free alternative earthbags

First of all I'd like say hello this is my first post. Now to the point of this post.
I don't know much about Earthbags but to me they are essentially sand bags filled with dirt and stacked on top of each other then covered in a layer of adobe or plaster of some kind .
If this is true then would a bigger bag work just as well? You see, I work in a steel foundry in iowa and we receive large bags filled with silica sand all the time. These bags are about 3 1/2 feet tall and three feet wide and three feet thick when filled with sand. they are strong enough to support 3000 lbs on average. Perhaps you could use them for the bottom portion of the wall atleast? Normally my company just throws these in the dumpster but I think if someone could build there home with these then I would be happy to liberatre them from the dumpster.  What do you all think?
Sorry for the long message I'm not one for short text messages either.

I think they would be great!  And if I actually had some land to build on I'd drive over there and help you liberate them!

That size bag holds about one ton of soil.  It might be good for foundation work, but would need to be filled at the place where it would be used.  Most bags used for earthbag construction range in the 16-20 by 24-30 inch size and are about 5-6 inches thick when filled and tamped. 

If I were to use those bags, I would use them on the lowest levels and fill them with gravel to form the foundation, then use a smaller bag to make the rest of the wall.

You might want to check out this blog and the associated site, as it is full of good earthbag building information:  http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/

Foundation is what I thought of too. I thought that most earthbags were filled within like 5 feet of the structure so there wouldn't be a need to move them. I am not planning on using these so if any one else would like to try it we may be able to work something out (trade for books) or you could ceck your local foundry, most areas have at least a pattern shop that may use these bags also, and see if they would like to donate to community sponsered recycling program or something. I thought that since these are so big, that ten of these would elimanate the need for 100 bags or so.

They would make a great retaining wall.

Can I have you send me one?

Sure I could send you one or two. message me on here or send me an email with your address . I would diffently like to find some use for these. I checked out your website and you are quite gifted I love how you mix art with architecture. Great job.

Cool,  I'm happy to repay you for shipping for a few or later maybe a bunch of these.

Thank you for the compliment 

I Love the idea of those big bags you have.
Have you thought of offering them to all those who are building with earth bags/ cob? It could be a lilltle business for you! Hope you have some space to store them.  I want to build with earth and studied with the "inventor" of the earthbag house www.calearth.org.
Please let us know the price you want plus shipping.
I'm sure there are others who would be interested, post that you have them on all the community, permaculture and related sites.  there you go...a business!

      Steel grade silica is something you definitely don't want to make a permanent part of your lungs. Everybody please wear a good quality asbestos grade mask. Even for regular dry clay and other earthen materials a good mask is advisable. Otherwise this is a great idea and more power to you.