RSS FeedFeb 09 2009
So You Want Your Very Own Earthship
So, after reviewing my insightful and riveting journalistic series on earthships, you’ve decidde you simply have to have one of your own. What are your options?
1. Buy One
Buying an earthship that is up for sale is definitely the quickest and least labor-intensive available option for getting in to your own earthship. And there are realtors, like John Kejr, who specialize in earthship listings.
By purchasing an existing structure you can most likely avoid the headaches involved in terms of passing muster with the local zoning boards. In most cases, someone else has already done the work for you.
On the down side of buying an existing structure, earthships tend to involve a lot of individualistic expression. If your tastes differ from the prior owners, remodeling may require more effort than in more traditionally-built homes. Many mortgage companies are also leery of alternative homes. (Although, there are some who do offer financing on earthships).
Finally, buying an existing home is likely to be the most expensive option per square foot.
2. Build One Yourself
Michael Reynolds has done a fantastic job of documenting how to build an earthship from the ground up in his 3-volume series “Earthship”. Volume One focuses on basic building techniques. Volume Two covers systems and components. Volume Three covers evolutions in techniques since the first two volumes were written. There are also two supplemental books: Water from the Sky and Comfort in Any Climate which cover water management and solar design, respectively, in more detail. All of the books can be found on Amazon or ordered from the Earthship Biotecture Store.
If you’re nervous that you won’t have the necessary skills to build your home simply by reading the books, you also have the option of attending a weekend seminar or contributing labor on a demo project in order to gain some hands-on experience.
Building your own earthship will involve a great deal of manually-intensive work. Most people who build their own earthships take 3-4 years to complete their projects. On the plus side, however, building your own home allows you to build as the funds become available, allowing you to avoid having to take out a mortgage.
If you want to get a good idea what you’re in for, though, check out the following videos…
3. Hire Someone Else to Build One For You
A growing number of architects and builders are becoming familiar with earthships. Earthship Biotecture can refer you to one in your area or you can hire them to build one for you.
In fact, Earthship Biotecture has built enough homes that they actually offer packaged designs with several custom features which range in size from one to three bedrooms, and are the most economical way to employ their services. The packaged designs run roughly $150 per square foot to have them build.
If you want something more individualistic in design, they can do that, too. You can either 
for you.
Of course, with building, you’re either going to have to have the funds on hand or you’re going to have to find a lender willing to finance the project. In addition, if you’re building somewhere other than an existing earthship community, you’re going to have to jump through some hoops with the local zoning board in your area to get a building permit.
4. Have Someone Build the Shell and You Do the Rest
An option between #2 and #3 would be to have someone build the outer shell and set up the systems in the house (solar, water, greywater), and then finish the project yourself. Earthship Biotecture is willing to do this and odds are good you might be able to hire a local earthship-friendly builder to do the same.
This route allows you to enlist the experts for the most difficult aspects of construction and then either serve as your own general contractor to coordinate local workers or finish the home by yourself, reducing overall costs. With this approach, you could also finish individual spaces as you had the funds (and time). This also would give you maximum flexibility in terms of finishing details like cabinetry, wall treats, floor materials, etc.
This option is not as backbreaking as #2 and not as expensive as #3.
This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but, hopefully I’ve given those of you who are interested in living in one of these fascinating homes a good starting point for investigating your options!
So, after reviewing my insightful and riveting journalistic series on earthships, you’ve decidde you simply have to have one of your own. What are your options?
1. Buy One
Buying an earthship that is up for sale is definitely the quickest and least labor-intensive available option for getting in to your own earthship. And there are realtors, like John Kejr, who specialize in earthship listings.
By purchasing an existing structure you can most likely avoid the headaches involved in terms of passing muster with the local zoning boards. In most cases, someone else has already done the work for you.
On the down side of buying an existing structure, earthships tend to involve a lot of individualistic expression. If your tastes differ from the prior owners, remodeling may require more effort than in more traditionally-built homes. Many mortgage companies are also leery of alternative homes. (Although, there are some who do offer financing on earthships).
Finally, buying an existing home is likely to be the most expensive option per square foot.
