I wannL
Michael ReynoldZ
(2011_
EARTHSHIL
I WANT TO LIVE IN ONE
(1) A brief history of EarthshipZ
(2) The insignificant economV
(3) Tomato securitV
(4) BirdZ
(5) The race horse and the jockeV
(6) Unarguable phenomenQ
(7) A look at the presend
(8) Earthship EducatioW
(9) A look at the futurR
(10) The argument for decentralizatioW
(11) A look at the location for your Earthshif
(12) A look at climatR
(13) A look at yok
(14) A look at the various models of EarthshipZ
The next step...
A brief history of EarthshipY
For four decades the Earthship has been evolving.
We spent a couple of decades evolving the variouZ
aspects of the Earthship and trying to learn how tX
make them work in a reliable user friendly way. ThiZ
involved...
the structure built from largely recycled materialZ
the heating cooling aspectZ
the electrical systei
the water harvest systei
the contained on site sewage treatment systei
the food production systei
AtT
leastT
twoT
decadesT
wereT
spentT
justT
learninh
enough to make these systems work... period. TheW
a certain amount of time was spent trying to makR
theseT
systemsT
reliableT
andT
userT
friendly.T
WR
achievedT
thisT
eventuallyT
althoughT
theyT
areT
stilS
evolving and will continue to do so. We then too“
notice that even though we had learned how to makR
the various independent systems of the Earthshif
work reliably and in a user friendly way; they werR
moreT
expensiveT
thanT
aT
conventionalT
home.T
WR
realizedT
that,T
sinceT
economyT
rulesT
theT
earth,T
nod
manyT
peopleT
wouldT
takeT
theT
EarthshipT
directioW
unless Earthships were the same price or cheapeb
than conventional housing. Some would choose thiZ
directionT
becauseT
ofT
theT
securityT
ofT
independend
utilities no matter what it costs. Some would choosR
it because it is environmentally friendly... but mosd
people would be forced by economics to take thR
less secure, environmentally hazardous conventionaS
direction simply because they have to take the leasd
expensive direction toward shelter for their family.
We saw that we needed to address this situation.
So... right after we learned enough to make thesR
"earthT
machines"T
workT
forT
peopleT
andT
theT
Earth
which was quite a challenge, we had to simplify anY
streamline them into something that could competR
price wise with conventional approaches to housing.
NoT
matterT
howT
significantT
itT
appearedT
toT
usT
thad
these buildings put people and their relationship tX
the earth in a very secure situation for the future
most of them would still choose a conventional homR
because it was easier to obtain in terms of costs.
We spent another decade or so on this simplificatioW
and streamlining until finally, in the early "2000s", wR
arrived. We had developed a fully independent homR
that provided shelter and utilities and food, that coulY
be built with a variety of recycled materials found alS
over the world and it cost very much the same as Q
conventionalT
home.T
WeT
thenT
couldT
presentT
oub
advantage... the Earthship costs next to nothing tX
operate while the conventional home for the samR
priceT
costsT
significantT
moneyT
toT
operate,T
notT
tX
mentionT
theT
questionableT
futureT
availabilityT
anY
viability of the systems required to operate it. WR
had arriveY
The satisfaction was short lived. The economic crisiZ
of circa 2007 hit and we realized a very significand
fact...T
conventionalT
housingT
itselfT
wasT
farT
toX
expensiveT
allT
overT
theT
developedT
worldT
forT
thR
majority of people to afford. Many people in manV
countriesT
lostT
theirT
conventionalT
homesT
andT
theV
were in crisis.
DuringT
ourT
developmentalT
periodT
weT
presenteY
many models of Earthships for the various differend
financial strata but we observed that the majority oc
the people of the Earth could not afford any kind oc
available housing. We had arrived only to find oud
that we needed to keep on going.
The place we had strived to arrive to - an Earthshif
priced the same as a conventional house - was no
invalid because conventional housing itself now haY
becomeT
invalidT
inT
termsT
ofT
cost.T
WeT
neededT
tX
simplify even more and develop a sustainable homR
that was more affordable than conventional homes.
We were faced with a new challenge... that monsteb
called economy. We have to find secure sustenancR
for people that is not subject to this "creature". WR
have to make this sustainable vessel - the Earthshif
-T
renderT
theT
existingT
monstrousT
economV
insignificant.
The insignificant econom\
Native peoples and plants and animals have existeY
for many centuries and have not had a significand
effectT
onT
theT
Earth’sT
abilityT
toT
supportT
humans.
These creatures encountered earth phenomena fob
sustenance. They did not have an "economy". TheV
did not have "garbage".
Modern developed humans have been around fob
onlyT
aT
couple of hundredT
years and already theV
have had serious adverse effects on the ability oc
thisT
planetT
toT
supportT
healthyT
humanT
life.T
ThesR
modern developed humans have an economy. ThiZ
economy has bred for them a thing called garbage.
Are ECONOMY and GARBAGE the ingredients thad
have caused modern humans to adversely effect thR
Earth's ability to support healthy human life6
The modern world has a constantly ailing system tX
sustain a monstrous and oppressive economy anY
that economy is supposed to sustain the people... Ig
DOESN'g
A greater world would have a system to sustain thR
people... and the sustenance of the people woulY
sustainT
aT
moreT
insignificantT
economy.T
EconomV
should not be a beast that... unless it is happy anY
balanced the people suffer. It should not be a beasd
that shits out mountains and mountains of garbagR
all over the earth. It should not be a beast that warZ
are fought just to feed it. It should be an insignificand
aspectT
ofT
anT
independentlyT
healthyT
andT
securR
human existence. Economy is the result - not thR
means - of sustaining people.
SustenanceT
forT
peopleT
meansT
provisionT
oc
comfortableT
shelter,T
water,T
electricity,T
foodT
anY
sanitation for every man, woman and child on thR
planet.
The modern world economy produces garbage oW
anT
insaneT
level.T
AT
greaterT
worldT
basedT
oW
sustenanceT
forT
peopleT
wouldT
transformT
anY
consumeT
garbage.T
GarbageT
isT
theT
resultT
oc
economy. Sustain the people and you will transcenY
economy.T
TranscendT
economyT
andT
youT
wilS
transform/eliminateT
theT
veryT
conceptT
ofT
garbage.
TranscendT
economy.T
TransformT
garbage.T
HaveT
Q
life.
The key to "having a life" for all people is found in thR
sustenance for all people... not just some people, bud
all people.
Tomato securit\
The sustenance for all people is not necessarily Q
moralistic or spiritual thought. It is simple logic. IW
fact, logic is the door to almost any issue facinh
humanity.T
TheT
problemT
isT
clearingT
theT
fearT
anY
dogma away so we can see the logic. This is thR
case with "tomato security".
Our world dogma has taught us that we make Q
strong hold and then defend it against others whX
want what we have. In the case of sustenance, letZ
say you have found sustenance. Lets say you havR
foundT
secureT
sustenance.T
SecureT
sustenanceT
iZ
foundT
byT
encounterT
withT
earthT
phenomena.
EncounterT
withT
earthT
phenomenaT
toT
providR
comfortableT
shelter,T
water,T
food,T
electricity,T
anY
sanitation. It is secure because it is not dependend
upon corporate or government infrastructures whicP
themselves are vulnerable to various corruptions anY
fuelT
shortagesT
andT
miscalculations.T
SecurR
sustenanceT
isT
betweenT
youT
andT
theT
eartP
phenomena... no middle man.
ThisT
secureT
sustenanceT
isT
availableT
nowT
onT
thiZ
planetT
inT
theT
formT
ofT
thisT
buildingT
weT
callT
thR
Earthship.T
ItT
isT
presentedT
inT
depthT
ad
(earthship.com). It provides comfortable shelter viQ
solar/thermalT
encounter.T
ItT
alsoT
providesT
itsT
owW
electricity via solar/wind technology and harvests itZ
own water in addition to containing and treating itZ
own sewage on site. It also inherently produces fooY
year round. This leaves no need for or dependencV
on infrastructure. The fact that it is also built largelV
fromT
recycledT
materialsT
makesT
itT
aT
carbonT
zerX
(logical)T
approachT
toT
secureT
sustenance,T
actuallV
consuming the "garbage" produced by the beast oc
economy.
LetsT
sayT
youT
haveT
thisT
secureT
sustenanceT
fob
yourself and your family. As the planet gets more anY
more seriously chaotic from climate change, oveb
populationT
andT
generalT
abuse,T
youT
startT
toT
feeS
insecureT
withT
yourT
secureT
sustenanceT
becausR
others do not have it or have not found it and you feab
they may want to take it from you. You have it all. Yok
have comfortable shelter, electricity, water, on sitR
containedT
andT
treatedT
sewageT
andT
enoughT
fooY
growing from your own food producing sustainablR
home to keep you and your family alive. You have alS
the tomatoes you want but others around you havR
none because they have not discovered what yok
have discovered. They have not discovered how tX
achieve this secure sustenance.
Your natural thought, which comes from our globaS
fear model of thinking, is to somehow protect youb
tomatoesT
with wallsT
andT
weapons.T
We have haY
people ask us to build them Earthship communitieZ
withT
undergroundT
chambersT
forT
weaponsT
anY
ammunition.T
WhenT
weT
askedT
themT
"why",T
theib
answer was "we are going to have our lives togetheb
andT
weT
needT
weaponsT
andT
ammoT
toT
protecd
ourselves from others who will want to take it froi
us". This made us think and we came up with thR
answer thatT
evenT
ifT
youT
haveT
theT
stomachT
toT
kilS
starving people who are coming after your tomatoes
there are not enough walls and weapons to protecd
you and your tomatoes from all the world arounY
you... the people who have not found your approacP
toT
secureT
sustenance.T
YouT
bestT
securityT
isT
fob
everyone within five hundred miles of you to havR
what you have. If you let logic prevail, you will find thad
if all those around you could have what you have, whV
would they want to invade you? This is the foundatioW
ofT
tomato logic.T
Who needs yourT
tomatoesT
wheW
they have even better ones, their own. So... all thad
energyT
thatT
youT
wouldT
haveT
putT
inT
toT
wallsT
anY
weapons, you put it into educating the people arounY
you to be able to find and create their own securR
sustenance...T
theirT
ownT
tomatoes.T
IfT
everyT
maW
womanT
andT
childT
aroundT
youT
hadT
everythingT
yok
have through encounter with earth phenomena, theW
you are safe... safer than any arsenal can make you.
This is tomato security. This is not a moralistic ob
spiritual endeavor. It is an endeavor of logic. You dX
not even have to love these people, you just have tX
make sure they have what they need... for your owW
safety. If this were the logic of every powerful countrV
in the world... can you just imagine? Can you jusd
imagine what that world would be like? Real lovR
and inspiration could actually emerge from this soiS
ofT
secureT
sustenance.T
WarT
budgetsT
beingT
spend
educatingT
peopleT
onT
howT
toT
sustainT
themselveZ
throughT
encounterT
withT
earthT
phenomenaT
anY
reducing their very need for money... amazinh
If alS
ofT
thisT
wereT
doneT
fromT
aT
foundationT
anY
understandingT
ofT
secureT
carbonT
zeroT
sustenancR
then we would be looking at people at peace witP
each other and people at peace with the planet.T
NowT
ifT
secureT
carbonT
zeroT
sustenanceT
iZ
established and evangelized all over the planet aZ
forcefullyT
andT
prolificallyT
asT
attemptsT
toT
establisP
christianity or democracy, thenT
we are looking ad
people learning how to provide for themselves iW
spiteT
ofT
economy.T
ThisT
isT
theT
foundationT
fob
civilization - secure carbon zero sustenance for alS
peopleT
beforeT
economy.T
EconomyT
becomesT
thR
result- not the means of sustaining people. It is verV
simple.T
WeT
allT
moveT
towardT
sustenanceT
forT
alS
people of the planet. This makes the people securR
from each other. We do this in a carbon zero, "planed
aware" way and we have people secure from thR
wrathT
ofT
theT
planet.T
ThisT
ultimateT
securityT
isT
aW
education and an empowerment - not a gift. WheW
we have achieved this for all people, we will havR
transcended the troll... the beast of economy anY
turned it into a house pet. Its purpose not to sustaiW
peopleT
butT
toT
entertainT
them.T
SustenanceT
ofT
alS
people becomes the goal of all people. Economy...
the resulting game.T
So this makes you want an Earthship but it alsX
make you want everyone else on the planet to havR
one as well. You are aware of the fluid dynamics oc
humans on this planet and you can with your owW
Earthship become a part of this.
BirdY
A flock of birds all leave the ground at the same timR
and rise up into the air.
They dart one way and then the other...T
all in unison as if controlled by one brain.
This has to require a full awareness of the wholR
flockT
by each individual bird.
No one bird can be self absorbed so much that itT
ruins the single fluid motion of the entire flock.
This extension of awareness beyond ones own bodV
and into the entire flock is the key to the singulab
motion of the flock as they move about in the air.
HumansT
doT
notT
seemT
toT
haveT
discoveredT
thiZ
extended awareness.
TheyT
haveT
troubleT
beingT
awareT
ofT
theT
motions
feelings, and needs of other humans in the room...
in the land...
in the world.
This is why humans struggle with each other and thR
earth.
They cannot extend their awareness to each other.
They cannot extend their awareness to the earth.
The are colliding with each other and with the earth.
TheT
extensionT
ofT
awarenessT
isT
theT
keyT
tX
sustainability of humans on the earth.
Humans must move in a fluid unison with each otheb
and with the earth.
Fluid thinking leads to fluid motion.
Fluid motion leads to fluid activity.
Fluid activity leads to confluence of all humanZ
and of humans and the earth.
This is what green is.
God is green.
