Besides being strong and insulating, straw bale walls are surprisingly fireresistant, especially when fully plastered on all sides. The great enemy of straw bale construction is moisture, and much attention is devoted to proper design of the buildings hat and shoesi.e. roof and foundation. If properly designed, straw bale structures will last indefinitely in even the wettest climates. But proper drainage and flashing details are essential, as is the protection of the bales from rain before and during construction. The clay in earthen plasters has been discovered to have a preservative effect when used with straw. A quality plastering job is also necessary to prevent pest infestationwhich in any case tends not to be a major problem in straw bale buildings. Because it is such a new form of constructionand a popular onestraw bale building is in constant change (Magwood & Mack, 2000). New tools and techniques are developing each year, and debate rages about various aspects of construction and design among its builders. (For example, concerning the comparative merits or demerits of cement stucco and earthen plaster.) There seems to be little doubt, however, that straw bale construction is a building form of the future, and one that can easily be combined with other modes in hybrid systems.