Bousillage

Bousillage, or bouzillage, is an earthen walling material comprised of a mixture of clay and retted or non-retted Spanish moss or grass that is indigenous to the the early 18th century French Vernacular architecture of Louisiana and few other Gulf Coast communities. The process of retting removed the pulpy outer covering of the moss and left only the wiry fiber. A moist retted moss and mud mixture was then built upon a series of wood bars (barreaux) or lath, securely rabbited between the posts of the building frame, which helped to hold the mixture in place. Bousillage, molded into bricks, was also used as infilling between posts; then called briquette-entre-poteaux. In either form, bousillage formed a solid mud wall that was plastered and then painted. Bousillage also formed a very effective insulation.