Underground Construction Techniques

W. W. Staley. 1962. Timbering and Support of Underground Workings for Small Mines. Bulletin No. 21, Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology. ID, US. Available from idahogeology.org/pub/Bulletins/B-21.pdf.


Mike Oehler. 1983. The Low Cost Underground House Workshop. Video Series. Mole Publishing Co., ID, US. Available from permies.com.


Mike Oehler. 1997. The Fifty Dollar and Up Underground House Book. Mole Publishing Co., ID, US. ISBN 0-442-27311-8. Available from undergroundhousing.com (paper) or permies.com (digital).


Mike Oehler. 2007. The Earth-Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book. Mole Publishing Co., ID, US. ISBN 9780960446407. Available from undergroundhousing.com (paper) or permies.com (digital).



  • Evaluate the extent to which a compost tea 'reticulation' system can be used to accelerate the growth of both fungus and grass roots on the earthen roof to accelerate its stabilisation
  • Use Mechanically-stabilised Earth on the immediate outsides of the wall shoring
  • Use cold wells as emergency water drains to provide 'surge capacity' during heavy rains (on top of their passive warming during winter)
  • Bury, say, IBC tanks under the decking of the bottom-most 'uphill patio' level for capture more water
  • Inside, use mechanically-raisable cylindrical 'racking' to provide more accessible cold-storage for food (e.g. a bit like this excerpt from Dirksen (2019))
  • Last modified: 2022-03-24 08:00
  • by Peter