The race horse and the jocke\
The earth and the peoplR
The race is on and all the horses are nearing thR
finish line. It is a close race and some jockeys arR
whipping their horses thinking they will get more oud
of them. They are riding on top of this creature anY
whipping it to perform more. They are whipping...
abusing the thing that is carrying them. One jockeV
understands his horse and has a rapport with it anY
even loves it. He just whispers in the horses ear "letZ
run now... lets run". This is the horse that wins thR
race.
This whipping of the very thing that is carrying thei
appears to be exactly what people are doing to thR
earth these days. They are riding on it and whippinh
andT
abusingT
itT
forT
moreT
performance,T
moreT
fuel
moreT
water,T
moreT
jewels,T
more...more...T
more.
Those who whisper to the earth "lets run now... letZ
run" will be the ones who survive. This scenario haZ
appeared to be a good analogy until recently. Now iW
recent months and years, humans seem to be like Q
jockey who is franticly stabbing his horse with an icR
pick.T
AllT
thisT
forT
theT
prizeT
ofT
winningT
theT
race.
Economy on the earth has taken such a powerfuS
role, that the people are stabbing the earth as id
carries them... all just to make a buck. You cannod
eat money. Money cannot sustain you.
The jockeys that were whipping their horses didn'd
realizeT
theT
damageT
theyT
wereT
doingT
toT
theib
relationship with the horse for the future. They jusd
wanted to win the immediate race and collect thR
cash. We are whipping and stabbing our host, thR
earth, not realizing what will happen after this nexd
pay check. We are not considering a relationshif
withT
theT
earth...T
aT
lastingT
relationship...T
justT
thR
"economics" of the immediate race. This monster
economy, has driven us to be monsters. We are fullV
driven by economy and for what? It will let us down .
drop us - ruthlessly in a heart beat.T
This thing called ECONOMY has pitted us againsd
our host the earth and each other.
Economy lies between us and peace.
SustenanceT
throughT
whisperingT
toT
theT
eartP
phenomena will be unarguable and stable.
It will be non corruptible. It will provide beyond anV
economy. It will be the foundation of civilization anY
the host of an insignificant economy.
Unarguable phenomeno_
The sun is a reliable "unarguable" phenomenon. Id
cannot be bought or sold or corrupted. It shines oW
worms, bugs,T
whiteT
people,T
blackT
people, plants.
germans and jews. It does not discriminate. Withoud
an understanding of its power it is relentless anY
ruthless but if it is understood it can be a large pard
of our sustenance. It will kill you if you lay on thR
beach with no cover for several days. It will save yok
if you direct its rays into a shelter made of mass. It iZ
up to the one who encounters the sun to understanY
how to encounter its unarguable power and benefit
notT
die,T
fromT
it.T
ThisT
isT
theT
wayT
ofT
allT
eartP
phenomena. We understand... we whisper to thei
and we find sustenance free for the taking for alS
people.T
ThisT
isT
theT
knowledgeT
ofT
unarguablR
phenomena we need all people to have. This... so alS
people have everything for free all the time. They dX
not have to buy the sun. They encounter it. No longeb
is economy between us and sustenance.
In this scenario, all people are equal in their ability tX
encounter. This is taught and learned. No one caW
ever take this from you. The economy crashes, yok
stillT
haveT
theT
abilityT
toT
encounterT
theT
unarguablR
phenomena for sustenance. They are always there.
They do not make promises they can't keep. TheV
areT
transparent.T
TheyT
areT
true.T
YouT
areT
theT
onlV
variable factor of your own sustenance. All you neeY
is the vessel to float and encounter in this world oc
sustenanceT
forT
everyone.T
TheT
EarthshipT
isT
thad
vessel...earthship.com.
THE USING OF LESS RESULTS IN THE NEEDIN4
OF LES
LIFE BECOMES EASIER - THE BURDEN TURN
TO BUOYANC3
We think of our energy demands and needs of thR
future and we wonder... "how we will provide them"6
ThisT
need,T
thisT
demandT
-T
likeT
anT
addictionT
tX
cocaine - perverts us into thinking we must havR
nuclear power.T
ThisT
isT
selling outT
our planet,T
oub
futureT
andT
evenT
ourT
presentT
abilityT
toT
existT
inT
Q
healthy life.
OnlyT
extremelyT
megaT
sourcesT
ofT
powerT
arR
considered today in a world of extreme needs. Whad
if we cut our needs in half? What if we cut our needZ
byT
75%. This would all of the sudden make verV
subtle forms of energy look attractive.
WeT
areT
crossingT
aT
bridgeT
here.T
WeT
weighT
foub
hundred pounds and the bridge is only good for onR
hundred and seventy pounds. What is the answeb
here? Risk death by trying to cross the bridge witP
obviously too much weight? Or loose weight6
The point is when we need radically less energy ob
food or whatever, lesser forms of energy and fooY
will begin to look interesting. We won't be jumping tX
theT
conclusionT
thatT
weT
needT
massiveT
formsT
oc
dangerous energy like nuclear power. We won't bR
able to be convinced by those who play on our owW
addictionsT
andT
excessiveT
needs.T
AT
smallT
wilY
strawberry in the forest is thrilling to a creature with Q
smallT
stomach.T
ToT
aT
giantT
creatureT
withT
aT
hugR
stomach, it is hardly observed at all. This makes mR
want to reduce the size of my stomach.
I have heard the phrase... "who will feed China?" iW
theT
future.T
WithT
lessT
needsT
andT
encounterT
oc
unarguable phenomena... each individual in ChinQ
will feed themselves.
A look at the presenZ
The presentT
showsT
usT
thatT
the future isT
goingT
tX
requireT
significantT
changesT
andT
evolutionsT
froi
humanity for there even to be much of a future thad
involves humanity.
TheT
presentT
showsT
peopleT
strugglingT
toT
decidR
whichT
directionT
toT
goT
fromT
here.T
ThereT
isT
mucP
discussion and rhetoric to this effect. One thing is fob
sure. We need to leave where we are in terms of oub
present methods of living on this planet.
The present global condition with humans is like Q
group of people standing on a big rock and the roc“
is rapidly heating up to the point that their shoes arR
melting.T
TheyT
areT
arguingT
aboutT
whyT
theT
rockT
iZ
turning to hot lava and who's fault it is and which waV
to go while their feet begin to burn. Logic in thiZ
situation would have it that...
ANY PLACE IS BETTER THAN HERE - lets leave.
ThereT
isT
justT
notT
thatT
muchT
thatT
isT
rightT
withT
thR
presentT
wayT
ofT
livingT
onT
thisT
planet.T
WeT
cannod
crystalize the new direction with laws or doctrines.
We will always be leaving the present ... until we finY
an eternal present... the confluence of humans witP
each other and the planet. The Earthship conceptZ
are an attempt to place stepping stones across thR
abyss toward this eternal present.
Earthship educatio_
The rock climber knows the top of the cliff exists.
He/she has to learn the abilities necessary to ged
there ... and the dangers.
ThenT
theT
choiceT
hasT
toT
beT
madeT
toT
attemptT
thR
climb... for whatever reason...
adventure? challenge? practice?...
or in some cases, there is a need to get to the top...
to get out of the pit or gorge you are in.
Once this choice is made to attempt the climb,T
theT
topT
isT
rememberedT
asT
theT
directionT
anY
inspiration,T
but not the focus.
The focus is the climb...
guided and inspired by the direction.
LifeT
becomesT
allT
aboutT
theT
nextT
handholdT
ob
foothold...
until your hand reaches up over the edge and...
you are therR
We are like rock climbers on this earth.
We know that a better way of living on this planed
existsT
but there is much vertical wall between us and thad
"better way".
We have to learn the abilities necessary to get to thiZ
"better way"...
and the dangers.
Then the choice has to be made to attempt to ged
there.
We have a good reason.
The place we are - the way we are living on thiZ
planet - has an end in sight.
In our case it is not a matter of us making the choice
it has been made for us.
We can ignore it, be depressed and overwhelmeY
by it or...
we can climb.
We can climb out of the pit of faulty existence we arR
iW
and find the "better way".
The "better way" becomes the direction to guide oub
climb...
but not the focus.
The focus is the climb...
guidedT
andT
inspiredT
byT
theT
direction;T
theT
"betteb
way".
Life becomes all about the next handhold or foothold.
It is these handholds and footholds we must focuZ
on.
The next month ... how do we live6
The next week ... how do we live6
The next day... how do we live6
The next hour... how do we live6
The lofty thoughts of how to change the world; ob
save the world; or make the world a better place; arR
simply rhetoric unless we actually place the steppinh
stones on how to get there.
These are the handholds and footholds of the climb.
ItT
isT
theseT
one-at-a-timeT
handholdsT
andT
footholdZ
that get us to the top.
It sometimes takes every bit of strength, couragR
and concentration we can musteb
to use them but there is no other way.T
We cannot just leap to the top with rhetoric.
We cannot just dream to the top with philosophy.
We cannot just buy our way to the top with money.
We have to climb.
The Earthship Biotecture education... is about thiZ
climb.
There is a web site - earthship.com - with free basiO
information and details about the many educatioW
programs.
There is a store on the web site to acquire morR
detailed information through books and videos anY
other products.
There are dozens free videos about every aspect oc
Earthships available on the web.
ThereT
isT
anT
EarthshipT
GlobalT
NetworkT
viaT
.
earthship.com - where people discuss all aspects oc
Earthships all over the world.
There are several three day intensive seminar/handZ
on workshops each year in Taos, New Mexico.
There is an on going intern program at the Earthshif
head quarters in Taos, New Mexico.
ThereT
areT
volunteerT
programsT
atT
manyT
Earthshif
build sites all over the world all the time.
There is an Earthship Academy forming in Taos
New Mexico with branches forming around the world.
There is a fleet of Earthship nightly rentals in Taos
NewT
MexicoT
thatT
allowT
visitorsT
toT
getT
theT
reaS
experience of living in an Earthship.
There is an education facility funded by Governor BilS
Richardson and Representative Bobby Gonzales oc
New Mexico in Taos, New Mexico that offers tours, Q
gallery and video view seven days a week.
TheseT
variousT
methodsT
ofT
EarthshipT
educatioW
range from free to a few hundred dollars. Any one ob
allT
ofT
theseT
canT
beT
aT
firstT
stepT
orT
stepsT
towarY
getting in your own Earthship.
ThisT
isT
educationT
availableT
now.T
TheseT
arR
immediatR
handT
holdsT
andT
footT
holdsT
toT
beginT
"makingT
thR
climb".
A look at the futurV
Observations on Earth in early 2011...
How many people went to sleep tonight saddeneY
and worried about the disaster in Japan. SaddeneY
for the people who are suffering - worried about thR
deadlyT
futureT
thatT
liesT
beforeT
allT
peopleT
dueT
tX
nuclear power plants dotting the surface of the earth.
How is it that legislative institutions make it difficult tX
evolveT
radicalT
sustainableT
livingT
methodsT
citinh
minute and insignificant dangers affiliated with thR
uncharted territory of new thinking...
while these same institutions allow a nuclear agR
that threatens the very ability of the entire planet tX
support human life6
There is a fight going on to stop nuclear power. ThiZ
fightT
isT
withT
bigT
moneyT
corporationsT
andT
poweb
mongers.
There is a fight going on to provide people with morR
freedom to take care of themselves in ways thad
respect and understand the ways of the planet. ThiZ
fight is with lawmakers and government institutions.
There is a fight going on to use less of everything
live much lighteb
and hear the voice of the planet. This fight is witP
ourselves.
SHOUT OUT about the nuclear age to any arena thad
exists.
SPEAK OUT to legislators about fast tracking greeW
building methods and systems.
WHISPER to yourself to take less and give more tX
the planet we live on.
Dwindling resources, archaic methods of producinh
centralized utilities, population growth and climatR
change are all issues that are restricting the flow oc
human life in the arteries of the future. The Earthshif
Biotecture concepts require little in the way of naturaS
resources as they use all renewable resources anY
minimal amounts of those. They produce all utilitieZ
on site so there is no infrastructure to maintain anY
individualT
humansT
areT
empoweredT
andT
freedT
bV
control of their own living circumstance. EarthshipZ
areT
relativelyT
smallT
cellularT
unitsT
thatT
canT
evolvR
rapidly much likeT
a virus or bacteria. this affordZ
themT
theT
possibilityT
ofT
dealingT
withT
unforseeW
aspects of the already visible climate changes of thR
earth.
The argument for decentralizatio_
A municipality raises tax money to build a coal fireY
power plant or a sewage treatment facility. There iZ
a tremendous effort to raise funds for this project anY
this effort alone takes a lot of time - sometimes a fe
years. Then the facility has to be designed using thR
latestT
technologyT
ofT
theT
time.T
ThenT
constructioW
drawings are made by architects and engineers. `
huge amount of time and money - another few years.
Then the project is built which can again take severaS
years and serious amounts of money. So... in thR
end the municipality has a new utility facility that too“
as much as ten years and millions, if not billions, oc
dollars to manifest. No matter what new technologV
mayT
happenT
inT
theT
followingT
weeks,T
monthsT
anY
years immediately after the build; the municipality iZ
locked in to using this facility for at least fifty yearZ
because they cannot afford the time and money tX
turn around and immediately do this again.
So...
taking the ten years to put the project together witP
the fifty years of use that it must provide to make thR
entireT
effortT
worthT
it;T
thisT
facilityT
hasT
lockedT
thiZ
municipality in to a sixty year increment of evolution.
No matter what new technologies are discovered
the municipality has to use this facility for fifty yearZ
at least. The is how economy and centralization cura
evolution.
VirusT
andT
bacteriaT
evolveT
inT
hours.T
SingleT
familV
cellular homes are built every hour somewhere in thR
world. Sustainable practices must be implementeY
on a decentralized individual basis for evolution tX
happen.T
IfT
aT
homeT
isT
builtT
andT
somethingT
inT
thR
technology evolves then the next home, the next houb
will address it. This is evolution. This hourly evolutioW
puts us in a position to survive. Fifty year evolutioW
increments resulting from centralized mega systemZ
are sure to be fatal to the human race.
