...in Taos, New Mexico

by James Galletly from theownerbuilder.com.au

‘These are the most sustainable houses I have ever seen, and if these are the most sustainable houses, then this is how I should build.’ That was my first response to seeing Garbage Warrior, a documentary about renegade architect Michael Reynolds and his quest to build truly sustainable homes.

The Earthship is Michael’s answer to the challenge of sustainable housing. Put simply, Earthships are radically sustainable buildings, constructed with recycled materials. They are far from conventional, but they work, extremely well, and that is why Michael has been building them for over 40 years.

by Nara Williams - info@narawilliams.com So imagine my amazement when, after driving through miles and miles of good old, sturdy Kansas, gazing forlornly at dilapidated farmhouses along the highway, I made it to Taos and found myself waving at the mountains from a glass pyramid on top of a three-story Earthship.   Though the name "Earthship" may relate more to the fact that the buildings are almost entirely self-sustaining, it really does feel like a ship, of some sort. Though perhaps more of a space ship than anything- I can see the southern edge of the Rockies.   I'm currently staying in a building called the "Hive," a massive structure that contains about 10 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, and of course, the pyramid. It overlooks the mesa, seas of scrubby sage bush, and a part of the arroyo hondo. You can also glimpse the "Greater World Community," where there are about 70 private Earthship homes.