Earthship TaosEarthship TaosI have been looking forward to my visit to New Mexico since someone sent me a video about Earthships and the community in Taos who are living in these unusual structures.  i wanted to see how these people lived and supposedly thrived in self sustaining communities. 

Yesterday I got to visit Earthship World Headquarters in Taos New Mexico, and it was prett amazing!  There was an earthship available to tour, both guided and self guided.  Each aspect is exhibited and explained, and I was sorry that the tour house was set up as a Museum of Science and Industry Exhibit rather than a home because I was unable to visualize was a home would look like, even though the concepts were impressive. Some interesting facets of the lifestyle:

Electriticity is harvested from the sun and wind and stored in batteries for future use

Water is from snow and rain, caught on the roof, stored in cisterns, and is used (clean and potable), reused (for the garden), and finally reused a final time (for the toilet).

Heating and Cooling is through design and solar power, depending on the region.

Food is grown, both inside (to absorb pollution and oxygenate the air) and outside.

While I really  appreciate and admire this lifestyle, I am not quite ready for such an ecologically noble concept of homelife.  It was pretty extreme!  If you think you may want to try this, there are Earthsips available for rent for the night.Earthship Taos 

 Earthship Taos

 

Jeanne M. Gavish, SRES, CIPS, SFR, GRI
Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners
* 352-650-1029 *
Serving Florida’s Nature Coast * Hernando, Pasco & Citrus Counties
 
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14 Comments on Earthships in Taos NM, the most unusual lifestyle I've seen

MAY
14
2011
Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

People actually live in these? Wow! Thanks for posting this. I just learned something new (very new!) About the one night rental...hmm! Why not?!
2:07pm • #1
114,594 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It was so very strange, Ken & Leslye.  Out in the middle of the desert, and one side completely tucked in to the earth.  They are made from bottles cans, adobe, tires, not very attractive but very functional.
2:23pm • #2
2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jeanne. Thanks so much for posting. I've just spent the last half hour researching this concept through the link you provided. It's an interesting idea especially with the cost of utilities, food, etc going up....and who wouldn't like to try to live off the grid?  Thanks for sharing.
3:58pm • #3
379,175 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jeanne, 

Fascinating!  How cool are they?  I love the reuse and sustainability!

All the best, Michelle
9:13pm • #4
114,594 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lorraine, I was fascinated by the concept for quite awhile.  I am very ecologically aware and was really looking forward to the visit.  Maybe it is just because I could not understand how a house could be set up this way.  If they had done a virtual tour of some of the homes, maybe I could see a kitchen, a living area, etc and get an idea.  It is good to know we can live this way if we need to.
9:18pm • #5
114,594 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Michelle, I first became interested in this because I heard of the Earthship Haiti Project 2010, a disaster relief project where they used recycled materials to make new homes for the victims of the storm.  I think it is so cool!  What a great way to utilize and recycle what is considered refuse.
9:24pm • #6
MAY
15
2011
406,262 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

 

Interesting concept especially with our current economic down turn maybe this concept could be used on a larger scale.
9:02am • #7
114,594 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Michele, I did some research and they are pretty costly up front, but save a lot of money on utilities in the long run.
10:14am • #8
MAY
17
2011
210,274 Points Hit Router Called Shot Master

Hi Jeanne-ok a little stranger looking than Yurts-you really do know a lot of unusual things-thanks
2:09am • #9
114,594 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tim, they were so weird!  Beautiful inside but the landscape looked so inhospitable I just couldn't imagine living like that.
10:12pm • #10
MAY
18
2011

It's a cool concept for "other people."  For most what happens when day three has gone by and they haven't gotten their starbucks mocha frappa crappa latte?  Or the next episode of Glee is about to start but, oh yeah, that's right, we watch the stars at 9/8 central these days. This reminds me of the Bud Light commercial with the house built out of unopenned beer cans.  Or if you look into the "Ice Hotel" in scandinavia that is made entirely out of ice and available for a limited time during the year.  And then they rebuild it all over again.  I liked your comment about a virtual tour.  Can you imagine the sales agent reselling one of these?  "This 1983 rubber tire, soda can and milk carton contemporary home offers all the ammenities of  . . . great post!
3:09am • #11
MAY
19
2011
114,594 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Frank, the lifestyle is definitely not for Sissies like me! 
8:51am • #12
MAY
23
2011
683,419 Points 83 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Jeanne~

I am wondering about fire codes when bedrooms may be Earth-Bermed...do you have information on this?
12:12pm • #13
114,594 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

JaneAnne, I don't know the answer because I am not sure there are federal fire , so would vary from state to state and these were in New Mexico.  You can go to the blog at http://www.earthship.org/blogcodes and ask the question or click the link in my post and the phone number and all contact info are at the bottom of their website. Good Luck
2:24pm • #14

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Jeanne M. Gavish, CIPS,GRI,SRES,SFR Keller Williams Realty Elite Partners

Spring Hill, FL

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Address: 2715 Forest Rd, Spring Hill, FL, 34606

Office Phone: (352) 650-1029

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