Inside the Off-Grid Earthship Community in New Mexico 🇺🇸

This is a 640 acre independent Earth ship development. No heating bill, no electric bill, no water bill. This is wonderland. And there's land. Wide open

spaces. What brought you out here? >> Earthships. >> This house has its own water. Produces

food. Rosemary and lemon grass. I lost my license for this in New Mexico. It's

just tires and dirt. Wow. >> That's why it's so easy. Anybody can do it.

>> It'll last forever. You got old people, you got young people, you got single people, you got kids. >> The state's still on you. >> I'm refighting the battles I fought 30 years ago. This is the most interesting garage you've ever seen.

years ago. This is the most interesting garage you've ever seen.

>> I want an airship that I can stamp out like Henry Ford stamped out the Model T's. Here we have a sauna, a woodf fired sauna. I accidentally chose New Mexico.

T's. Here we have a sauna, a woodf fired sauna. I accidentally chose New Mexico.

I came out here to race motocross. >> No way. It's weird for people to look at cans and bottles and tires as building materials. I got stage four cancer and I feel like I've just now got a handle on what I'm doing. [Music]

>> All right, guys. Little bit outside of Talos, New Mexico. >> Sustainable independent homes, >> completely self-sufficient, off the grid. >> Yeah, I did one where those three peaks are back there and it was too far out. People want to be no less than 20 minutes from Walmart.

>> Even these people out here, >> they're 20 minutes from Walmart.

>> They want They're going to Walmart. Yeah. Yeah. To grocery stores, whatever.

Like I've had people go four hours from the nearest store up in Canada and build their home. Okay.

>> You know, sustainable home. >> Yep. >> And after they've been there a year, they want to go. They want home. They want to go back to the city. People need

people. Here is the balance. We're right on the highway. We're 20 minutes from town. It's got room for 130 homes and it's got 100 in it. This is still

town. It's got room for 130 homes and it's got 100 in it. This is still radical housing made of tires. I mean, so many things making it too radical for

for people and I knew that. But when I got them 20 minutes from Walmart, they're doing it.

>> Okay. God, it's just like I'm 80. I got stage four cancer and I feel like I've just now got a handle on what I'm doing. I know I would love to live another 50

years cuz I could I could do some damage from what I know. But this was a model called the Unity model. We've had a lot of different models. What I'm looking for, and I'm there pretty much, is I want an airship that I can stamp out

like Henry Ford stamped out the Model T's. That's what the world needs. They

don't need me tripping around doing architectural They need a product that they can get their hands on that will take care of them. >> And you're almost there.

>> I'm almost there. I'd say I sort of am there. That building over there, that's what I'm saying is that Model T. >> Okay, >> we call it refuge. Although I'm taking that now. I was just drawing this morning. I'm taking that and making it

that now. I was just drawing this morning. I'm taking that and making it tornado proof and fireproof. These got a lot of wood and I love this building. But

>> are we going to be able to go out to that one? >> Yeah, we're going to go to it.

>> Oh, cool. All right. >> Wow, look at this. >> I lost my license for this in New Mexico. This is the sewage system. No way. >> You do a load of laundry in the washing

Mexico. This is the sewage system. No way. >> You do a load of laundry in the washing machine and it these are rubber line cells and the water drains into the

rubber line cells in gravel and everything keeps recirc flush the toilet with. Half of your sewage is treated inside your home. The toilet and the kitchen sink go outside.

So, this is either security behind you or an assistant of sorts or someone working with you like >> just a friend, >> right? Okay. What's your name? >> I'm Deb.

>> Deb. And you're working out here, too? >> Yeah. I lead the all the nonprofit projects that we do with our ships. >> Okay. >> And then I help out help Mike out wherever I can.

>> Okay. So, everything's coming out of here. It goes out of the bathroom. See,

the bathrooms are all frontly located. Like, if you go through here, here's a bathroom.

>> Okay. And so, that's the thing people have to get used to. You can't have your house however you want it. It's got to be how biology and physics wants it to take care of you. So

want it. It's got to be how biology and physics wants it to take care of you. So

the bathroom has to be out on the front. >> So the water goes from the bathroom into the planters that are rubber lined to treat that water. And again, the toilet and the kitchen sink go outside. >> So you're out in the desert, obviously

groundwater, well water. How you getting your water, >> sky?

>> You're getting not many inches out here. >> But that's the thing. That's what I told the state engineer authorities. They said, "Rynns, you can't collect water in New Mexico and run a house off of it because there's just not enough water.

