Actually, straw bale houses are a very sturdy, environmental friendly solution. They can use wheat, rice, barley and rye straw. They are easier to heat in winter and easier to keep cool in summer. They use a waste product, straw, not to be confused with hay, which is typically burned causing air pollution. They hold up well in earthquakes, and contrary to 3 pigs stories, they are also bullet proof. When properly covered with stucco or cement they are quite fire resistant. Smaller houses can easily be framed with volunteer labor, and have potential in places with hurricanes and tornadoes both as emergency shelter and long term housing. Here are hundred of images of such houses, some completed and some under construction.
Some of those look pretty neat!
Let’s go another step and provide construction plan images....
The first one was built in Oz, if I remember correctly, by this scarecrow fella.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Straw+Bale+House+Plans&FORM=IRTRRL