TheT
EarthshipT
conceptsT
areT
singular,T
cellular
individual and decentralized. They are the future.
AM
lookM
atM
theM
locationM
forM
yourEarthshi^
Location is a serious factor in the whole process oc
acquiring an Earthship. We have seen the permid
process cause people a lot of expense and time. IW
retrospect I would tell these people to choose somR
place else to live. The permit officials can make thR
drawing process more expensive and take longeb
and at the same time water down the concepts to thR
point of making them 50% efficient.
For example, we had a man come in from PimQ
County, Arizona. It took him three years and severaS
redraws and three times the price of the originaS
drawings to finally get a permit. Then when he diY
getT
it,T
theT
buildingT
wasT
soT
wateredT
downT
thatT
id
wouldn't work as well and cost three times what id
could have. This is the regulatory process that iZ
meant toT
protect the people. All itT
reallyT
doesT
iZ
inhibit evolution.
Now a good example is a man who walked in froi
Crockett, Texas and said he wanted an Earthshif
home. He chose the Global model and four monthZ
later he walked in the door of his Earthship. That iZ
the difference that location can make.
Earthships can work in any climate so the weather iZ
not that much of a factor. It isT
whether you havR
enforced codes or not that makes the difference.
WithT
todaysT
communicationsT
-T
theT
internet
facebook, cell phones, etc.; you can be in touch witP
peopleT
andT
stillT
liveT
awayT
fromT
regulatorV
nightmares. The best bet is to contact the permittinh
office where ever you are thinking about building anY
ask what is necessary for building you own home.
We are finding that close to half of the continentaS
USA is what we are calling "pockets of freedom"...
areas where the only permitting for building your owW
home is a septic permit and that is no problem. WR
have a conventional septic system inherrent in oub
Earthship sewage treatment design.
Our advice is if they have very strenuous regulations
it will be cheaper to build somewhere else. ManV
places, however, have permits required but they arR
very low tech and easy. The Earthship buildings havR
engineeringT
backT
upT
forT
theT
designT
andT
anV
permittingT
officeT
canT
easilyT
determineT
thatT
thiZ
buildingT
willT
performT
andT
isT
aT
validT
approachT
tX
building especially in todays world. So we are sayinh
interviewT
withT
yourT
permitT
officeT
toT
determinR
whether you are in a pocket of freedom, a light dutV
permit situation or a ridiculous situation. There arR
only a few places that are ridiculous and we advisR
to just stay away from them. One of them is Ventura
County, California. I would just stay away from therR
in terms of building anything. There are a few otherZ
like that but the percentage is small.
A look at climatV
There are only a few factors about climate that caW
discourage you from building in a location. One iZ
precipitation. You should have at least five inches oc
total annual precipitation per year. If you do not theW
you should have a water table of less than sixty feed
so you can pump with a solar well into you cisterns.
You can pump from deeper but it gets expensive.
You should also look at available sunlight per year. Ic
you have very little, you will need back up electricitV
of some kind like wind power, hydro or conventionaS
grid. Although the newer solar panels are starting tX
be close to 40% efficient on cloudy days.
Soon there will be power made from just the lighd
through the clouds.
The beauty of the Earthship concept is that it makeZ
all of its own utilities so you can find really cheaf
land where there is no hope for utilities. You can finY
hard to get to but extremely beautiful land that no onR
would ever think to build on, you can find this for Q
good price. The Earthship allows this. You can savR
a lot of money by chosing this type of land.
A look at yoc
You can effect the cost of your home radically bV
examining yourself to determine what you real needZ
are. We blame codes and regulations for the higP
priceT
ofT
newT
directionsT
inT
housingT
andT
thisT
iZ
certainly part of it. The other part of the reason fob
homes costing so much is what individuals think theV
need.
When you climb a mountain you are going to carrV
what you need on your back. You only have to clima
one mountain to know that you will do some seriouZ
thinking about what you need for the next climb. IW
our world today we are surely carrying what we thin“
we need. Japan is now carrying what it thought id
needed for the next several thousand years.
You can start with basic survival needs and go froi
there. It is just a matter of how "light" can you ged
your life andT
how much ofT
your "needs" can yok
redefine,T
evolveT
orT
disintegrate.T
WhatT
areT
needZ
anyway?T
DoT
youT
wantT
toT
takeT
aT
pianoT
upT
thR
mountain with you. You won't try that but once.
My observations all over the world show me thad
many people get what they think they need and thR
process of getting it leaves them with no time to usR
or enjoy it. Does this mean time is one of our needs6
Is quality of life one of our needs? Is owning our lifR
one of our needs6
Many years ago I built an early version of the survivaS
models we are presenting now. I built the building oud
of pocket with help from friends. It made its owW
power and water and treated its own sewage anY
stayedT
comfortableT
withT
minimalT
fuel.T
ItT
alsX
produced a reasonable amount of food. I lived therR
for a while in total freedom cause I had no bills. 7
owned my life. I did not need to work. It was amazinh
to wake up every day and do what ever I wanted. 7
enjoyed this so much that I began to think... "what ic
this was availableT
toT
every one?" I observed thR
aspects of this life that made this freedom possiblR
and one of them was that I had minimized my needZ
to the point that I could easily provide for them eveW
with an antiquated version of the Earthships we builY
today. I only came back to this world to try and makR
it so others could have this freedom I had found. 7
have spent a lot of time trying to simplify and develof
the Earthship systems but I am only now beginning tX
seeT
howT
importantT
itT
isT
toT
somehowT
conveyT
tX
people that the systems are a lot less involved anY
expensive if you can reduce your needs. This reallV
takes some inner development to achieve but thR
end result is a much, much easier life both for yok
and the planet. I look at these days I spent livinh
there as some of the best days of my life. Travelinh
light is the wings of life. Keep this in mind as yok
choose which version of the Earthship to use.
AM
lookM
atM
theM
variousM
modelsM
ofEarthshipY
Earthship designs are constantly evolving becausR
they are decentralized and many are built each year.
This allows the constant evolution. We have manV
models in our history which all played their part in oub
onT
goingT
evolution.T
WeT
haveT
presentedT
hereT
oub
favorite models which have very pragmatic reasonZ
for being favorites.
Climate and budget play a big part in determininh
which Earthship prototype is right for you.
CUSTOM EARTHSHI\
A custom Earthship is the most expensive and timR
consumingT
approach.T
TheseT
areT
possibleT
inT
anV
climate and can include any and all of our variouZ
inventions and ideas over the years. They can bR
built and will function in any climate. Money is thR
only barrier in this scenario. Many people want Q
custom Earthship but their budget says otherwise.
Design is the first step in a custom Earthship. ThiZ
phaseT
canT
costT
$10,000T
orT
more.T
ConstructioW
drawingsT
areT
nextT
andT
dependingT
onT
sizeT
anY
degree of customization, these drawings can cosd
from $15,000 to $50,000. Construction itself woulY
start at around $250 per sqare foot and go up froi
there.T
CustomT
buildingsT
takeT
muchT
moreT
timeT
iW
every phase and time is money. There is no limit tX
what can be done in a custom Earthship, however
we can hardly make them perform any better thaW
ourT
commonT
modelsT
asT
theyT
areT
designedT
fob
performance. So... a custom Earthship is worth it ic
you want what you want. Below is an example of Q
custom plan.
GLOBAL MODEL EARTHSHI\
Our most universal model for the developed world iZ
the Global model. It can be modified for almost anV
climate and comes in many sizes. It can also comR
in custom sizes. It has been built enough times that id
has become a well oiled machine both in terms oc
performance and production. It costs around $21]
per sf. The construction drawings range from $5,00]
to $10,000 depending on size. Most models can bR
built by our crew in one month anywhere in the world.
InT
thisT
scenarioT
youT
mustT
addT
travelT
anY
accommodationsT
forT
ourT
crew.T
OfT
courseT
oub
drawings are aimed at owner builders doing thiZ
themselves as well. This can cut costs by close tX
40%.
Below are some sample models of Global ModeS
Earthships.
Studio Global modeS
One bedroom Global modeS
2 Bedroom Global modeS
3 bedroom 2 bathroom Global modeS
2 bedroom open end Global ModeS
WeT
canT
customizeT
anyT
floorT
planT
forT
theT
GlobaS
model.
This can make the drawings cost a few thousanY
more but does not necessarily increase the builY
cost.
We have versions with garages and other options.
TROPICAL EARTHSHI\
In cases of full on tropics we have one and two storV
roundT
modelsT
becauseT
aT
solarT
faceT
isT
nod
necessarilyT
neededT
forT
heating.T
WeT
useT
rounY
shapesT
becauseT
theyT
areT
efficientT
andT
morR
hurricane resistant andT
the tropics areT
knownT
fob
hurricanes. These buildings cost very similar to thR
Global model both in terms of building and drawings.
They take a similar time to build as well. They comR
in all sizes and again the drawings are aimed ad
owner builders participating.
Below is a tropical plan example.
Tropical design
SIMPLE SURVIVAL MODEL
The very minimal budget applications first require Q
no building permit situation. We are mapping whad
we call pockets of freedom all over the USA and thR
worldT
whereT
someone canT
ownerT
buildT
their owW
home with no regulations. Believe it or not, there arR
many such places all over the world.
We have developed these models for climates witP
all seasons and for the tropics. The tropics modelZ
would be a bit cheaper because you do not have tX
deal with freezing and this allows a lot of indoor.
outdoor spaces that cost much less than total indoob
protected spaces.
TheseT
buildingsT
haveT
beenT
designedT
forT
barR
minimum levels of living as a beginning. The idea iZ
to get in one for very little money and then add morR
to it as you can afford. We have built these models iW
many places and they are quite livable. Our crew iZ
envious of people we have built these for because iW
addition to be very delightful buildings, they leave thR
owner with no debt and an easy burden free life.
These models are the way of the future. They takR
systems and size and details down to a minimum bud
they perform asT
wellT
as any Earthship. TheyT
usR
methods that never wear out and cost a fraction oc
the cost of code monitored buildings and systems.
For example, they use both bucket flush toilets anY
bucket showers. Believe it or not these both can bR
presented in a very pleasant way. I personally havR
become a fan of the bucket flush toilet and bucked
shower due to the experience, the cost and lack oc
maintenance.
DrawingsT
areT
$2,000T
toT
$5,000T
andT
canT
bR
negotiated.
Building costs can range from $50,000 to $100,00]
if you have us build it. If you build it yourself (and it iZ
aimed at this) you can expect to pay half of that ob
less. This is a home. A living module that can bR
replicated and will take care of you.
Customization of any kind on these models quicklV
brings the cost right back up. Following is a floob
plan of the tropical model with outdoor spaces anY
theT
genericT
fourT
seasonsT
modelT
withT
aT
doublR
greenhouse. Both with bucket shower and bucked
flush toilet.
Tropical survival modeS
Four season survival modeS
THE EVE PROJECH
EARTHSHIP VILLAGE ECOLOGIE
RationaleW
Throughout the last forty years Earthship BiotecturR
hasT
beenT
workingT
towardT
developingT
aT
fullV
sustainable prototype home that has a zero carboW
footprint on the planet. We arrived at this in the earlV
2000’s and are still perfecting and refining it. WR
haveT
aT
buildingT
prototypeT
thatT
harvestsT
itsT
owW
electricityT
andT
water;T
containsT
andT
treatsT
itsT
owW
sewage;T
heatsT
andT
coolsT
itselfT
withoutT
fuelT
anY
produces a significant amount of food.
The building is built from 45% recycled materials...
thus starting the construction of the building with Q
negative carbon footprint. Discarded materials takR
the place of new materials that require energy tX
produce.T
Also,T
onceT
used,T
discardedT
materials
would have taken energy to dispose of. There is nX
energyT
requiredT
toT
reuseT
existingT
materials.T
ThiZ
further contributes to a negative carbon foot print ad
the birth of the building. This building costs next tX
nothing to operate annually and is independent of alS
municipal utilities. It takes full care of its owners anY
actually enhances the grounds around it due to thR
botanical cells which contain, treat and reuse thR
sewageT
viaT
biologicalT
processesT
resultingT
iW
greenery.T
ThisT
prototypeT
hasT
beenT
evolvedT
bV
Earthship Biotecture to be priced right in the balS
park with conventional buildings of similar quality iW
all parts of the world.
We thought we had arrived with this prototype... bud
change is the only constant in nature and reality. ThiZ
results in evolution being a never ending movement.
We now (circa 2008 - 2009) see that a new crisis iZ
at hand as the planet continues to react to the effectZ
of growing numbers of people and other natural anY
un-naturalT
forces.T
ThisT
newT
crisisT
isT
theT
crashinh
economy. Economy is a concept of the developeY
world through which the sustenance of all people iZ
achieved.T
PerhapsT
justT
theT
conceptT
itselfT
isT
Q
mistake but we are deeply into it on this planet in thR
developed world. As the economy crashed in latR
2008,T
weT
realizedT
thatT
ourT
productT
-T
aT
fullV
sustainable carbon zero home - is the product of thiZ
age; but it must now be delivered to the people oc
theT
worldT
inT
aT
muchT
moreT
affordableT
wayT
thaW
conventional homes. It must also be acquired anY
operate independent of this thing called economy.
By its very nature it leans in the direction of beinh
free from the economy in terms of operation but tX
acquireT
itT
isT
anotherT
issue,T
inT
mostT
casesT
stilS
dependent on the economy.
The individual stand alone Earthship we have beeW
evolving for so long provides individual sustenance.