We only get 7 in of total precipitation a year." It was 40 years ago.

I went back to him and I said, "What if I do this? What if I catch the water that measly seven inches, okay, and I run it through planters that grow food?"

So then I have a situation where you take a shower in the rain water and you use it to water your food production and you reather it again to flush your toilet

and then that goes out and does landscaping. That takes that 7 in of water and makes it 21. They helped me put the numbers together a long time ago

to do it. Here's what's really up. I call it the changing of the guard. This

is the kitchen. The government keeps changing. They don't recognize the variances and passes I got from 30 years ago. The botanical cells run all the way through the house.

>> Smells a bit tropical in here. >> It is. You smell the plants. These plant

Here's another thing that people don't know. Ferns, bananas, they spit out oxygen and clean the air.

>> It's like you're living outside. Now, here's the utility area. See, this is the water comes from a sister. And see, I've got like uh I can look here right now.

>> Oh, gotcha. I see the tube here. >> My sistns are full. Yeah. I'm like

totally full of water right now. >> That's a good feeling out here, huh?

>> Yeah. Hell yes. And it's got enough water for 3 months or so. And we'll go six months without water sometimes. Here's the power system. This is the solar power batteries,

>> okay? >> Inverter and it runs the power. So, this house has its own power, has its own water,

>> okay? >> Inverter and it runs the power. So, this house has its own power, has its own water, produces food. The temperature it's at right now, it stays this way. 20 below zero 104.

produces food. The temperature it's at right now, it stays this way. 20 below zero 104.

>> Too hot, you open the windows or >> I'll show you what you do. >> Or what are you doing here? for

ventilation and for cooling. There's a tube. It's 15inch tube.

>> Okay. All the way to the other side. >> And if you open this >> Y >> and go around here and open this transom, you got a sweep of air in every room.

>> Okay. So, we're high enough in altitude where it doesn't get too hot.

>> 104 degrees is pretty hot. >> You get 104, but the night's cooled down.

>> The night's cooled down. Okay. Glass bottles obviously.

>> Yeah. Bottles. They look this this this is a material that we throw away in dumps. It'll last forever. >> Okay. >> Why? And we pay for stain glass, too. >> Yeah. And then it's

dumps. It'll last forever. >> Okay. >> Why? And we pay for stain glass, too. >> Yeah. And then it's >> so it's just glass and you cement around the glass. >> We we cut the bottles the necks off and paste the two bottoms together. So you got a Here's another bathroom.

>> Okay. So we're going to the house. You're saying you want to be the model T Henry Ford model home because when I look at this I see a lot of labor, a lot of crowd.

>> Nobody can afford this. >> This is going to cost a fortune these days.

>> This is a million dollar house. >> Yeah.$450 >> or five a square foot. >> Okay.

>> 700 square foot is like what it is out there. >> Yeah. >> And um there we're still cheaper than that. But the regular people of the world, they can't afford this. Now I did

that. But the regular people of the world, they can't afford this. Now I did this I do it every once in a while like we go to the Phoenix I do a building to showcase >> Phoenix is another one of these homes >> these kind Yeah. And I do things to

showcase these homes for wealthier people so they'll know that you don't have to live in a teepee to be sustainable. >> Yeah. It feels comfortable in here. >> I need to make it available for billions of people. The people that you know the

bluecollar people the people that don't have a fortune. >> Yeah. It seems like most things have moved along technologically like building a car, but homes not so much.

>> Here's what's really funny. They have test they test cars and people die when they test cars on the salt flats. They test airplanes. They test rocket ships.

They test drugs. They allow for all this testing to take place. They don't have any place to test homes. I introduced a law in the state of New Mexico called

the New Mexico sustainable testing sites act and they after four years Bill Richardson passed uh signed it into legislation. It is a law so you can test

housing but then they still made so many stipulations not even worth it. But this

640 acre community has tested housing. We have tested housing and come up with the fact that we can make a unit that totally addresses the six points of survival that people need, which is comfortable shelter, electricity, water,

food, something to do with your sewage, and something to do with your >> inside, not outside.

>> Inside. It's crazy to grow food outside here. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Rabbits, crows, everything.

>> And you got cans up here. >> Cans, bottles, everything.

>> Is that just for a look? That's for the shine right? >> Yeah. Yeah. It's just, you know, the the refuge doesn't have any of this. The refuge has just got survival.

I accidentally chose New Mexico. I came out here to race motocross. >> No way.

