earthships

[2007blueprius]

I am trying to get back there as soon as possible, I just keep getting pulled in different directions, I just want to quit everything and go to town, the video of the escavator pretty much sums it up, I'll get some pics, and all the sugestions you mentioned are in the works, I figured at the time I am just toying with the Idea of which way to build, I have to clear the entire lot to have a better look, at the moment I need a canoe to get to the back, some grading /pond etc, should keep me bussy this year, I have been keeping an eye on it since I got it, I was out there in the coldest day at high noon checking out the sun..

My gut tells me after everything I read and all the numbers I ran, there is not enough solar gain in januarry, rest of the year, should be ok, cooling is not an issue, thou with this landscape those cooling tubes would be more like drains and frog breeding ground, I tend to overdo everything therefore I have to look into insulating it better so I can keep in whatever solar gain I get, granted wood stove is a backup but that is a lot of work too cutting/splitting them, and while I like my toys, tractor/backhoe, I dont believe in contraptions such as log splitters.

so when you look at insulating/watterproofing underground oh boy, basements, just as bad of a nightmare, crawl, well you cant put anything efficient on top unless it is encapsulated at which point might as well be a basement, with a lighter build on stilts ( that was actually my innitial thought I came across Earthships while looking into it ) so much for the thermal mass, and the double boards is a poor excuse compared to an earthship, the whole reasoning for leaning towards a lighter build at the moment is that I dont believe I have enough solar gain to justify all that mass, which brings other chalanges that overweigh the benefit, I am planning on Earthship concept foor everything else, I would not mind adding a sun room on the ground with planters, if it turns out to be wet and cold oh well, I dont live in it, or the other thought was to do a workshop in a more earthship manner see haw it does

 

[AndyH]

FYI - there's an Earthship Academy grad nearby. I don't know the person or what other skills or experience they bring to the table. To be an official regional point of contact and use the words "Earthship" and/or "Biotecture" in their activity, they must graduate from an Earthship Academy, intern on a full build, then do an approved independent study. The independent work could be another building or research project.

https://www.facebook.com/earthshipdetroit

 

[2007blueprius]

that is cool, looks completed too, I had heard of some initiatives, Allen Park I belive, this may be it completed, I'd be curious to find out more particularily pay a visit in Januarry, looks like they got the tires mud and all. granted not a full blown global but good experiment,

I was considering earlier as I would get swamped in the country I come home in the suburbs and they were dry, mostly because of all the storm drains, so we'll see how I make out this year, like I said there are some aspects that hold me back from a pure Earthship, but the concept I love, so as much as I can afford to incorporate, time wise and money,

 

[AndyH]

that is cool, looks completed too, I had heard of some initiatives, Allen Park I belive, this may be it completed, I'd be curious to find out more particularily pay a visit in Januarry, looks like they got the tires mud and all. granted not a full blown global but good experiment,

I was considering earlier as I would get swamped in the country I come home in the suburbs and they were dry, mostly because of all the storm drains, so we'll see how I make out this year, like I said there are some aspects that hold me back from a pure Earthship, but the concept I love, so as much as I can afford to incorporate, time wise and money,

The place in Detroit looks like one of the growing list of small greenhouse-type buildings. They're easier to do in many locations that are locked-down by building departments. Hopefully it leads to change.

Glad to hear your property is draining better. I lived for a while in Fenton - couldn't mow most of the back yard until late summer when the 'swamp' dried out. It's OK as long as you like cattails and don't want to build there.

The folks in Montana updated their photos and info. This is one of the most recent Global Model builds in the US.

24 below zero this morning... No fires, no heat: 63°. People spent a lot of money keeping their house at 63°.

http://earthship.com/montana

That's my kind of sleeping weather, right there. I could absolutely see tucking a small wood stove or rocket stove for really cold mornings, though.

 

[2007blueprius]

you know I should have settled in the mountains, victim of circumstances I guess, as it is I am having a hard time getting 20 miles out of town for more than a couple hours, I would rather do something in the up, but that will never happen, and to leave everything behind and start over sounds like too much, sure wish I could do it allover again, maybe my boy will.

I did not get pics but I will, it will drain fine as soon as I get my way with it, the topsoil is very rich too, weather is still funny up here thou I lived in such climate all my life not sure how I would feel trading for the desert and all the reptilians, I'm hoping Sunday I'll get to go back out there