Life in an Earthship
(Page 4 of 4)
April/May 2005
By Ellen Craig
My first real test of off-the-grid living came shortly after getting my certificate of occupancy when a fall snowstorm turned into a multiday blizzard. I called my mother who lived about 25 miles away and learned she was wrapped up in blankets sitting in the dark. Apparently, I had been blissfully ignorant that power was off to the whole county. I fetched Mom, and we weathered the blizzard at my house, toasty warm and with plenty of hot food, thanks to my glorious Wedgewood stove.
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I am thrilled with how well the house turned out. Of course, if I were going to do it again, there are some things I would change. I would spend a year researching Earthship design and construction techniques before I decided on final plans. I would make ease of construction a major criterion in my choice of a building site. I also would pay for a professionally engineered and installed water drainage system; the simple drain I installed turned into a flooding nightmare that was only resolved after additional trenching and blasting to the tune of about $10,000. Most importantly, I would purchase an inexpensive trailer and connect it to electrical and water systems before moving onto the property so that I could live more comfortably while building. Never again do I plan to spend a winter camping above 9,000 feet!
Through this process, I’ve learned so many things I never knew about: strength and slump of concrete, tire sizes and carpentry terminology. I’m so proud of building this house that it’s sometimes hard not to make faces when people tell me “we built our house,” when what they really mean is they approved the plans and paid for all the labor. But I’m also encouraged to see how few resources it really takes to build and maintain a home with a very comfortable style of living. I love living off the grid, and I hope more people will have a chance to experience this kind of independence.
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