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Living In A Mud & Clay Home Save Email Print
Posted: 6:45 PM Mar 17, 2008
Last Updated: 9:54 PM Mar 22, 2008
Reporter: Heidi Bohl
Email Address: heidi.bohl@weau.com

A | A | A

Wendy, a friend of Febe and Machel says to contact her if you'd like to help. Her email address is:
wendyofwinter@centurytel.net

Two women in Winter are living in a house made of nothing but clay and straw.

Now, the Sawyer County Zoning Department says the home, may be illegal.

Sawyer County Zoning Administrator Bill Christman, says no permits were issued when Febe Dancier and Machel Piper built their home.

He says the process has dragged out in court for almost 2 years.

But the women say they're not hurting anyone, they just want to live quietly and peacefully.

It's a lifestyle many people couldn't handle.

Everyday Machel Piper and Febe Dancier wake up in their clay and mud home.

A home, built with their own hands, and feet.

Machel Piper and Febe Dancier say, "We used sand clay and straw as a mixture. We combined it on a tarp and mixed it with our feet. Everything was done by hand."

After six months of grueling work, the women say the Zoning Department made a visit to evaluate the buildings on their land.

Zoning Administrator Bill Christman says, "It's something no one in our department has seen before and we're just very interested in what is done out there."

But, Christman says the home didn't meet state requirements.

No permits were issued.

And if they were, the women's septic systems weren't up to code compliance, and neither was the size of their home.

Bill Christman says, " The minimum size is 500 square feet. The building is probably less than 200 square feet."

Febe and Machel say the time needed to add square footage onto their home is unrealistic.

Febe Dancier and Machel Piper say, "If we did 175 square feet in one season, there's no way we could do another 325 in another season."

And they're worried their mud and straw home is going to be torn down.

But, they say they'll move on if need be.

Febe Dancier and Machel Piper say, "We tried this and if they want to knock it down, fine, I feel like we were successful and we achieved our goals."

And no matter what happens, the two say they're proud to live the way they do.

Febe Dancier and Machel Piper say, "The conscious is very clear living this way."

Christman says the department isn't ready to make a decision yet on what to do with the house.

He says that's several months down the road.

And it includes the Zoning Office, County Board of Supervisors, the County's Attorney and the Sheriff's Department.

Christman says it doesn't matter what type of material is used to build the house, as long as it's up to code.

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Posted by: Shonda H. Location: Southern Illinois on Apr 23, 2008 at 11:45 AM
i am very inspired by what these two women have done. I just ran across this article. I hope they still have their home. There is no reason to destroy their home.

Posted by: Kurt Location: Winter on Apr 3, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Continued from previous comment on Apr 2. There is also another camper that has been ILLEGALLY parked a mile or so from this area also on the same road. These campers were there all winter long and were reported. If these campers which do not meet size requirements, are there without a building permit, are allowed to remain as permenant structures, why can't these women live in thier MUD HOUSE if that is what they want to do. After all when they leave, the mud will go back into the ground and there will be little remnants that they were even there. When the owners of the campers leave the plastic, rubber, steel, and aluminum will remain for a very long time. I guess my point is that the zoning department should not be choosing what laws they want to enforce on whom. All these women should need is a holding tank with an outhouse if that is what they choose. I belive that the county needs to enforce the laws equally and that a this point these women are not getting a fair shake.

Posted by: Kurt Location: Winter on Apr 2, 2008 at 09:30 PM
I want to bring to everyones attention the Ordinance violations that have occurred all winter long on the very road that these women have their HOME. As we all remember a couple of years ago the Sawyer County Board made the townships pick between 5 camping options. The Townships of both Winter and Draper picked OPTION THREE, which very clearly reads that campers and recreational vehicles must be removed from vacant lots between Dec 1st and March 1. There is a camper that has been ILLEGALLY parked within two blocks of this home.

Posted by: Grace Location: Ojibwa on Mar 24, 2008 at 06:43 PM
What a powerful statement these two women are making. Peace, love and anarchy! I wish these two brave women all the success in the world.

Posted by: Wendy Location: Winter on Mar 20, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Contact me if you want to help --wendyofwinter at centurytel dot net -- come spring we could sure use a few extra hands and feet!

Posted by: Hans Location: Radisson on Mar 18, 2008 at 08:22 PM
Leave them alone. Your Cob House is great. would some extra hands help.

