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Earthship Crew Spotlight: Mike Balassone

Two years ago, Mike Balassone was living in semi-retirement in Alabama. Originally from Ohio, he ended up in the deep South after a varied career which included two decades in the Navy. Today, he owns an Earthship and works full time for Earthship Biotecture building E-ships for clients from New Mexico to Jamaica.

We sat down for an interview a few weeks ago and Mike filled in the blanks for me.

Q. How did someone who used to work with nuclear weapons on aircraft carriers end up in Taos?
A. "I wanted to move to New Mexico. Taos was just a funny sounding town to me. I got here and toured four earthships in four hours. Three months later, I owned one. Also, the lack of tropical storms at 7,000 feet was a huge factor.”

Q. Describe owning and living in an Earthship and what you like and dislike about it.
A. “It's an easy transition to a stress-free life. The house performs by itself. No worries, it's warm and it sustains itself. But I can't redesign it - can't twist and turn it to incorporate the latest design or innovation."

Q. What would you have said if someone told you twenty years ago you would end up living in an Earthship?
A. "No way. I couldn't have envisioned that."

Q. How did your friends and family react to your lifestyle change?
A. “When I told my son I bought a house made out of tires and trash, he asked me why I didn’t just buy a junk yard in Alabama. Now that he’s seen Earthships, it all makes sense to him. Otherwise, there's always been wide open support and interest from everyone.

Q. When you arrived in Taos, our company had just enough work for our regular crew. Yet, you worked for free at least six months before you got hired. Had you ever worked for free before?
A. "Well there was that stint with Uncle Sam. Then there was that job as a Male Escort... No, really it wasn't for nothing. It was an invaluable experience learning the concepts and building practices of Earthships from all the crew. Maybe someday they'll recognize me for my skills and not as a Bronze God."

Q. How is building Earthships different from any other job you've ever had?
A. "I like the freedom to create and sculpt while building - it's drastically different from any other work I've ever done."

Q. You've traveled out of state and out of country to build Earthships. What do you like best about traveling?
A. "The opportunity to interact with people from different cultures and to share common goals with the local people.”

Q. What do you imagine the future of Earthship will be like?
A. “I believe it will be widespread eventually. It has taken a long time for the changes to be accepted. I feel so fortunate to be a part of Mike Reynolds' effort to make a difference in the world. The collective consciousness is embracing this type of change.

Q. You live in and work on your own Earthship and you work full time building them for others. What do you do for fun and relaxation?
A. I enjoy climbing and hiking the Rio Grande Gorge, it never gets old. Observing the abundance of New Mexico wildlife and the endless patterns of stars. Throwing a line used for fishing into water (I'm told it is only called fishing when you catch fish.) I build with Habitat for Humanity in my spare time and I donate to Greg Mortenson's one-man mission to promote peace... one school at a time. (www.penniesforpeace.org) Other than that, I enjoy living each day as if it were my last and aging gracefully.

Q. Thanks, Mike. Do you have anything to add?
A. “I think all my fellow crew members share this sentiment:
"Technology, Entertainment, Design is Gaining Acceptance Yearly!!"

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