why That Matters for Idaho Homes)
Passive House and passive solar are not the same thing and in Idaho's Boise Valley, one approach makes far more sense than the other. The blog breaks down the real differences, what each costs, and wh... ...more
Blogs
June 14, 2026•4 min read
EarthCraft Construction, Inc | Treasure Valley, Idaho
Serving Boise, Oregon & Surrounding Areas (208) 391-3754 | [email protected]
1415 South Owyhee St, Boise, ID 83705
Licensed and insured in Idaho RCE-27334 and Oregon CCB-186023
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