Posted by: Wendy Location: Winter on Mar 18, 2008 at 07:04 PM
These girls are incredible! Has anyone mentioned that Febe is deaf? It's my understanding that Sawyer County *WOULDN'T* (I repeat - WOULD NOT) issue a permit for their dwelling - regardless of its size - because there was no "precedent" in the County's records. Someday I'll be bringing my grandchildren there to tell them a wonderful story about two very brave women in a backwards world. I hope the County will rethink the situation because I had already promised Machel and Febe that I would help them build a Navajo-style hogan addition that would bring it up the square footage to code this summer - I'm looking forward very much to doing it. Even if the county huffs and puffs and blows their little house down.

Posted by: Jackie Location: Holmen on Mar 18, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Once again the government is sticking there nose in where it doesn't belong. Since when do you have to have minimum to build a house. We have people who have huge homes and are losing them because they over extended themselves. Do we bother the amish. I hope folks rather together and if the septic has to be up to code then raise some money. What about the old days. Put a outhouse in and have it pumped. The cabin that we had as kids only had an outhouse. Sounds like our freedom as US citizens aren't free anymore

Posted by: Jason Location: Spooner on Mar 18, 2008 at 01:30 PM
WOW,Thats awesome that all the comments are on the right side, we need to get together and help fight this, if anything help enlarge it to the 500 square feet witch is ridicoulous. Whats the point of living in the country anymore? LETS GET TOGTHER.

Posted by: Kristina Location: Cadott on Mar 18, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Leave them alone, they aren't hurting anyone. Another example of government in everyone's business. I think most of us are too worried about how nice our house is or how big it is!

Posted by: Sherri Location: Conrath on Mar 18, 2008 at 10:23 AM
How can we help these independent, strong young women? I'm sure alot of people would rally to help them build a bigger mud home if that's what's necessary. Please keep us updated on this story. I am sure that many people would rally to help them in their quest to live in harmony with the earth. These young women have my utmost respect. Could Sawyer county be clear on what these ladies need to do to continue living their dream and Sawyer county please give these ladies plenty of time to get 'up to code'. WEAU please update the public when Sawyer county makes a decision so that people who would like to help these ladies could help them get up to code. Thank you so much for this interesting story. In this world of greed, violence and outdoing the neighbors... it is refreshing to see 2 young women who just want to live quietly, peacefully and self-sufficiently. Again, what can I do to help these admirable women?

Posted by: Michelle Location: LaCrosse on Mar 18, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Why???? Why can we not leave people alone to live where and how they choose? Why do we attempt to condemn anything different from what we deem to be the perfect life style? Not everyone thinks utopia is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath house in the suburbs. Are they infringing on anyone rights? Leave them alone and concentrate on people and things that are a detriment to our society. Maybe we could learn something from these women?

Posted by: Meri Location: Bruce on Mar 18, 2008 at 07:28 AM
I think that if those women want to live in a straw and clay home that should be completely up to them. If there are no children involved and it is just them, who cares? I don't. Let them live the way they want.

Posted by: Steven Location: Barron on Mar 18, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Pathetic. Someone doesn't like a life style, and calls the County. Instead of putting the complaint on the bottom of the pile, you've got the zoning people, the Sheriff, the County Board and the County Attorney's Office wasting time checking out two women in a small home. Get a life. There are certainly more important things for all these agencies to tend to. Fine, have them dig a proper septic system and leave them alone. Unbelievable!

Posted by: Mathew Location: Chippewa Falls on Mar 18, 2008 at 12:07 AM
When will the government understand people in a free society should be allowed to live freely?

Posted by: sue Location: conrath on Mar 17, 2008 at 07:02 PM
WHat? The Winter Zoning board has nothing better to do than worry about two women in a mud hut? I cannot beleive Zoning is thinking of harrassing these two as thier home is not "big" enough!! If they want to live in a cardboard box, ITS THIER RIGHT! Who says they have to have 500 sq feet of living space. Winter: YOUR MISSING THIER POINT OF SELF SUFFICIENCY. THEY ARE HURTING NO ONE, AND ARE PROBABLY MORE AWARE OF THIER ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT THAN ANY OF US!!!!!!!!! WINTER ZONING BOARD:STOP NOW. I for one support the rights of these two women and thier homesteading efforts! Quit wasting money trying to find out "What goes on out there." DANG! Nosey neighbors!

Posted by: Debby Location: Winter on Mar 17, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Thank you for doing this story. I think the girls should be left alone. I wish there was some way to help them to stay where they are. There should be more wonderful people like this in the world and it would be a better place.

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