Earthbag construction (sometimes called sandbag construction) is surely one of the most practical and lowest cost construction methods. First used by the military to build durable, bullet- and blast-resistant structures, this construction method has recently seen great interest among do-it-yourself builders. There are now an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 earthbag structures, including houses, offices, shops, schools, temples, clinics, orphanages, and even ecovillages.

One of the strongest selling points is affordability. For example, a simple earthbag dome can be built, using recycled grain sacks and soil, for around $100. A larger, more comfortable home can be built for around $500-$1000. The EarthDome home at Terrasante Village in Tucson, Arizona is just one example.

Earthbags are ideal for homeowner-builders. The skills needed for each step of construction can be learned in a few minutes. It boils down to simply filling bags with an appropriate backfill material (typically subsoil or gravel) and compacting them until solid. There is nothing simpler than that. Also, few tools are required: shovels, buckets, garden hoses. The few additional tools required (handling, slider) can be manufactured cheaply and easily.

Earthbag buildings are sustainable as they are made primarily from soil at or near the construction site. Earthbag domes require no wood, reducing pressure on our forests. Expensive concrete foundations are not required if you use bags filled with gravel. Additionally, these structures are safe, quiet, non-toxic, rodent-proof, and resistant to fires, hurricanes, and floods.

Energy efficiency is another big plus in favor of building with bags. The massive earthen walls stabilize interior temperatures in hot weather. In hot and cold climates, earthbags can be filled with an insulating material, such as lava rock, pumice, vermiculite, or perlite. Some builders are experimenting with rice hulls for insulation, which are often free. In general, lightweight insulation materials (such as those just mentioned) require much less labor than rammed earth materials and provide comfort during the harshest winters or hottest summers.

Earthbags can also be used to create underground structures (root/storm cellars, etc.) or with earth berms, privacy and retaining walls, planters, furniture (built-in benches, etc.), and many other uses. Earthbags are very adaptable and work just as well for domes as they do for structures with vertical walls. They also excel at creating free-form curved structures.

As earthbag construction grows by leaps and bounds, NGOs and other organizations are exploring their use for emergency shelter. Millions of victims of war and natural disasters need low-cost housing and temporary shelter. More durable than tarps and more comfortable than tents, earth bags work perfectly as even unskilled workers can build their own shelters, all without destroying local resources.