NowT
weT
haveT
observedT
thatT
thereT
isT
aT
certaiW
efficiency in small clusters of people sharing somR
aspects of the sustenance of life rather than eacP
individuallyT
havingT
thereT
ownT
methodsT
oc
sustenance. We have observed many people gettinh
all of the necessities of sustainable living together iW
their own Earthship only to feel isolated and alonR
afterT
havingT
achievedT
sustenanceT
forT
themselveZ
individually. We have thus observed a social neeY
for people to interact and be near each other and, iW
fact, help sustain each other.
We have also observed (in the developed countries_
a barrier between the peoples of the world and aW
affordableT
carbonT
zero/sustainableT
livinh
circumstance. This barrier is the web of rules, codes
and regulations that were developed for the safetV
and welfareT
of the peopleT
but thatT
haveT
becomR
obsoleteT
andT
inapplicableT
asT
theT
earthT
andT
thR
populations have changed in recent years. In effecd
humanity has been riding a horse for many decadeZ
and now we have arrived at a vast sea and we arR
beginning to realize that the horse is not appropriatR
to continue our journey on the sea. We need a boad
to travel further. The existing regulatory forces pusP
us into trying to make a horse that floats or a boad
thatT
looksT
likeT
aT
horse.T
NeitherT
areT
theT
correcd
solution. We need to abandon the concept of horsR
and think boat - affordable boat. Conventional livinh
concepts,T
codesT
andT
regulationsT
doT
notT
eveW
address this new circumstance...the EVE project iZ
an effort to manifest it.
MechanisimW
After years of lobbying, we finally got the SustainablR
DevelopmentT
TestingT
SitesT
ActT
passedT
inT
Ne
MexicoT
inT
2007.T
ThisT
pieceT
ofT
legislationT
allowZ
testing of housing and living methods in a day to daV
livingT
circumstance,T
withT
realT
people,T
outsideT
thR
incumbrance of conventional living concepts, codeZ
and regulations. Special race tracks are used to tesd
automobiles safely outside and apart from the publiO
highwayT
system.T
TheT
EVET
project,T
viaT
thR
SustainableT
DevelopmentT
TestingT
Sites Act,T
isT
Q
testing place for housing and living methods that iZ
safely outside and apart from the confines of thR
outdated regulatory system. We have chosen to usR
twoT
acresT
ofT
propertyT
atT
theT
GreaterT
WorlY
Sustainable Community in Taos, New Mexico thad
already has three older Earthships buildings on it.
We want to take everything we have learned over thR
last few decades, incorporate the latest dreams anY
innovations and demonstrate all of this in a morR
dense living situationT
involvingT
twenty-five people.
We want to take the Earthship sustainable desigW
principles even further into high performance beyonY
regulations and economics because, like the horsR
andT
boatT
analogyT
above,T
aT
completelyT
differend
concept of living is sorely needed on this planet iW
the early 2000’s.
Recently an engineer who wasT
justT
introducedT
tX
Earthships said " what the world needs now is onR
billion of these immediately". Our observation now iZ
that even tho we have this home/product availablR
andT
pricedT
veryT
muchT
inT
theT
sameT
ballT
parkT
aZ
conventional homes; conventional homes (for manV
reasons)T
costT
wayT
tooT
much.T
WeT
wantT
toT
makR
sustainableT
housingT
moreT
affordableT
thaW
conventional housing. In order to do this we musd
venture far outside the realm of existing concepts
codes and regulations... thus the EVE project.
In a conventional situation, you can only take the si.
basic Earthship design principals and systems sX
far. But within the test site scenario, we will be ablR
toT
experimentT
withT
methodsT
thatT
willT
stretchT
anY
evolveT
theseT
principalsT
andT
renderT
themT
morR
economical and thus available to more people. Righd
now,T
evenT
withT
theT
hardT
earnedT
experimentaS
variancesT
fromT
theT
stateT
inT
theT
GreaterT
WorlY
EarthshipT
community...T
toT
meetT
theT
codR
requirements for the heating and cooling systems
the electrical system, and the gray and black wateb
systems is ridiculously expensive - i.e., out of reacP
forT
manyT
peopleT
andT
veryT
stressfulT
toT
obtainT
fob
others. It is a blessing that we are allowed to eveW
use our systems in this community, but to fit them iW
toT
theT
conventionalT
scenarioT
isT
wastefullyT
anY
inappropriately expensive. If there are no limiting
shortT
sitedT
regulationsT
toT
meet,T
weT
couldT
stilS
address all of the recognized issues related to healtP
and safety, but in totally new and different ways thad
would be much more affordable. Conventional codeZ
and regulations by their very nature are not capablR
of allowing rapid evolution on a major scale and thiZ
rapid evolution is possibly the only way for us get oud
ofT
theT
jeopardyT
weT
areT
inT
onT
thisT
planet.T
ThR
developed world has placed itself in a precariouZ
corral that someone or something has to force us oud
of... the EVE project is that force.T
Escape from EconomyW
In late 2008 and early 2009 the economic crisis oW
the earth has become so significant that it, howeveb
shallow, has begun to overshadow even the climatR
crisis. The EVE project will address the economy oc
people living in harmony with the planet and witP
each other but much more independent of the globaS
economy and thus not near as dependent on it. ThiZ
village will aim to finance itself. We already makR
buildings that make their own power, harvest theib
own water and heat and cool themselves so therR
willT
beT
noT
utilityT
orT
infrastructureT
expense.T
We’rR
buildingT
withT
45%T
recycledT
materialsT
soT
thad
eliminates some of the cost of new materials. We
EarthshipT
Biotercture,T
haveT
aT
growingT
numberT
oc
interns coming to learn the methods of BiotecturR
living. We will use this small army to launch the EVe
project. This will result in very affordable housing fob
these people. The interns that work on EVE will livR
at EVE. They will be eating food from the planters oc
the buildings they live in. They will be using wateb
from the sky here. They will be using electricity froi
the sun and wind. They will be using the toilets herR
and taking showers and making the plants grow froi
their waste water. It will be a self-contained systei
based on the six design principles of the Earthshif
concept. It will address the issues people need fob
sustenance.T
WhatT
weT
areT
tryingT
toT
doT
hereT
iZ
illustrateT
that...theT
sustenanceT
ofT
peopleT
(shelter
water, energy, sewage, food and comfort) should nod
be subject to an economy.
The economy is a game. This game should be aboud
nonessentialT
thingsT
(motorcycles,T
computers
televisions). A person feeding their family, stayinh
alive, having shelter... that should not be subject tX
anT
economy.T
WeT
shouldT
haveT
trulyT
sustainablR
villagesT
thatT
provideT
aT
lifeT
independentT
ofT
thR
economy... and what better way to create them thaW
to have a building prototype that doesn’t need anV
utilities,T
producesT
food,T
isT
madeT
ofT
recycleY
materials and is easy enough to build, that unskilleY
people can do it. The whole EVE concept embodieZ
an education that can be shared around the world.
People can come for short or long periods of time
live here super cheap in terms of a rent payment anY
everything else is provided. They can eat here, theV
canT
drinkT
here,T
theyT
willT
haveT
allT
ofT
theT
basiO
essentials of life here. We’ll have flat screen tvs anY
high speed internet which are essential to some .
We will have so much of what people need here thad
they won’t have to take trips in to town as often. WR
will be providing in our own "insignificant economy"
theT
thingsT
thatT
peopleT
need,T
inT
aT
greenT
anY
sustainable way.
AsT
theT
yearsT
wentT
byT
inT
theT
developmentT
ofT
thR
EarthshipT
concept,T
andT
moreT
andT
moreT
globaS
problems were presented by the media, weT
kepd
incorporating responses to these problems into thR
Earthship concept. This is how we developed the si.
designT
principles.T
Well,T
nowT
thereT
isT
anotheb
problemT
whichT
hasT
becomeT
theT
soleT
highwayT
oW
which all of life is delivered... they call it the economy.
We are taking a left turn off of this eroding highwaV
and carving a path out into the mesa and beyond.
We are calling this path E.V.E..
Global Model for a Good virusW
I am hoping that we can do this on multiple formatZ
throughout the world and that it will make such Q
statement that global regions like, Australia, Asia
EuropeT
andT
theT
AmericasT
willT
lookT
atT
thiZ
possibility...T
neighboring,T
sustainable,T
independend
villages that constitute a town or a city.
It’s not about making anybody rich. It is not about ta.
dollars.T
It’sT
aboutT
theT
sustenanceT
ofT
people.T
Ic
governments all over the world subsidized methodZ
of people taking care of themselves in carbon zerX
villageT
formatsT
insteadT
ofT
subsidizingT
warsT
oveb
resources; then we walk out of jeopardy and into Q
longT
lastingT
peaceT
onT
earth.T
Currently,T
sincR
sustenance depends on economy, we have peoplR
allT
overT
theT
worldT
whoT
areT
starving;T
don’tT
havR
enough water; have no shelter; and live in constand
stress and misery. This effects the global ambiance.
Now it’s even happening in the US. HomelessnesZ
is more severe than ever. There are tent cities. Jusd
desperate people, like any one of us, who used tX
have a life. Then all of the sudden they lost their jobZ
and their mortgage and consequently their life.
Life should not float on an economy. Life should havR
its own wings.
E.V.E. can provide those wings to all peoples.
So every step of this EVE project is about learninh
to live without dependence on any other systems...
political,T
economicT
orT
utility.T
TheT
villageT
isT
thR
system. It can be replicated and grouped with otheb
similar villages to become a town. This can happeW
on a larger scale with many villages becoming a city.
Then it can happen on a country or a global scale bud
itT
startsT
withT
sustainableT
villagesT
thatT
provideT
fob
themselvesT
viaT
theT
EarthshipT
conceptsT
thatT
havR
already proven themselves to be able to stand alone.
E.V.E. is a petri dish for development of a gooY
virus.
We are talking about eliminating the stress of livinh
on the people and the planet. If countries make theib
first priority providing people with the knowledge oc
howT
toT
provideT
forT
themselvesT
inT
aT
villagR
circumstance, then the people's livelihood will not bR
subject to the ups and downs of an economy. All thR
thinkingT
andT
energyT
goesT
towardsT
evolvingT
thR
village toward the care of people and planet. ThR
Native Americans taught their children how to survivR
onT
theT
Earth.T
TheT
E.V.E.T
projectT
willT
presentT
tX
people the knowledge of how to survive in a situatioW
that does not depend on the economy, politics ob
fossil fuels.
Reduction of CO2 Footprint W
AnotherT
issueT
thatT
isT
comingT
inT
toT
playT
iW
conventional building these days quite a bit is freight
the shipping of materials from China to the US ob
fromT
TaiwanT
toT
theT
UST
orT
evenT
OregonT
toT
Ne
Mexico is being viewed as an energy waste and Q
CO2 impact. We should be building with materialZ
thatT
are allT
from within one hundred miles of thR
place they are used regardless of whether they bR
manufactured materials or recycled materials.
The same is true for food. It is ridiculous to buy fooY
grown hundreds of miles away. That is, again, aW
energyT
wasteT
andT
aT
CO2T
impact.T
WeT
canT
gro
everything in the Earthship homes that you can gro
anywhereT
inT
anyT
tropicalT
climate.T
ThatT
eliminateZ
freight.T
E.V.E.T
willT
eliminateT
theT
giantT
carboW
footprintT
ofT
aT
bananaT
fromT
SouthT
AmericaT
orT
Q
building productT
from across theT
country.T
WeT
wilS
harvest all kinds of food from E.V.E. and buildinh
productsT
fromT
theT
nearT
byT
townT
ofT
Taos,T
Ne
Mexico. You take our EVE grown banana and put id
right next to a grocery store banana that came froi
South America and you have a giant carbon footprind
on one banana and no carbon footprint on the other.
The same is true of a building product. The villagR
produces what it needs and maybe trades with otheb
villages near by. The strength is in the independencR
from centralized utilities and food production. TherR
will be an inherent "insignificant economy" that iZ
woven in to the natural phenomena that already exisd
on the Earth.
So the E.V.E. project is about all of these things
power,T
water,T
sewage,T
food,T
recycledT
materialZ
and... the resulting insignificant economy. The EVe
project is a way to live that is more like what I woulY
call direct living... direct softT
impact living. ItT
putZ
peopleT
inT
aT
positionT
thatT
theyT
canT
relateT
toT
thR
economy as if it were a swimming pool that they caW
dive into for a swim if they want to, but when theV
want to get out, their life is out of the swimming pooS
andT
remoteT
fromT
itT
andT
notT
dependentT
onT
it.
SwimmingT
inT
theT
economyT
isT
aT
game,T
it’sT
Q
recreation, it should not be the thing between us anY
life. That is a big part of what the EVE project is alS
about... evolution beyond economics made possiblR
throughT
aT
livingT
vesselT
thatT
providesT
allT
ofT
thR
essentials and has no carbon foot print.
E.V.E. ... this cluster of twenty-five people living oW
two acres will be a seething, intense hive of humaW
activity that will be on display to some extent. It’s nod
going to be luxurious, but it will be magnetic in termZ
ofT
pullingT
inT
energyT
fromT
congruentT
quadrantsT
oc
logicalT
thinking.T
“LiveT
simplyT
soT
thatT
othersT
maV
simply live.” The less you have, the less you have god
to lose.
The next step..j
AfterT
youT
haveT
readT
andT
contemplatedT
anY
understood the contents of this document you arR
readyT
forT
submittingT
yourT
questionsT
anY
site/climate/budgetT
informationT
toT
Earthshif
Biotecture.
This is done by emailing us...T
your namR
your addresZ
your phone numbeb
your site location
winter low temperature
summer high temperature
rainfall - annual precipitation data
any sun days or wind data you can get
your desired budget
the size of home you are looking for
permit situation in your area
time frame
whether or not you want drawings only
or if you want us to build it for you
or if you want us to do shell and systems only.
Please email this information to...
biotecture@earthship.coi
then follow up by arranging a consultation withT
michael reynolds by calling 575.751.0462 and as“
for Tanya or Irma.
Consultations cost $125.
