And after completing her first "home grown home" made from straw bales, Carol Atkinson is poised to go even further down the green path.

The footings are about to be dug for her latest venture, a two-bedroomed cottage also to be created from straw but with added environmentally-friendly features, after Mrs Atkinson finally won her battle with a local planning authority.

Her first venture at Village Farm, Brind, near Howden – which a casual onlooker might not guess was built using 200 standard straw bales – had to be built on a caravan chassis because East Riding Council would not give her permission for a permanent home.

This time she has been given permission for a permanent house, which will also be let as a holiday home.

Mrs Atkinson, who spent 20 years as an accountant before following her heart and studying for an Msc in Architecture, Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies, said: "Both (developments) have been a bit of a battle but now that's through and they are happening the planning and building control have been really, really helpful. I can't speak more highly of them now – perhaps you have to prove what you want to do and that you are determined to do it."

Her studies have looked at how much energy the house uses. Unsurprisingly building a straw house using a relatively-cheap and readily-available local product uses far less energy than brick and cement which has to be manufactured and brought in from miles away.

The house is so well insulated it needs little heating – and surprisingly does not represent a fire hazard. The compacted straw burns with difficulty and is sealed with clay which takes two hours to burn through and prevents oxygen reaching the straw. The building method even satisfies the requirements of the Australian Bushfire Code.
However, the latest house will not cost much less than brick and although straw buildings sport all the right green credentials people still appear reluctant to switch.

She said: "I keep racking my brain over that. Is it just that people think bricks are strong or it's traditional or is it a manly thing?

"They look strong and we are all used to them but they don't actually work from an energy-saving point of view.

"People will say this house has stood for hundreds of years – but it hasn't kept you warm for hundreds of years because it's always cold unless you put heat in."

Mrs Atkinson says they have learned a lot from their first project and the latest development will use straw not only in the walls but hopefully also in the floor and ceiling.

They aim to use passive ventilation in the roof, and hemp and lime plaster for the dividing walls.

They currently use electricity "the worst kind of heating you could have" to run two radiators for the first cottage, but plan to go for a log stove and back boiler this time.

And they will draw from tradition by using local clay roof tiles "because sometimes it's worth using a lot of energy to get something really durable and long lasting."

The work will once again involve her family – including son Sam, 17, and Joe, 13 – but this time people who want to learn more about building a straw house can also take part by signing up to a straw building course which begins on May 7.

Between 10am and 7pm on April 11, Carol will be on hand to show members of the public round her first holiday cottage, which was built last year.

Entry to the open day costs £1 and the proceeds will be shared between Eastrington Village Hall and Howden School Rock Challenge Fund. For more information call Carol on 01430 410662 or e-mail carol@ homegrownhome.co.uk