99 reasons why earthships are fuc!*ing awesome: Part #8 Reasons 71-80
Earthship Biotecture has to be one of the least understood sustainable building and living models around. This is not least because they offer SO many benefits that it is hard to even know them all, let alone explain them all! Let it be said that an Earthship can stay at a comfortable climate at even -20 Celsius or 40 Celsius with no power requirements for heating or cooling systems. The systems of an earthship encounter the forces of nature, mainly the sun, rain, and wind, and funnels them into your home to provide everything you need to live comfortably with annual utility bills of around $200 or less.
I have been inspired to write this in sections, with you all, and once it is completed I will be compiling it into a single digital and paperback book available to all to learn and be inspired.
71. Can be built on steep slopes to make multi-story homes.
Earthships are well suited to locations that would make a traditional approach difficult, if not impossible, without proper road access. In fact, if you have even a steep slop you can build with minimal excavation, and then step up with the slope to build the next level. In this way you can build an unlimited number of floors to one house that are connected by a staircase at the back. The Reach community in Taos, New Mexico was the first to do this and is now home to dozens of Earthships.
72. Can be scaled up to large community green buildings.
It is possible to use Biotecture to create a large sloping mega earthship that could within itself be a self sufficient community. It would be built on a large mound or hill that would allow for multiple and unlimited floors, with connecting corridors all being used as green house areas. The back north face that doesn’t get as much sun can be used to house most of the systems, storage, and areas that don't require natural light. You could also pioneer the use or large mirror arrays to reflect sun light back to the north side for food production.
73. Earthships offer us a solution to most of our current world problems.
As this 99 reasons has demonstrated already, this approach solves so many of our global issues, such as sustainable community living, an affordable self build option, life long security, no bills, protection from climate change, poverty etc..
74. They meet the Climate and Economic crisis head on.
With all aspects of our carbon footprint taken care of, that is to say the build itself as well as the lifestyle and ultra low carbon footprint of the people living in it for a lifetime. They re-purpose a huge waste issue, namely car tires, plastic bottles and other waste materials. They also take the issue of an economic meltdown by giving people independence of the economic system in order to live comfortably.
75. Tyre walls are bomb proof and stronger than a stone or reinforced concrete wall.
It has been said that if you drove a truck into a tyre wall, it would bounce off! The same can be said for a rocket or missile, I would imagine they would bounce right off! Even the most massive blast to a tire wall that is stabilised with a bond beam would simply cause it to shake and wobble, but it would not puncture or fall down. This reflects the earthquake resistance of a tyre wall. Since they are not bound together by mortar, but are held in place by gravity, they can not crack or break down in the way that concrete does. Once concrete cracks it is finished! Since tyre walls have SO much mass, at up to 100Kg per tyre, with the weight of many tonnes above it, it would take an enormous blast to shake one down. Also, if this tyre wall is bermed with 5 foot or earth in addition to the tyres you start to realise that there is no competition between them.
76. Your pets will be happy.
Pets love the warm, cosy, green and very protected environment of an Earthship. When you in the back side you feel safe like you do in a cave, and cats and dogs find that very reassuring. On the flip side, cats can be only too happy to defecate in your botanical cells rather than venture outdoors on a rainy day!
77. Tyres can be used to make huge permanent retaining walls.
The use of car tires is not limited to building your home. They are one of the very best, cheap, and quick ways to make permanent and even huge retaining walls. There is not much to compare to this approach versus a stone wall! As I have witnessed, tyre retaining walls can be put up in just a few days or a week, with minimal time since you don't need to compact them quite as much as you do in an Earthship wall. They do not move or subside, even in the heaviest rains and storms, and will last much longer than a stone wall without maintenance. You can plaster over this wall to create a natural looking edge which can overgrown with plants and grass to help bind the edge together.
78. You can create a successful Earthship community because there are almost zero running costs and bills.
One famous approach to a cashless society is the Kibbutz idea as demonstrated in many parts of Israel. It is fair to say that these communities struggle economically, and most of them have long ago had to ditch the idea of not needing money! They have bills to pay, and as a consequence the communities have become fragmented and generally don't have that community feel! Earthship Biotecture could succeed overcome this issue because the main problem is bills and overheads to run their power systems, Air Conditioning Units, etc.. A truly self sufficient community who don’t have to work externally to make money to keep things afloat will have time and less stress so that they can grow food and nurture the community instead.