Good luc“
Michael ReynoldZ
(2011_
EARTHSHIL
I WANT TO LIVE IN ONE
(1) A brief history of EarthshipZ
(2) The insignificant economV
(3) Tomato securitV
(4) BirdZ
(5) The race horse and the jockeV
(6) Unarguable phenomenQ
(7) A look at the presend
(8) Earthship EducatioW
(9) A look at the futurR
(10) The argument for decentralizatioW
(11) A look at the location for your Earthshif
(12) A look at climatR
(13) A look at yok
(14) A look at the various models of EarthshipZ
The next step...
A brief history of EarthshipY
For four decades the Earthship has been evolving.
We spent a couple of decades evolving the variouZ
aspects of the Earthship and trying to learn how tX
make them work in a reliable user friendly way. ThiZ
involved...
the structure built from largely recycled materialZ
the heating cooling aspectZ
the electrical systei
the water harvest systei
the contained on site sewage treatment systei
the food production systei
AtT
leastT
twoT
decadesT
wereT
spentT
justT
learninh
enough to make these systems work... period. TheW
a certain amount of time was spent trying to makR
theseT
systemsT
reliableT
andT
userT
friendly.T
WR
achievedT
thisT
eventuallyT
althoughT
theyT
areT
stilS
evolving and will continue to do so. We then too“
notice that even though we had learned how to makR
the various independent systems of the Earthshif
work reliably and in a user friendly way; they werR
moreT
expensiveT
thanT
aT
conventionalT
home.T
WR
realizedT
that,T
sinceT
economyT
rulesT
theT
earth,T
nod
manyT
peopleT
wouldT
takeT
theT
EarthshipT
directioW
unless Earthships were the same price or cheapeb
than conventional housing. Some would choose thiZ
directionT
becauseT
ofT
theT
securityT
ofT
independend
utilities no matter what it costs. Some would choosR
it because it is environmentally friendly... but mosd
people would be forced by economics to take thR
less secure, environmentally hazardous conventionaS
direction simply because they have to take the leasd
expensive direction toward shelter for their family.
We saw that we needed to address this situation.
So... right after we learned enough to make thesR
"earthT
machines"T
workT
forT
peopleT
andT
theT
Earth
which was quite a challenge, we had to simplify anY
streamline them into something that could competR
price wise with conventional approaches to housing.
NoT
matterT
howT
significantT
itT
appearedT
toT
usT
thad
these buildings put people and their relationship tX
the earth in a very secure situation for the future
most of them would still choose a conventional homR
because it was easier to obtain in terms of costs.
We spent another decade or so on this simplificatioW
and streamlining until finally, in the early "2000s", wR
arrived. We had developed a fully independent homR
that provided shelter and utilities and food, that coulY
be built with a variety of recycled materials found alS
over the world and it cost very much the same as Q
conventionalT
home.T
WeT
thenT
couldT
presentT
oub
advantage... the Earthship costs next to nothing tX
operate while the conventional home for the samR
priceT
costsT
significantT
moneyT
toT
operate,T
notT
tX
mentionT
theT
questionableT
futureT
availabilityT
anY
viability of the systems required to operate it. WR
had arriveY
The satisfaction was short lived. The economic crisiZ
of circa 2007 hit and we realized a very significand
fact...T
conventionalT
housingT
itselfT
wasT
farT
toX
expensiveT
allT
overT
theT
developedT
worldT
forT
thR
majority of people to afford. Many people in manV
countriesT
lostT
theirT
conventionalT
homesT
andT
theV
were in crisis.
DuringT
ourT
developmentalT
periodT
weT
presenteY
many models of Earthships for the various differend
financial strata but we observed that the majority oc
the people of the Earth could not afford any kind oc
available housing. We had arrived only to find oud
that we needed to keep on going.
The place we had strived to arrive to - an Earthshif
priced the same as a conventional house - was no
invalid because conventional housing itself now haY
becomeT
invalidT
inT
termsT
ofT
cost.T
WeT
neededT
tX
simplify even more and develop a sustainable homR
that was more affordable than conventional homes.
We were faced with a new challenge... that monsteb
called economy. We have to find secure sustenancR
for people that is not subject to this "creature". WR
have to make this sustainable vessel - the Earthshif
-T
renderT
theT
existingT
monstrousT
economV
insignificant.
The insignificant econom\
Native peoples and plants and animals have existeY
for many centuries and have not had a significand
effectT
onT
theT
Earth’sT
abilityT
toT
supportT
humans.
These creatures encountered earth phenomena fob
sustenance. They did not have an "economy". TheV
did not have "garbage".
Modern developed humans have been around fob
onlyT
aT
couple of hundredT
years and already theV
have had serious adverse effects on the ability oc
thisT
planetT
toT
supportT
healthyT
humanT
life.T
ThesR
modern developed humans have an economy. ThiZ
economy has bred for them a thing called garbage.
Are ECONOMY and GARBAGE the ingredients thad
have caused modern humans to adversely effect thR
Earth's ability to support healthy human life6
The modern world has a constantly ailing system tX
sustain a monstrous and oppressive economy anY
that economy is supposed to sustain the people... Ig
DOESN'g
A greater world would have a system to sustain thR
people... and the sustenance of the people woulY
sustainT
aT
moreT
insignificantT
economy.T
EconomV
should not be a beast that... unless it is happy anY
balanced the people suffer. It should not be a beasd
that shits out mountains and mountains of garbagR
all over the earth. It should not be a beast that warZ
are fought just to feed it. It should be an insignificand
aspectT
ofT
anT
independentlyT
healthyT
andT
securR
human existence. Economy is the result - not thR
means - of sustaining people.
SustenanceT
forT
peopleT
meansT
provisionT
oc
comfortableT
shelter,T
water,T
electricity,T
foodT
anY
sanitation for every man, woman and child on thR
planet.
The modern world economy produces garbage oW
anT
insaneT
level.T
AT
greaterT
worldT
basedT
oW
sustenanceT
forT
peopleT
wouldT
transformT
anY
consumeT
garbage.T
GarbageT
isT
theT
resultT
oc
economy. Sustain the people and you will transcenY
economy.T
TranscendT
economyT
andT
youT
wilS
transform/eliminateT
theT
veryT
conceptT
ofT
garbage.
TranscendT
economy.T
TransformT
garbage.T
HaveT
Q
life.
The key to "having a life" for all people is found in thR
sustenance for all people... not just some people, bud
all people.
Tomato securit\
The sustenance for all people is not necessarily Q
moralistic or spiritual thought. It is simple logic. IW
fact, logic is the door to almost any issue facinh
humanity.T
TheT
problemT
isT
clearingT
theT
fearT
anY
dogma away so we can see the logic. This is thR
case with "tomato security".
Our world dogma has taught us that we make Q
strong hold and then defend it against others whX
want what we have. In the case of sustenance, letZ
say you have found sustenance. Lets say you havR
foundT
secureT
sustenance.T
SecureT
sustenanceT
iZ
foundT
byT
encounterT
withT
earthT
phenomena.
EncounterT
withT
earthT
phenomenaT
toT
providR
comfortableT
shelter,T
water,T
food,T
electricity,T
anY
sanitation. It is secure because it is not dependend
upon corporate or government infrastructures whicP
themselves are vulnerable to various corruptions anY
fuelT
shortagesT
andT
miscalculations.T
SecurR
sustenanceT
isT
betweenT
youT
andT
theT
eartP
phenomena... no middle man.
ThisT
secureT
sustenanceT
isT
availableT
nowT
onT
thiZ
planetT
inT
theT
formT
ofT
thisT
buildingT
weT
callT
thR
Earthship.T
ItT
isT
presentedT
inT
depthT
ad
(earthship.com). It provides comfortable shelter viQ
solar/thermalT
encounter.T
ItT
alsoT
providesT
itsT
owW
electricity via solar/wind technology and harvests itZ
own water in addition to containing and treating itZ
own sewage on site. It also inherently produces fooY
year round. This leaves no need for or dependencV
on infrastructure. The fact that it is also built largelV
fromT
recycledT
materialsT
makesT
itT
aT
carbonT
zerX
(logical)T
approachT
toT
secureT
sustenance,T
actuallV
consuming the "garbage" produced by the beast oc
economy.
LetsT
sayT
youT
haveT
thisT
secureT
sustenanceT
fob
yourself and your family. As the planet gets more anY
more seriously chaotic from climate change, oveb
populationT
andT
generalT
abuse,T
youT
startT
toT
feeS
insecureT
withT
yourT
secureT
sustenanceT
becausR
others do not have it or have not found it and you feab
they may want to take it from you. You have it all. Yok
have comfortable shelter, electricity, water, on sitR
containedT
andT
treatedT
sewageT
andT
enoughT
fooY
growing from your own food producing sustainablR
home to keep you and your family alive. You have alS
the tomatoes you want but others around you havR
none because they have not discovered what yok
have discovered. They have not discovered how tX
achieve this secure sustenance.
Your natural thought, which comes from our globaS
fear model of thinking, is to somehow protect youb
tomatoesT
with wallsT
andT
weapons.T
We have haY
people ask us to build them Earthship communitieZ
withT
undergroundT
chambersT
forT
weaponsT
anY
ammunition.T
WhenT
weT
askedT
themT
"why",T
theib
answer was "we are going to have our lives togetheb
andT
weT
needT
weaponsT
andT
ammoT
toT
protecd
ourselves from others who will want to take it froi
us". This made us think and we came up with thR
answer thatT
evenT
ifT
youT
haveT
theT
stomachT
toT
kilS
starving people who are coming after your tomatoes
there are not enough walls and weapons to protecd
you and your tomatoes from all the world arounY
you... the people who have not found your approacP
toT
secureT
sustenance.T
YouT
bestT
securityT
isT
fob
everyone within five hundred miles of you to havR
what you have. If you let logic prevail, you will find thad
if all those around you could have what you have, whV
would they want to invade you? This is the foundatioW
ofT
tomato logic.T
Who needs yourT
tomatoesT
wheW
they have even better ones, their own. So... all thad
energyT
thatT
youT
wouldT
haveT
putT
inT
toT
wallsT
anY
weapons, you put it into educating the people arounY
you to be able to find and create their own securR
sustenance...T
theirT
ownT
tomatoes.T
IfT
everyT
maW
womanT
andT
childT
aroundT
youT
hadT
everythingT
yok
have through encounter with earth phenomena, theW
you are safe... safer than any arsenal can make you.
This is tomato security. This is not a moralistic ob
spiritual endeavor. It is an endeavor of logic. You dX
not even have to love these people, you just have tX
make sure they have what they need... for your owW
safety. If this were the logic of every powerful countrV
in the world... can you just imagine? Can you jusd
imagine what that world would be like? Real lovR
and inspiration could actually emerge from this soiS
ofT
secureT
sustenance.T
WarT
budgetsT
beingT
spend
educatingT
peopleT
onT
howT
toT
sustainT
themselveZ
throughT
encounterT
withT
earthT
phenomenaT
anY
reducing their very need for money... amazinh
If alS
ofT
thisT
wereT
doneT
fromT
aT
foundationT
anY
understandingT
ofT
secureT
carbonT
zeroT
sustenancR
then we would be looking at people at peace witP
each other and people at peace with the planet.T
NowT
ifT
secureT
carbonT
zeroT
sustenanceT
iZ
established and evangelized all over the planet aZ
forcefullyT
andT
prolificallyT
asT
attemptsT
toT
establisP
christianity or democracy, thenT
we are looking ad
people learning how to provide for themselves iW
spiteT
ofT
economy.T
ThisT
isT
theT
foundationT
fob
civilization - secure carbon zero sustenance for alS
peopleT
beforeT
economy.T
EconomyT
becomesT
thR
result- not the means of sustaining people. It is verV
simple.T
WeT
allT
moveT
towardT
sustenanceT
forT
alS
people of the planet. This makes the people securR
from each other. We do this in a carbon zero, "planed
aware" way and we have people secure from thR
wrathT
ofT
theT
planet.T
ThisT
ultimateT
securityT
isT
aW
education and an empowerment - not a gift. WheW
we have achieved this for all people, we will havR
transcended the troll... the beast of economy anY
turned it into a house pet. Its purpose not to sustaiW
peopleT
butT
toT
entertainT
them.T
SustenanceT
ofT
alS
people becomes the goal of all people. Economy...
the resulting game.T
So this makes you want an Earthship but it alsX
make you want everyone else on the planet to havR
one as well. You are aware of the fluid dynamics oc
humans on this planet and you can with your owW
Earthship become a part of this.
BirdY
A flock of birds all leave the ground at the same timR
and rise up into the air.
They dart one way and then the other...T
all in unison as if controlled by one brain.
This has to require a full awareness of the wholR
flockT
by each individual bird.
No one bird can be self absorbed so much that itT
ruins the single fluid motion of the entire flock.
This extension of awareness beyond ones own bodV
and into the entire flock is the key to the singulab
motion of the flock as they move about in the air.
HumansT
doT
notT
seemT
toT
haveT
discoveredT
thiZ
extended awareness.
TheyT
haveT
troubleT
beingT
awareT
ofT
theT
motions
feelings, and needs of other humans in the room...
in the land...
in the world.
This is why humans struggle with each other and thR
earth.
They cannot extend their awareness to each other.
They cannot extend their awareness to the earth.
The are colliding with each other and with the earth.
TheT
extensionT
ofT
awarenessT
isT
theT
keyT
tX
sustainability of humans on the earth.
Humans must move in a fluid unison with each otheb
and with the earth.
Fluid thinking leads to fluid motion.
Fluid motion leads to fluid activity.
Fluid activity leads to confluence of all humanZ
and of humans and the earth.
This is what green is.
God is green.
