In the vast ocean of life, where inflation is rising like tides and bills crash like relentless waves, many of us search for a way out of this intensity. A way to live more in harmony with the ebb and flow of mother earth, riding her waves rather than be engulfed by them.
After 55 years of rigorous biotecture experimentations, Michael Reynolds and the Earthship Biotecture team have created a groundbreaking Earthship known as the "Refuge," designed to withstand the pressures we seek to evade. Reynolds likens it to his "Model T," but unlike Henry Ford’s invention, this is a machine of sustenance, syncing with the planet to provide for all our basic needs.
The Refuge Earthship straight off the assembly line will have you sailing in style. It stands as a core structure that provides for its inhabitants and can be decorated and built onto. It is built to be fully equipped to meet basic needs, requiring minimal maintenance to weather the elements while integrating modern technology to support families and their lifestyle.
According to the Oxford dictionary, a refuge is a place of safety or shelter from pursuit, danger or trouble. In these challenging times, the Refuge Earthship offers exactly that. It utilizes the sun for heating, electricity generation and food cultivation. It manages its own waste sustainably and in congruence with the planet.
Stepping into the Refuge Earthship, I was greeted by a warm, cozy and bright living room, so warm I immediately took off my winter coat. Lush garden beds adorned the front windows, yielding a variety of foods, including bananas! The bathroom featured a beautiful flagstone shower, spacious interiors and colorful glass-bottle windows which dazzled throughout the house. I envisioned myself enjoying tea in the kitchen, watching the sunrise through large windows and picking fresh vegetables for breakfast. It felt like a place I could call home.
Earthships are constructed with thermal mass to absorb solar heat, ensuring warmth through cold nights. Built-in ventilations systems include low tubes to draw in cool air and transom windows to release hot air. Open together, both offer cross ventilation. Convenient curtains or glass walls close off each room to better maintain the stored heat, to create privacy or to block the morning sun.
Reynolds, who has been fighting cancer holistically with success, expresses his general good feeling and his drive to serve the universal need for sustainable housing. He believes the widespread adoption of Earthships could foster community cohesion, reduce crime, and celebrate human diversity and uniqueness.
“Democracy is an experiment that could work with independent sustainable housing at its foundation,” he said. Reynolds has intentionally chosen not to patent his Earthship idea, offering abundant free information to DIY builders. Detailed plans are available for purchase on their website. However, in his years of experience, Reynolds knows building is not for everyone and therefore wants to provide an economic way for everyone to own an Earthship.
Having inspired countless individuals over the years, Reynolds considered Earthship enthusiasts as his extended family. After traveling the world and mentoring numerous individuals, he has come to the profound conclusion, “The world is my family, and I can't be happy knowing I'm happy and others are not.”
Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Reynolds was influenced by his father’s belief that everything has purpose, often collecting discarded items to his mother’s exasperation. His architectural studies, combined with concerns over deforestation and environmental impacts, fueled his passion for repurposing waste materials like tires, cans and bottles.
Reynolds' affection for Taos began during his pursuit of motocross trails.
“Taos had good trails at that time,” he recalls.
At 22, Reynolds found himself in Taos just out of architect school and sponsored by Yamaha. He jokingly admits he was "trying to get injured to escape Vietnam," instead becoming a "Garbage Warrior” with one of his first can bricks sold for $4,500 to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, where it's displayed as a stepping stone toward using trash for alternative sustainable building.
Today, Reynolds offers to build Earthships anywhere in Taos County, provided individuals secure two acres, the necessary permits and funding.
After traveling the world, he admits there’s no place like Taos — a place where moon-gazing cleared his mind, helped him shed his dogmas and inspired him to dream differently. Having witnessed firsthand the impact of Earthships in impoverish communities worldwide, he's convinced their widespread adoption could greatly benefit Taos County.
Reynolds encourages investment in Earthships as a secure financial choice. He argues owning and leasing out an Earthship offers greater returns than the traditional bank investments. Unlike CDs, which yield fixed returns, subject to market fluctuations, an Earthship not only generates income provides enduring, self-sufficient shelter for families amidst economic instability and emergencies.
The Earthship represents a stylish and stress-free way to navigate life, alleviating burdens on both the individual and the environment. Getting underway with the Earthships means embracing a sustainable lifestyle designed to meet every individual's needs — as intended by Mama Nature herself.
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