79. They are still in an early stage of development in many countries, and so they will get even better!
Earthship Biotecture has been evolving since the 1970s. Every year the concept evolves, and widens its reach into new countries and climates. It takes time to build, test, and adapt this models in new climates. This is because the process itself is very difficult in the beginning, there are many legal and planning hurdles, and most importantly there are not yet that many people who are self building. Nevertheless, as each build happens, many people are exposed to it and are starting to learn and teach others. As people experiment and build for themselves in their own country we will learn how better to adapt them to suit.
80. Earthships make for happier lovers.
Stress is often at the root of our conflicts and partner issues. When families live in abundance, and there is time to do things together, and the stress levels are low because you don't have bills to pay, life takes on a different feeling. When we live in harmony with nature, and ourselves, we also live in harmony with others.
Oh squeeeck! Im nearly there! Getting excited now, the finishing line is in sight!
MUST WATCH VIDEOS
Earthship Underground House Tour- Sustainable and Net Zero Living...
Derek "Deek" Diedricksen visits an Earthship (the architectural brainchild of Michael Reynolds) in Taos, New Mexico. The particular model, like many others, features earth berm air intakes, a water recycling system for its grey water, and the luxury of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and even a two car garage! Ashley Turin gives us a full out tour of this, one of the newest Earthship builds on the Taos compound. This sustainable and passive solar home just may give you a few ideas for your own future designs.
WATCH THIS TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE GLOBAL MODEL IN ACTION
WITH GREAT EXPLANATIONS
MEET A COUPLE WHO ARE NOW LIVING FREE. THIS VIDEO SAYS IT ALL!
BE INSPIRED AND SEE THE TRUTH OF WHAT FREEDOM LOOKS LIKE!
Super Efficient Off-Grid Earthship Built for Early Retirement Plan
PREVIOUS PARTS
Final Earthship Seminar Transcription Table Of Contents: + Incredible Earthship Video To Truly Educate and Inspire.
Living off-grid in an Earthship home is about many things. It is not just an ethical choice or a building type choice, it is also a lifestyle choice. When you start to live off-grid, and self-sufficiently, you embark on a break out from the matrix/zeitgeist. You start to unplug yourself from the normal, dependent, vulnerable, and highly controlled way of life that many people are used to in cities and highly developed countries. When you are truly self-sufficient and out of debt you take away some of the main sources of stress: buying food, paying the bills, covering the mortgage or rent, and needing to work full-time to allow this to continue. We can also look at environmental issues and great need to build smarter and in a more connected way, especially in the face of climate change. Our global population is rising and with it the poverty level and inequality of wealth in all forms. To compound this issue, the cost of living is also hurtling up! We are moving toward a very unsafe and unsustainable future if we continue to build and live in the same way that we have been doing.
Did you know, I built four Earthships in India as well as being instrumental the creation of the first Earthship in the UK, Earthship Brighton. If you are also on this path and would like to read my story, I have recently published a book. It is not only a great story, but a valuable resource for you to learn from. I had no experience or training when I embarked on my mission, but managed to successfully build a gorgeous home called Earthship Karuna.
You can buy this book with Steem on the homesteaders co-op. Whilst you are there please do have a look at some of the other products as there are all kinds of great things there!
https://homesteaderscoop.com/product/earthship-chronicles-ebook/
If you don't have any Steem you can also buy the ebook and paperback on amazon.
http://mybook.to/Earthship-Chronicles
or
https://www.amazon.com/Earthship-Chronicles-sufficient-luxurious-experience-ebook/dp/B07MYCBXYB
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All talk and that crap...where is yours?
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If u read the end u would know!
Did you know, I built four Earthships in India as well as being instrumental the creation of the first Earthship in the UK, Earthship Brighton. If you are also on this path and would like to read my story, I have recently published a book. It is not only a great story, but a valuable resource for you to learn from. I had no experience or training when I embarked on my mission, but managed to successfully build a gorgeous home called Earthship Karuna.
You can buy this book with Steem on the homesteaders co-op. Whilst you are there please do have a look at some of the other products as there are all kinds of great things there!