The race horse and the jocke\
The earth and the peoplR
The race is on and all the horses are nearing thR
finish line. It is a close race and some jockeys arR
whipping their horses thinking they will get more oud
of them. They are riding on top of this creature anY
whipping it to perform more. They are whipping...
abusing the thing that is carrying them. One jockeV
understands his horse and has a rapport with it anY
even loves it. He just whispers in the horses ear "letZ
run now... lets run". This is the horse that wins thR
race.
This whipping of the very thing that is carrying thei
appears to be exactly what people are doing to thR
earth these days. They are riding on it and whippinh
andT
abusingT
itT
forT
moreT
performance,T
moreT
fuel
moreT
water,T
moreT
jewels,T
more...more...T
more.
Those who whisper to the earth "lets run now... letZ
run" will be the ones who survive. This scenario haZ
appeared to be a good analogy until recently. Now iW
recent months and years, humans seem to be like Q
jockey who is franticly stabbing his horse with an icR
pick.T
AllT
thisT
forT
theT
prizeT
ofT
winningT
theT
race.
Economy on the earth has taken such a powerfuS
role, that the people are stabbing the earth as id
carries them... all just to make a buck. You cannod
eat money. Money cannot sustain you.
The jockeys that were whipping their horses didn'd
realizeT
theT
damageT
theyT
wereT
doingT
toT
theib
relationship with the horse for the future. They jusd
wanted to win the immediate race and collect thR
cash. We are whipping and stabbing our host, thR
earth, not realizing what will happen after this nexd
pay check. We are not considering a relationshif
withT
theT
earth...T
aT
lastingT
relationship...T
justT
thR
"economics" of the immediate race. This monster
economy, has driven us to be monsters. We are fullV
driven by economy and for what? It will let us down .
drop us - ruthlessly in a heart beat.T
This thing called ECONOMY has pitted us againsd
our host the earth and each other.
Economy lies between us and peace.
SustenanceT
throughT
whisperingT
toT
theT
eartP
phenomena will be unarguable and stable.
It will be non corruptible. It will provide beyond anV
economy. It will be the foundation of civilization anY
the host of an insignificant economy.
Unarguable phenomeno_
The sun is a reliable "unarguable" phenomenon. Id
cannot be bought or sold or corrupted. It shines oW
worms, bugs,T
whiteT
people,T
blackT
people, plants.
germans and jews. It does not discriminate. Withoud
an understanding of its power it is relentless anY
ruthless but if it is understood it can be a large pard
of our sustenance. It will kill you if you lay on thR
beach with no cover for several days. It will save yok
if you direct its rays into a shelter made of mass. It iZ
up to the one who encounters the sun to understanY
how to encounter its unarguable power and benefit
notT
die,T
fromT
it.T
ThisT
isT
theT
wayT
ofT
allT
eartP
phenomena. We understand... we whisper to thei
and we find sustenance free for the taking for alS
people.T
ThisT
isT
theT
knowledgeT
ofT
unarguablR
phenomena we need all people to have. This... so alS
people have everything for free all the time. They dX
not have to buy the sun. They encounter it. No longeb
is economy between us and sustenance.
In this scenario, all people are equal in their ability tX
encounter. This is taught and learned. No one caW
ever take this from you. The economy crashes, yok
stillT
haveT
theT
abilityT
toT
encounterT
theT
unarguablR
phenomena for sustenance. They are always there.
They do not make promises they can't keep. TheV
areT
transparent.T
TheyT
areT
true.T
YouT
areT
theT
onlV
variable factor of your own sustenance. All you neeY
is the vessel to float and encounter in this world oc
sustenanceT
forT
everyone.T
TheT
EarthshipT
isT
thad
vessel...earthship.com.
THE USING OF LESS RESULTS IN THE NEEDIN4
OF LES
LIFE BECOMES EASIER - THE BURDEN TURN
TO BUOYANC3
We think of our energy demands and needs of thR
future and we wonder... "how we will provide them"6
ThisT
need,T
thisT
demandT
-T
likeT
anT
addictionT
tX
cocaine - perverts us into thinking we must havR
nuclear power.T
ThisT
isT
selling outT
our planet,T
oub
futureT
andT
evenT
ourT
presentT
abilityT
toT
existT
inT
Q
healthy life.
OnlyT
extremelyT
megaT
sourcesT
ofT
powerT
arR
considered today in a world of extreme needs. Whad
if we cut our needs in half? What if we cut our needZ
byT
75%. This would all of the sudden make verV
subtle forms of energy look attractive.
WeT
areT
crossingT
aT
bridgeT
here.T
WeT
weighT
foub
hundred pounds and the bridge is only good for onR
hundred and seventy pounds. What is the answeb
here? Risk death by trying to cross the bridge witP
obviously too much weight? Or loose weight6
The point is when we need radically less energy ob
food or whatever, lesser forms of energy and fooY
will begin to look interesting. We won't be jumping tX
theT
conclusionT
thatT
weT
needT
massiveT
formsT
oc
dangerous energy like nuclear power. We won't bR
able to be convinced by those who play on our owW
addictionsT
andT
excessiveT
needs.T
AT
smallT
wilY
strawberry in the forest is thrilling to a creature with Q
smallT
stomach.T
ToT
aT
giantT
creatureT
withT
aT
hugR
stomach, it is hardly observed at all. This makes mR
want to reduce the size of my stomach.
I have heard the phrase... "who will feed China?" iW
theT
future.T
WithT
lessT
needsT
andT
encounterT
oc
unarguable phenomena... each individual in ChinQ
will feed themselves.
A look at the presenZ
The presentT
showsT
usT
thatT
the future isT
goingT
tX
requireT
significantT
changesT
andT
evolutionsT
froi
humanity for there even to be much of a future thad
involves humanity.
TheT
presentT
showsT
peopleT
strugglingT
toT
decidR
whichT
directionT
toT
goT
fromT
here.T
ThereT
isT
mucP
discussion and rhetoric to this effect. One thing is fob
sure. We need to leave where we are in terms of oub
present methods of living on this planet.
The present global condition with humans is like Q
group of people standing on a big rock and the roc“
is rapidly heating up to the point that their shoes arR
melting.T
TheyT
areT
arguingT
aboutT
whyT
theT
rockT
iZ
turning to hot lava and who's fault it is and which waV
to go while their feet begin to burn. Logic in thiZ
situation would have it that...
ANY PLACE IS BETTER THAN HERE - lets leave.
ThereT
isT
justT
notT
thatT
muchT
thatT
isT
rightT
withT
thR
presentT
wayT
ofT
livingT
onT
thisT
planet.T
WeT
cannod
crystalize the new direction with laws or doctrines.
We will always be leaving the present ... until we finY
an eternal present... the confluence of humans witP
each other and the planet. The Earthship conceptZ
are an attempt to place stepping stones across thR
abyss toward this eternal present.
Earthship educatio_
The rock climber knows the top of the cliff exists.
He/she has to learn the abilities necessary to ged
there ... and the dangers.
ThenT
theT
choiceT
hasT
toT
beT
madeT
toT
attemptT
thR
climb... for whatever reason...
adventure? challenge? practice?...
or in some cases, there is a need to get to the top...
to get out of the pit or gorge you are in.
Once this choice is made to attempt the climb,T
theT
topT
isT
rememberedT
asT
theT
directionT
anY
inspiration,T
but not the focus.
The focus is the climb...
guided and inspired by the direction.
LifeT
becomesT
allT
aboutT
theT
nextT
handholdT
ob
foothold...
until your hand reaches up over the edge and...
you are therR
We are like rock climbers on this earth.
We know that a better way of living on this planed
existsT
but there is much vertical wall between us and thad
"better way".
We have to learn the abilities necessary to get to thiZ
"better way"...
and the dangers.
Then the choice has to be made to attempt to ged
there.
We have a good reason.
The place we are - the way we are living on thiZ
planet - has an end in sight.
In our case it is not a matter of us making the choice
it has been made for us.
We can ignore it, be depressed and overwhelmeY
by it or...
we can climb.
We can climb out of the pit of faulty existence we arR
iW
and find the "better way".
The "better way" becomes the direction to guide oub
climb...
but not the focus.
The focus is the climb...
guidedT
andT
inspiredT
byT
theT
direction;T
theT
"betteb
way".
Life becomes all about the next handhold or foothold.
It is these handholds and footholds we must focuZ
on.
The next month ... how do we live6
The next week ... how do we live6
The next day... how do we live6
The next hour... how do we live6
The lofty thoughts of how to change the world; ob
save the world; or make the world a better place; arR
simply rhetoric unless we actually place the steppinh
stones on how to get there.
These are the handholds and footholds of the climb.
ItT
isT
theseT
one-at-a-timeT
handholdsT
andT
footholdZ
that get us to the top.
It sometimes takes every bit of strength, couragR
and concentration we can musteb
to use them but there is no other way.T
We cannot just leap to the top with rhetoric.
We cannot just dream to the top with philosophy.
We cannot just buy our way to the top with money.
We have to climb.
The Earthship Biotecture education... is about thiZ
climb.
There is a web site - earthship.com - with free basiO
information and details about the many educatioW
programs.
There is a store on the web site to acquire morR
detailed information through books and videos anY
other products.
There are dozens free videos about every aspect oc
Earthships available on the web.
ThereT
isT
anT
EarthshipT
GlobalT
NetworkT
viaT
.
earthship.com - where people discuss all aspects oc
Earthships all over the world.
There are several three day intensive seminar/handZ
on workshops each year in Taos, New Mexico.
There is an on going intern program at the Earthshif
head quarters in Taos, New Mexico.
ThereT
areT
volunteerT
programsT
atT
manyT
Earthshif
build sites all over the world all the time.
There is an Earthship Academy forming in Taos
New Mexico with branches forming around the world.
There is a fleet of Earthship nightly rentals in Taos
NewT
MexicoT
thatT
allowT
visitorsT
toT
getT
theT
reaS
experience of living in an Earthship.
There is an education facility funded by Governor BilS
Richardson and Representative Bobby Gonzales oc
New Mexico in Taos, New Mexico that offers tours, Q
gallery and video view seven days a week.
TheseT
variousT
methodsT
ofT
EarthshipT
educatioW
range from free to a few hundred dollars. Any one ob
allT
ofT
theseT
canT
beT
aT
firstT
stepT
orT
stepsT
towarY
getting in your own Earthship.
ThisT
isT
educationT
availableT
now.T
TheseT
arR
immediatR
handT
holdsT
andT
footT
holdsT
toT
beginT
"makingT
thR
climb".
A look at the futurV
Observations on Earth in early 2011...
How many people went to sleep tonight saddeneY
and worried about the disaster in Japan. SaddeneY
for the people who are suffering - worried about thR
deadlyT
futureT
thatT
liesT
beforeT
allT
peopleT
dueT
tX
nuclear power plants dotting the surface of the earth.
How is it that legislative institutions make it difficult tX
evolveT
radicalT
sustainableT
livingT
methodsT
citinh
minute and insignificant dangers affiliated with thR
uncharted territory of new thinking...
while these same institutions allow a nuclear agR
that threatens the very ability of the entire planet tX
support human life6
There is a fight going on to stop nuclear power. ThiZ
fightT
isT
withT
bigT
moneyT
corporationsT
andT
poweb
mongers.
There is a fight going on to provide people with morR
freedom to take care of themselves in ways thad
respect and understand the ways of the planet. ThiZ
fight is with lawmakers and government institutions.
There is a fight going on to use less of everything
live much lighteb
and hear the voice of the planet. This fight is witP
ourselves.
SHOUT OUT about the nuclear age to any arena thad
exists.
SPEAK OUT to legislators about fast tracking greeW
building methods and systems.
WHISPER to yourself to take less and give more tX
the planet we live on.
Dwindling resources, archaic methods of producinh
centralized utilities, population growth and climatR
change are all issues that are restricting the flow oc
human life in the arteries of the future. The Earthshif
Biotecture concepts require little in the way of naturaS
resources as they use all renewable resources anY
minimal amounts of those. They produce all utilitieZ
on site so there is no infrastructure to maintain anY
individualT
humansT
areT
empoweredT
andT
freedT
bV
control of their own living circumstance. EarthshipZ
areT
relativelyT
smallT
cellularT
unitsT
thatT
canT
evolvR
rapidly much likeT
a virus or bacteria. this affordZ
themT
theT
possibilityT
ofT
dealingT
withT
unforseeW
aspects of the already visible climate changes of thR
earth.
The argument for decentralizatio_
A municipality raises tax money to build a coal fireY
power plant or a sewage treatment facility. There iZ
a tremendous effort to raise funds for this project anY
this effort alone takes a lot of time - sometimes a fe
years. Then the facility has to be designed using thR
latestT
technologyT
ofT
theT
time.T
ThenT
constructioW
drawings are made by architects and engineers. `
huge amount of time and money - another few years.
Then the project is built which can again take severaS
years and serious amounts of money. So... in thR
end the municipality has a new utility facility that too“
as much as ten years and millions, if not billions, oc
dollars to manifest. No matter what new technologV
mayT
happenT
inT
theT
followingT
weeks,T
monthsT
anY
years immediately after the build; the municipality iZ
locked in to using this facility for at least fifty yearZ
because they cannot afford the time and money tX
turn around and immediately do this again.
So...
taking the ten years to put the project together witP
the fifty years of use that it must provide to make thR
entireT
effortT
worthT
it;T
thisT
facilityT
hasT
lockedT
thiZ
municipality in to a sixty year increment of evolution.
No matter what new technologies are discovered
the municipality has to use this facility for fifty yearZ
at least. The is how economy and centralization cura
evolution.
VirusT
andT
bacteriaT
evolveT
inT
hours.T
SingleT
familV
cellular homes are built every hour somewhere in thR
world. Sustainable practices must be implementeY
on a decentralized individual basis for evolution tX
happen.T
IfT
aT
homeT
isT
builtT
andT
somethingT
inT
thR
technology evolves then the next home, the next houb
will address it. This is evolution. This hourly evolutioW
puts us in a position to survive. Fifty year evolutioW
increments resulting from centralized mega systemZ
are sure to be fatal to the human race.