2. Build One Yourself
Michael Reynolds has done a fantastic job of documenting how to build an earthship from the ground up in his 3-volume series “Earthship”. Volume One focuses on basic building techniques. Volume Two covers systems and components. Volume Three covers evolutions in techniques since the first two volumes were written. There are also two supplemental books: Water from the Sky and Comfort in Any Climate which cover water management and solar design, respectively, in more detail. All of the books can be found on Amazon or ordered from the Earthship Biotecture Store.
If you’re nervous that you won’t have the necessary skills to build your home simply by reading the books, you also have the option of attending a weekend seminar or contributing labor on a demo project in order to gain some hands-on experience.
Building your own earthship will involve a great deal of manually-intensive work. Most people who build their own earthships take 3-4 years to complete their projects. On the plus side, however, building your own home allows you to build as the funds become available, allowing you to avoid having to take out a mortgage.
If you want to get a good idea what you’re in for, though, check out the following videos…
3. Hire Someone Else to Build One For You
A growing number of architects and builders are becoming familiar with earthships. Earthship Biotecture can refer you to one in your area or you can hire them to build one for you.
In fact, Earthship Biotecture has built enough homes that they actually offer packaged designs with several custom features which range in size from one to three bedrooms, and are the most economical way to employ their services. The packaged designs run roughly $150 per square foot to have them build.
If you want something more individualistic in design, they can do that, too. You can either for you.
Of course, with building, you’re either going to have to have the funds on hand or you’re going to have to find a lender willing to finance the project. In addition, if you’re building somewhere other than an existing earthship community, you’re going to have to jump through some hoops with the local zoning board in your area to get a building permit.
4. Have Someone Build the Shell and You Do the Rest
An option between #2 and #3 would be to have someone build the outer shell and set up the systems in the house (solar, water, greywater), and then finish the project yourself. Earthship Biotecture is willing to do this and odds are good you might be able to hire a local earthship-friendly builder to do the same.
This route allows you to enlist the experts for the most difficult aspects of construction and then either serve as your own general contractor to coordinate local workers or finish the home by yourself, reducing overall costs. With this approach, you could also finish individual spaces as you had the funds (and time). This also would give you maximum flexibility in terms of finishing details like cabinetry, wall treats, floor materials, etc.
This option is not as backbreaking as #2 and not as expensive as #3.
This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but, hopefully I’ve given those of you who are interested in living in one of these fascinating homes a good starting point for investigating your options!
Wow, great site! You seem like a kindred spirit. Blogrollin’ ya, & I’ll be back to read more…
As I meander haphazardly through your site, I find this from a few months ago and think “Ah, yes: we just had this conversation afresh” and yet you still approached the conversation with fun and openness – not (as some other bloggers do) with annoyance that one hasn’t read the whole site, or done searches on topic before broaching topic or so on: If I had the time to figure out how exactly to be organized I surely would, and would immediately delve into it as a wonderful way of life. Seems a distant dream though considering the demands of life, day in and day out … so just going back in time here to say yet again what a great blog you have- and beyond that how refreshing it is to trade thoughts with someone so not invested in the power blogger mentality of it all. (When, in fact, your blog has certainly evolved in such as way as to qualify!) All the best …
As I meander haphazardly through your site, I find this from a few months ago and think “Ah, yes: we just had this conversation afresh” and yet you still approached the conversation with fun and openness – not (as some other bloggers do) with annoyance that one hasn’t read the whole site, or done searches on topic before broaching topic or so on: If I had the time to figure out how exactly to be organized I surely would, and would immediately delve into it as a wonderful way of life. Seems a distant dream though considering the demands of life, day in and day out … so just ‘going back in time’ here to say yet again what a great blog you have- and beyond that how refreshing it is to trade thoughts with someone so not invested in the power blogger mentality of it all. (When, in fact, your blog has certainly evolved in such as way as to qualify!) All the best …
Lynne, thank you for your very kind comment. It’s been a pretty rough week so it was especially appreciated this morning.
Thank you also for your email. My mother is in town and I’m a tight deadline for work so please forgive me if it takes a little while to respond. I will once I come up for air, though.