What's this I hear about straw bale walls and earthen plaster being "breathable?"

Modern buildings these days have become more and more waterproof, creating, basically, plastic boxes that we live in. And imagine wearing a plastic bag on your body. There's no air circulation, and all the moisture stays in. That's why, in our modern buildings, mold is such a problem. Our straw bale walls, in particular, need to breathe to allow moisture to be absorbed and released naturally. And earthen plasters are perfect for that.

Straw bale walls are breathable.Water vapor can move in and out of the walls, so we really reduce our chances of having mold in the house. Water doesn't condense on interior surfaces, because it has a chance to dry out, and so we don't create a mold breeding ground within these walls.