TheT
EarthshipT
conceptsT
areT
singular,T
cellular
individual and decentralized. They are the future.
AM
lookM
atM
theM
locationM
forM
yourEarthshi^
Location is a serious factor in the whole process oc
acquiring an Earthship. We have seen the permid
process cause people a lot of expense and time. IW
retrospect I would tell these people to choose somR
place else to live. The permit officials can make thR
drawing process more expensive and take longeb
and at the same time water down the concepts to thR
point of making them 50% efficient.
For example, we had a man come in from PimQ
County, Arizona. It took him three years and severaS
redraws and three times the price of the originaS
drawings to finally get a permit. Then when he diY
getT
it,T
theT
buildingT
wasT
soT
wateredT
downT
thatT
id
wouldn't work as well and cost three times what id
could have. This is the regulatory process that iZ
meant toT
protect the people. All itT
reallyT
doesT
iZ
inhibit evolution.
Now a good example is a man who walked in froi
Crockett, Texas and said he wanted an Earthshif
home. He chose the Global model and four monthZ
later he walked in the door of his Earthship. That iZ
the difference that location can make.
Earthships can work in any climate so the weather iZ
not that much of a factor. It isT
whether you havR
enforced codes or not that makes the difference.
WithT
todaysT
communicationsT
-T
theT
internet
facebook, cell phones, etc.; you can be in touch witP
peopleT
andT
stillT
liveT
awayT
fromT
regulatorV
nightmares. The best bet is to contact the permittinh
office where ever you are thinking about building anY
ask what is necessary for building you own home.
We are finding that close to half of the continentaS
USA is what we are calling "pockets of freedom"...
areas where the only permitting for building your owW
home is a septic permit and that is no problem. WR
have a conventional septic system inherrent in oub
Earthship sewage treatment design.
Our advice is if they have very strenuous regulations
it will be cheaper to build somewhere else. ManV
places, however, have permits required but they arR
very low tech and easy. The Earthship buildings havR
engineeringT
backT
upT
forT
theT
designT
andT
anV
permittingT
officeT
canT
easilyT
determineT
thatT
thiZ
buildingT
willT
performT
andT
isT
aT
validT
approachT
tX
building especially in todays world. So we are sayinh
interviewT
withT
yourT
permitT
officeT
toT
determinR
whether you are in a pocket of freedom, a light dutV
permit situation or a ridiculous situation. There arR
only a few places that are ridiculous and we advisR
to just stay away from them. One of them is Ventura
County, California. I would just stay away from therR
in terms of building anything. There are a few otherZ
like that but the percentage is small.
A look at climatV
There are only a few factors about climate that caW
discourage you from building in a location. One iZ
precipitation. You should have at least five inches oc
total annual precipitation per year. If you do not theW
you should have a water table of less than sixty feed
so you can pump with a solar well into you cisterns.
You can pump from deeper but it gets expensive.
You should also look at available sunlight per year. Ic
you have very little, you will need back up electricitV
of some kind like wind power, hydro or conventionaS
grid. Although the newer solar panels are starting tX
be close to 40% efficient on cloudy days.
Soon there will be power made from just the lighd
through the clouds.
The beauty of the Earthship concept is that it makeZ
all of its own utilities so you can find really cheaf
land where there is no hope for utilities. You can finY
hard to get to but extremely beautiful land that no onR
would ever think to build on, you can find this for Q
good price. The Earthship allows this. You can savR
a lot of money by chosing this type of land.
A look at yoc
You can effect the cost of your home radically bV
examining yourself to determine what you real needZ
are. We blame codes and regulations for the higP
priceT
ofT
newT
directionsT
inT
housingT
andT
thisT
iZ
certainly part of it. The other part of the reason fob
homes costing so much is what individuals think theV
need.
When you climb a mountain you are going to carrV
what you need on your back. You only have to clima
one mountain to know that you will do some seriouZ
thinking about what you need for the next climb. IW
our world today we are surely carrying what we thin“
we need. Japan is now carrying what it thought id
needed for the next several thousand years.
You can start with basic survival needs and go froi
there. It is just a matter of how "light" can you ged
your life andT
how much ofT
your "needs" can yok
redefine,T
evolveT
orT
disintegrate.T
WhatT
areT
needZ
anyway?T
DoT
youT
wantT
toT
takeT
aT
pianoT
upT
thR
mountain with you. You won't try that but once.
My observations all over the world show me thad
many people get what they think they need and thR
process of getting it leaves them with no time to usR
or enjoy it. Does this mean time is one of our needs6
Is quality of life one of our needs? Is owning our lifR
one of our needs6
Many years ago I built an early version of the survivaS
models we are presenting now. I built the building oud
of pocket with help from friends. It made its owW
power and water and treated its own sewage anY
stayedT
comfortableT
withT
minimalT
fuel.T
ItT
alsX
produced a reasonable amount of food. I lived therR
for a while in total freedom cause I had no bills. 7
owned my life. I did not need to work. It was amazinh
to wake up every day and do what ever I wanted. 7
enjoyed this so much that I began to think... "what ic
this was availableT
toT
every one?" I observed thR
aspects of this life that made this freedom possiblR
and one of them was that I had minimized my needZ
to the point that I could easily provide for them eveW
with an antiquated version of the Earthships we builY
today. I only came back to this world to try and makR
it so others could have this freedom I had found. 7
have spent a lot of time trying to simplify and develof
the Earthship systems but I am only now beginning tX
seeT
howT
importantT
itT
isT
toT
somehowT
conveyT
tX
people that the systems are a lot less involved anY
expensive if you can reduce your needs. This reallV
takes some inner development to achieve but thR
end result is a much, much easier life both for yok
and the planet. I look at these days I spent livinh
there as some of the best days of my life. Travelinh
light is the wings of life. Keep this in mind as yok
choose which version of the Earthship to use.
AM
lookM
atM
theM
variousM
modelsM
ofEarthshipY
Earthship designs are constantly evolving becausR
they are decentralized and many are built each year.
This allows the constant evolution. We have manV
models in our history which all played their part in oub
onT
goingT
evolution.T
WeT
haveT
presentedT
hereT
oub
favorite models which have very pragmatic reasonZ
for being favorites.
Climate and budget play a big part in determininh
which Earthship prototype is right for you.
CUSTOM EARTHSHI\
A custom Earthship is the most expensive and timR
consumingT
approach.T
TheseT
areT
possibleT
inT
anV
climate and can include any and all of our variouZ
inventions and ideas over the years. They can bR
built and will function in any climate. Money is thR
only barrier in this scenario. Many people want Q
custom Earthship but their budget says otherwise.
Design is the first step in a custom Earthship. ThiZ
phaseT
canT
costT
$10,000T
orT
more.T
ConstructioW
drawingsT
areT
nextT
andT
dependingT
onT
sizeT
anY
degree of customization, these drawings can cosd
from $15,000 to $50,000. Construction itself woulY
start at around $250 per sqare foot and go up froi
there.T
CustomT
buildingsT
takeT
muchT
moreT
timeT
iW
every phase and time is money. There is no limit tX
what can be done in a custom Earthship, however
we can hardly make them perform any better thaW
ourT
commonT
modelsT
asT
theyT
areT
designedT
fob
performance. So... a custom Earthship is worth it ic
you want what you want. Below is an example of Q
custom plan.
GLOBAL MODEL EARTHSHI\
Our most universal model for the developed world iZ
the Global model. It can be modified for almost anV
climate and comes in many sizes. It can also comR
in custom sizes. It has been built enough times that id
has become a well oiled machine both in terms oc
performance and production. It costs around $21]
per sf. The construction drawings range from $5,00]
to $10,000 depending on size. Most models can bR
built by our crew in one month anywhere in the world.
InT
thisT
scenarioT
youT
mustT
addT
travelT
anY
accommodationsT
forT
ourT
crew.T
OfT
courseT
oub
drawings are aimed at owner builders doing thiZ
themselves as well. This can cut costs by close tX
40%.
Below are some sample models of Global ModeS
Earthships.
Studio Global modeS
One bedroom Global modeS
2 Bedroom Global modeS
3 bedroom 2 bathroom Global modeS
2 bedroom open end Global ModeS
WeT
canT
customizeT
anyT
floorT
planT
forT
theT
GlobaS
model.
This can make the drawings cost a few thousanY
more but does not necessarily increase the builY
cost.
We have versions with garages and other options.
TROPICAL EARTHSHI\
In cases of full on tropics we have one and two storV
roundT
modelsT
becauseT
aT
solarT
faceT
isT
nod
necessarilyT
neededT
forT
heating.T
WeT
useT
rounY
shapesT
becauseT
theyT
areT
efficientT
andT
morR
hurricane resistant andT
the tropics areT
knownT
fob
hurricanes. These buildings cost very similar to thR
Global model both in terms of building and drawings.
They take a similar time to build as well. They comR
in all sizes and again the drawings are aimed ad
owner builders participating.
Below is a tropical plan example.
Tropical design
SIMPLE SURVIVAL MODEL
The very minimal budget applications first require Q
no building permit situation. We are mapping whad
we call pockets of freedom all over the USA and thR
worldT
whereT
someone canT
ownerT
buildT
their owW
home with no regulations. Believe it or not, there arR
many such places all over the world.
We have developed these models for climates witP
all seasons and for the tropics. The tropics modelZ
would be a bit cheaper because you do not have tX
deal with freezing and this allows a lot of indoor.
outdoor spaces that cost much less than total indoob
protected spaces.
TheseT
buildingsT
haveT
beenT
designedT
forT
barR
minimum levels of living as a beginning. The idea iZ
to get in one for very little money and then add morR
to it as you can afford. We have built these models iW
many places and they are quite livable. Our crew iZ
envious of people we have built these for because iW
addition to be very delightful buildings, they leave thR
owner with no debt and an easy burden free life.
These models are the way of the future. They takR
systems and size and details down to a minimum bud
they perform asT
wellT
as any Earthship. TheyT
usR
methods that never wear out and cost a fraction oc
the cost of code monitored buildings and systems.
For example, they use both bucket flush toilets anY
bucket showers. Believe it or not these both can bR
presented in a very pleasant way. I personally havR
become a fan of the bucket flush toilet and bucked
shower due to the experience, the cost and lack oc
maintenance.
DrawingsT
areT
$2,000T
toT
$5,000T
andT
canT
bR
negotiated.
Building costs can range from $50,000 to $100,00]
if you have us build it. If you build it yourself (and it iZ
aimed at this) you can expect to pay half of that ob
less. This is a home. A living module that can bR
replicated and will take care of you.
Customization of any kind on these models quicklV
brings the cost right back up. Following is a floob
plan of the tropical model with outdoor spaces anY
theT
genericT
fourT
seasonsT
modelT
withT
aT
doublR
greenhouse. Both with bucket shower and bucked
flush toilet.
Tropical survival modeS
Four season survival modeS
THE EVE PROJECH
EARTHSHIP VILLAGE ECOLOGIE
RationaleW
Throughout the last forty years Earthship BiotecturR
hasT
beenT
workingT
towardT
developingT
aT
fullV
sustainable prototype home that has a zero carboW
footprint on the planet. We arrived at this in the earlV
2000’s and are still perfecting and refining it. WR
haveT
aT
buildingT
prototypeT
thatT
harvestsT
itsT
owW
electricityT
andT
water;T
containsT
andT
treatsT
itsT
owW
sewage;T
heatsT
andT
coolsT
itselfT
withoutT
fuelT
anY
produces a significant amount of food.
The building is built from 45% recycled materials...
thus starting the construction of the building with Q
negative carbon footprint. Discarded materials takR
the place of new materials that require energy tX
produce.T
Also,T
onceT
used,T
discardedT
materials
would have taken energy to dispose of. There is nX
energyT
requiredT
toT
reuseT
existingT
materials.T
ThiZ
further contributes to a negative carbon foot print ad
the birth of the building. This building costs next tX
nothing to operate annually and is independent of alS
municipal utilities. It takes full care of its owners anY
actually enhances the grounds around it due to thR
botanical cells which contain, treat and reuse thR
sewageT
viaT
biologicalT
processesT
resultingT
iW
greenery.T
ThisT
prototypeT
hasT
beenT
evolvedT
bV
Earthship Biotecture to be priced right in the balS
park with conventional buildings of similar quality iW
all parts of the world.
We thought we had arrived with this prototype... bud
change is the only constant in nature and reality. ThiZ
results in evolution being a never ending movement.
We now (circa 2008 - 2009) see that a new crisis iZ
at hand as the planet continues to react to the effectZ
of growing numbers of people and other natural anY
un-naturalT
forces.T
ThisT
newT
crisisT
isT
theT
crashinh
economy. Economy is a concept of the developeY
world through which the sustenance of all people iZ
achieved.T
PerhapsT
justT
theT
conceptT
itselfT
isT
Q
mistake but we are deeply into it on this planet in thR
developed world. As the economy crashed in latR
2008,T
weT
realizedT
thatT
ourT
productT
-T
aT
fullV
sustainable carbon zero home - is the product of thiZ
age; but it must now be delivered to the people oc
theT
worldT
inT
aT
muchT
moreT
affordableT
wayT
thaW
conventional homes. It must also be acquired anY
operate independent of this thing called economy.
By its very nature it leans in the direction of beinh
free from the economy in terms of operation but tX
acquireT
itT
isT
anotherT
issue,T
inT
mostT
casesT
stilS
dependent on the economy.
The individual stand alone Earthship we have beeW
evolving for so long provides individual sustenance.
