Otherworldly Sightings in NM: Earthship Biotecture

(2019 Grand Teton Ep 22)

We headed east across northern New Mexico (between map points 15 and 16).  From sagebrush covered mesas we enjoyed panoramic views of distant mountain ranges.

Near Taos we encountered a bizarre looking community spread across the arid valley floor.

There were dozens of houses that looked like a cross between Captain Nemo and Lost in Space.  Or perhaps Star Wars Tatooine come to Earth.  We stopped to take a look.

The houses are part of a community that is the home of Earthship Biotecture.

Earthships are passive solar houses made of natural and upcycled materials such as earth-packed tires, bottles and more.  Pioneered by architect Michael Reynolds, the houses offer unique solutions to (what they say) are six needs for harmonious living on earth: food, energy, clean water, shelter, garbage management and sewage treatment.

At the visitor center we learned about eco-construction and self-sufficient living. There are examples of interesting construction methods and implementations of systems for food production, solar energy collection and storage, and waste-water management.

Earthships have landed in dozens of locations around the globe.  Sustainable living concepts and how to build the structures are taught at Earthship Academies at the headquarters near Taos, in distant locations like Haiti and Puerto Rico, and online.

Want to experience life in an Earthship?  You can rent one for a night or a week!

Oscar is our more conventional version of an Earthship.   As we left, we programmed in our GPS coordinates, engaged Max’ propulsion systems and headed on to the next rabbit trail.

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Next week – we take a blog break.  RabbiTRAILs will resume on January 29 with a wrap up of our 2019 Grand Teton journey.  Until then…keep taking the LONG ROAD!