Written by Kyle
I have been aware of the idea of an Earthship, an off-grid home invented by Taos Architect Michael Reynolds, for quite some time. While we were in Taos, New Mexico we decided to swing by the Earthship Biotecture visitor center to check one out in person.
When you arrive, you’re greeted by the visitor center and one of the older sustainability models, however you are not permitted to go further into the neighborhood as these are all private dwellings. The visitor center itself is an Earthship, although it is set up for display purposes rather than full-time living.
Earthships are built out of recycled materials like earth-rammed tires, cans, and bottles, and the roof harvests water and recycles that water multiple times. Earthships also grow food, treat their own sewage, and collect power from the sun and wind allowing you to not only live off grid but live with the land.
The tour walks you through the different rooms and areas and explains systems used for maintaining the heat, capture and recycling of rain and gray water, electricity generation, and agriculture areas.
The tour is short, however, very informative and allows you to really get a feel for what it would be like to live in one of these earth ships. In addition to the self guided tour you can schedule guided tours, and longer seminars and academys are offered if you wish to further explore the theory or practice of building your own earthship. There are also rental Earthships available for those curious to experience what living in one is like.
Ramble Around 