NowT
weT
haveT
observedT
thatT
thereT
isT
aT
certaiW
efficiency in small clusters of people sharing somR
aspects of the sustenance of life rather than eacP
individuallyT
havingT
thereT
ownT
methodsT
oc
sustenance. We have observed many people gettinh
all of the necessities of sustainable living together iW
their own Earthship only to feel isolated and alonR
afterT
havingT
achievedT
sustenanceT
forT
themselveZ
individually. We have thus observed a social neeY
for people to interact and be near each other and, iW
fact, help sustain each other.
We have also observed (in the developed countries_
a barrier between the peoples of the world and aW
affordableT
carbonT
zero/sustainableT
livinh
circumstance. This barrier is the web of rules, codes
and regulations that were developed for the safetV
and welfareT
of the peopleT
but thatT
haveT
becomR
obsoleteT
andT
inapplicableT
asT
theT
earthT
andT
thR
populations have changed in recent years. In effecd
humanity has been riding a horse for many decadeZ
and now we have arrived at a vast sea and we arR
beginning to realize that the horse is not appropriatR
to continue our journey on the sea. We need a boad
to travel further. The existing regulatory forces pusP
us into trying to make a horse that floats or a boad
thatT
looksT
likeT
aT
horse.T
NeitherT
areT
theT
correcd
solution. We need to abandon the concept of horsR
and think boat - affordable boat. Conventional livinh
concepts,T
codesT
andT
regulationsT
doT
notT
eveW
address this new circumstance...the EVE project iZ
an effort to manifest it.
MechanisimW
After years of lobbying, we finally got the SustainablR
DevelopmentT
TestingT
SitesT
ActT
passedT
inT
Ne
MexicoT
inT
2007.T
ThisT
pieceT
ofT
legislationT
allowZ
testing of housing and living methods in a day to daV
livingT
circumstance,T
withT
realT
people,T
outsideT
thR
incumbrance of conventional living concepts, codeZ
and regulations. Special race tracks are used to tesd
automobiles safely outside and apart from the publiO
highwayT
system.T
TheT
EVET
project,T
viaT
thR
SustainableT
DevelopmentT
TestingT
Sites Act,T
isT
Q
testing place for housing and living methods that iZ
safely outside and apart from the confines of thR
outdated regulatory system. We have chosen to usR
twoT
acresT
ofT
propertyT
atT
theT
GreaterT
WorlY
Sustainable Community in Taos, New Mexico thad
already has three older Earthships buildings on it.
We want to take everything we have learned over thR
last few decades, incorporate the latest dreams anY
innovations and demonstrate all of this in a morR
dense living situationT
involvingT
twenty-five people.
We want to take the Earthship sustainable desigW
principles even further into high performance beyonY
regulations and economics because, like the horsR
andT
boatT
analogyT
above,T
aT
completelyT
differend
concept of living is sorely needed on this planet iW
the early 2000’s.
Recently an engineer who wasT
justT
introducedT
tX
Earthships said " what the world needs now is onR
billion of these immediately". Our observation now iZ
that even tho we have this home/product availablR
andT
pricedT
veryT
muchT
inT
theT
sameT
ballT
parkT
aZ
conventional homes; conventional homes (for manV
reasons)T
costT
wayT
tooT
much.T
WeT
wantT
toT
makR
sustainableT
housingT
moreT
affordableT
thaW
conventional housing. In order to do this we musd
venture far outside the realm of existing concepts
codes and regulations... thus the EVE project.
In a conventional situation, you can only take the si.
basic Earthship design principals and systems sX
far. But within the test site scenario, we will be ablR
toT
experimentT
withT
methodsT
thatT
willT
stretchT
anY
evolveT
theseT
principalsT
andT
renderT
themT
morR
economical and thus available to more people. Righd
now,T
evenT
withT
theT
hardT
earnedT
experimentaS
variancesT
fromT
theT
stateT
inT
theT
GreaterT
WorlY
EarthshipT
community...T
toT
meetT
theT
codR
requirements for the heating and cooling systems
the electrical system, and the gray and black wateb
systems is ridiculously expensive - i.e., out of reacP
forT
manyT
peopleT
andT
veryT
stressfulT
toT
obtainT
fob
others. It is a blessing that we are allowed to eveW
use our systems in this community, but to fit them iW
toT
theT
conventionalT
scenarioT
isT
wastefullyT
anY
inappropriately expensive. If there are no limiting
shortT
sitedT
regulationsT
toT
meet,T
weT
couldT
stilS
address all of the recognized issues related to healtP
and safety, but in totally new and different ways thad
would be much more affordable. Conventional codeZ
and regulations by their very nature are not capablR
of allowing rapid evolution on a major scale and thiZ
rapid evolution is possibly the only way for us get oud
ofT
theT
jeopardyT
weT
areT
inT
onT
thisT
planet.T
ThR
developed world has placed itself in a precariouZ
corral that someone or something has to force us oud
of... the EVE project is that force.T
Escape from EconomyW
In late 2008 and early 2009 the economic crisis oW
the earth has become so significant that it, howeveb
shallow, has begun to overshadow even the climatR
crisis. The EVE project will address the economy oc
people living in harmony with the planet and witP
each other but much more independent of the globaS
economy and thus not near as dependent on it. ThiZ
village will aim to finance itself. We already makR
buildings that make their own power, harvest theib
own water and heat and cool themselves so therR
willT
beT
noT
utilityT
orT
infrastructureT
expense.T
We’rR
buildingT
withT
45%T
recycledT
materialsT
soT
thad
eliminates some of the cost of new materials. We
EarthshipT
Biotercture,T
haveT
aT
growingT
numberT
oc
interns coming to learn the methods of BiotecturR
living. We will use this small army to launch the EVe
project. This will result in very affordable housing fob
these people. The interns that work on EVE will livR
at EVE. They will be eating food from the planters oc
the buildings they live in. They will be using wateb
from the sky here. They will be using electricity froi
the sun and wind. They will be using the toilets herR
and taking showers and making the plants grow froi
their waste water. It will be a self-contained systei
based on the six design principles of the Earthshif
concept. It will address the issues people need fob
sustenance.T
WhatT
weT
areT
tryingT
toT
doT
hereT
iZ
illustrateT
that...theT
sustenanceT
ofT
peopleT
(shelter
water, energy, sewage, food and comfort) should nod
be subject to an economy.
The economy is a game. This game should be aboud
nonessentialT
thingsT
(motorcycles,T
computers
televisions). A person feeding their family, stayinh
alive, having shelter... that should not be subject tX
anT
economy.T
WeT
shouldT
haveT
trulyT
sustainablR
villagesT
thatT
provideT
aT
lifeT
independentT
ofT
thR
economy... and what better way to create them thaW
to have a building prototype that doesn’t need anV
utilities,T
producesT
food,T
isT
madeT
ofT
recycleY
materials and is easy enough to build, that unskilleY
people can do it. The whole EVE concept embodieZ
an education that can be shared around the world.
People can come for short or long periods of time
live here super cheap in terms of a rent payment anY
everything else is provided. They can eat here, theV
canT
drinkT
here,T
theyT
willT
haveT
allT
ofT
theT
basiO
essentials of life here. We’ll have flat screen tvs anY
high speed internet which are essential to some .
We will have so much of what people need here thad
they won’t have to take trips in to town as often. WR
will be providing in our own "insignificant economy"
theT
thingsT
thatT
peopleT
need,T
inT
aT
greenT
anY
sustainable way.
AsT
theT
yearsT
wentT
byT
inT
theT
developmentT
ofT
thR
EarthshipT
concept,T
andT
moreT
andT
moreT
globaS
problems were presented by the media, weT
kepd
incorporating responses to these problems into thR
Earthship concept. This is how we developed the si.
designT
principles.T
Well,T
nowT
thereT
isT
anotheb
problemT
whichT
hasT
becomeT
theT
soleT
highwayT
oW
which all of life is delivered... they call it the economy.
We are taking a left turn off of this eroding highwaV
and carving a path out into the mesa and beyond.
We are calling this path E.V.E..
Global Model for a Good virusW
I am hoping that we can do this on multiple formatZ
throughout the world and that it will make such Q
statement that global regions like, Australia, Asia
EuropeT
andT
theT
AmericasT
willT
lookT
atT
thiZ
possibility...T
neighboring,T
sustainable,T
independend
villages that constitute a town or a city.
It’s not about making anybody rich. It is not about ta.
dollars.T
It’sT
aboutT
theT
sustenanceT
ofT
people.T
Ic
governments all over the world subsidized methodZ
of people taking care of themselves in carbon zerX
villageT
formatsT
insteadT
ofT
subsidizingT
warsT
oveb
resources; then we walk out of jeopardy and into Q
longT
lastingT
peaceT
onT
earth.T
Currently,T
sincR
sustenance depends on economy, we have peoplR
allT
overT
theT
worldT
whoT
areT
starving;T
don’tT
havR
enough water; have no shelter; and live in constand
stress and misery. This effects the global ambiance.
Now it’s even happening in the US. HomelessnesZ
is more severe than ever. There are tent cities. Jusd
desperate people, like any one of us, who used tX
have a life. Then all of the sudden they lost their jobZ
and their mortgage and consequently their life.
Life should not float on an economy. Life should havR
its own wings.
E.V.E. can provide those wings to all peoples.
So every step of this EVE project is about learninh
to live without dependence on any other systems...
political,T
economicT
orT
utility.T
TheT
villageT
isT
thR
system. It can be replicated and grouped with otheb
similar villages to become a town. This can happeW
on a larger scale with many villages becoming a city.
Then it can happen on a country or a global scale bud
itT
startsT
withT
sustainableT
villagesT
thatT
provideT
fob
themselvesT
viaT
theT
EarthshipT
conceptsT
thatT
havR
already proven themselves to be able to stand alone.
E.V.E. is a petri dish for development of a gooY
virus.
We are talking about eliminating the stress of livinh
on the people and the planet. If countries make theib
first priority providing people with the knowledge oc
howT
toT
provideT
forT
themselvesT
inT
aT
villagR
circumstance, then the people's livelihood will not bR
subject to the ups and downs of an economy. All thR
thinkingT
andT
energyT
goesT
towardsT
evolvingT
thR
village toward the care of people and planet. ThR
Native Americans taught their children how to survivR
onT
theT
Earth.T
TheT
E.V.E.T
projectT
willT
presentT
tX
people the knowledge of how to survive in a situatioW
that does not depend on the economy, politics ob
fossil fuels.
Reduction of CO2 Footprint W
AnotherT
issueT
thatT
isT
comingT
inT
toT
playT
iW
conventional building these days quite a bit is freight
the shipping of materials from China to the US ob
fromT
TaiwanT
toT
theT
UST
orT
evenT
OregonT
toT
Ne
Mexico is being viewed as an energy waste and Q
CO2 impact. We should be building with materialZ
thatT
are allT
from within one hundred miles of thR
place they are used regardless of whether they bR
manufactured materials or recycled materials.
The same is true for food. It is ridiculous to buy fooY
grown hundreds of miles away. That is, again, aW
energyT
wasteT
andT
aT
CO2T
impact.T
WeT
canT
gro
everything in the Earthship homes that you can gro
anywhereT
inT
anyT
tropicalT
climate.T
ThatT
eliminateZ
freight.T
E.V.E.T
willT
eliminateT
theT
giantT
carboW
footprintT
ofT
aT
bananaT
fromT
SouthT
AmericaT
orT
Q
building productT
from across theT
country.T
WeT
wilS
harvest all kinds of food from E.V.E. and buildinh
productsT
fromT
theT
nearT
byT
townT
ofT
Taos,T
Ne
Mexico. You take our EVE grown banana and put id
right next to a grocery store banana that came froi
South America and you have a giant carbon footprind
on one banana and no carbon footprint on the other.
The same is true of a building product. The villagR
produces what it needs and maybe trades with otheb
villages near by. The strength is in the independencR
from centralized utilities and food production. TherR
will be an inherent "insignificant economy" that iZ
woven in to the natural phenomena that already exisd
on the Earth.
So the E.V.E. project is about all of these things
power,T
water,T
sewage,T
food,T
recycledT
materialZ
and... the resulting insignificant economy. The EVe
project is a way to live that is more like what I woulY
call direct living... direct softT
impact living. ItT
putZ
peopleT
inT
aT
positionT
thatT
theyT
canT
relateT
toT
thR
economy as if it were a swimming pool that they caW
dive into for a swim if they want to, but when theV
want to get out, their life is out of the swimming pooS
andT
remoteT
fromT
itT
andT
notT
dependentT
onT
it.
SwimmingT
inT
theT
economyT
isT
aT
game,T
it’sT
Q
recreation, it should not be the thing between us anY
life. That is a big part of what the EVE project is alS
about... evolution beyond economics made possiblR
throughT
aT
livingT
vesselT
thatT
providesT
allT
ofT
thR
essentials and has no carbon foot print.
E.V.E. ... this cluster of twenty-five people living oW
two acres will be a seething, intense hive of humaW
activity that will be on display to some extent. It’s nod
going to be luxurious, but it will be magnetic in termZ
ofT
pullingT
inT
energyT
fromT
congruentT
quadrantsT
oc
logicalT
thinking.T
“LiveT
simplyT
soT
thatT
othersT
maV
simply live.” The less you have, the less you have god
to lose.
The next step..j
AfterT
youT
haveT
readT
andT
contemplatedT
anY
understood the contents of this document you arR
readyT
forT
submittingT
yourT
questionsT
anY
site/climate/budgetT
informationT
toT
Earthshif
Biotecture.
This is done by emailing us...T
your namR
your addresZ
your phone numbeb
your site location
winter low temperature
summer high temperature
rainfall - annual precipitation data
any sun days or wind data you can get
your desired budget
the size of home you are looking for
permit situation in your area
time frame
whether or not you want drawings only
or if you want us to build it for you
or if you want us to do shell and systems only.
Please email this information to...
biotecture@earthship.coi
then follow up by arranging a consultation withT
michael reynolds by calling 575.751.0462 and as“
for Tanya or Irma.
Consultations cost $125.
Good luc“
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