>> To get hurt so I wouldn't have to go to Vietnam. >> Are you serious?

>> That's it. There's my bike right there. >> Convvil was your idol or something?

>> No, not necessarily. He's an idiot. >> He knew how to get hurt.

>> Yeah. See that bike back there? >> Yep. >> I'd rather be hurt than go to Vietnam.

It was ridiculous. So that's why I came here. And then then the laws and codes and everything were laxed 50 years ago. Yeah. >> So there's a tarantula.

>> I got a fourstar review. It's an Airbnb rather than a fivestar review >> because of these guys.

>> Tarantula walked through the veranda. >> They do nothing. >> You can put your hand next to it and it'll just be Oh, didn't like that. But they don't do anything. So this is all it right across 640

acres. 320 are for housing, 320 are for animals. 3 acre circle floating lots in

acres. 320 are for housing, 320 are for animals. 3 acre circle floating lots in a matrix of 320 acres of land that cannot be touched except you can walk on it. You can ride a horse on it. >> Okay? >> So that makes the buildings far away but

it. You can ride a horse on it. >> Okay? >> So that makes the buildings far away but not so far away that you feel lonely. This community works in many ways. It's

evident that it works because it's 12 homes from being built out. It's being

developed for 30 years. Usually communities are done in 5 years, >> right?

>> But this is radical and people don't flock to it. You have to go slow and people as things get worse on the planet, they decide they want to buy them a home. There's the latest one that sold right there. That refuge

>> right there off the side of the road. >> Yeah. Two school teachers bought it.

>> What's the price, if you don't mind me asking? >> 500 grand. >> How many square feet?

>> 1,700 roughly. >> Okay. All good to go though. Turn key. >> Turn key. No, no utility bills, no heating bill, no electric bill, no water bill, no sewage bill. 500 grand and you are taken care of for life. >> You're in. And they're they're retired

or they're educators around here. >> They got jobs teaching in town. There's

the Phoenix. That's not to be repeated. It's a $2 million house.

>> So, I notice you go subterranean a little bit and that just helps with heating and cooling, right? >> Yeah. You're going into the earth because 4t into the earth there's a stable temperature of around 58°. You're tapping into that so that your heating requirements

are less and then you can heat it with the sun. The way these houses function is like a thermos bottle. You heat up your soup in the morning. You put hot soup in your thermos bottle. It's all insulated and you make a little bubble

inside that hot soup and that's where you live. So that hot suit that you heat from the sun in this case keeps you warm all the time. But then I've gotten a

little bit smarter. It's not only the phenomena of biology and physics, but humans are a phenomena.

>> Right. Very few collective societies ever work out because humans are messy.

>> Exactly. But here's my underlying theory at this point. Everybody thinks they can save the world, you know, by Bill Gates buying food or somebody providing

housing or whatever, world peace. It's all rhetoric. You take the lowest common denominator, people must have those six things I rattled off. >> Yep.

>> If you got everybody with those six things, that's a start for less stress.

>> Okay. One more thing, can I add? >> Yeah. >> Secure environment.

>> Secure. What do you mean by that? no crime around here. You don't worry about breakins. You don't worry about safety so much. >> I leave my houses unlocked.

breakins. You don't worry about safety so much. >> I leave my houses unlocked.

>> So, I'm just saying in your equation of six main things. The seventh is the secure environment that takes the >> Well, you you can have 7, 8, 9, and 10 for other things, but I'm talking about those six things I lit on because they they are what keeps you alive. >> Yeah. >> Then Yeah. Secure environment those pyramid

>> and and see the only thing I have to worry about out here is my crew.

My crew may come and not steal but take or whatever something they need. But uh

this it's the Phoenix and the reason we named it the Phoenix is it was right at the time when they crucified me that I started this building. They did

everything. State of New Mexico took my license because I was pushing the envelope. I was breaking every I remember the attorney general said

envelope. I was breaking every I remember the attorney general said Reynolds, you're breaking every rule in the book. We could we could find you to the point that you would never never recover. And she said she kind of liked

what we were doing then eventually. And she said, "But I have an idea that can keep you from getting destroyed financially." >> Okay. >> Relinquish your architect's license and

your contractor's license. Then you're not breaking any rules as a civilian.

And if you do that, we'll forgive everything. So I did. And then the state board tried to take it national and they complained to the national board and the national board took my license. So I was without any license. The national board

what was interesting though was they were just responding to the state board which is some weird people and they said here we're going to take your license but here's how to get it back in a year. So I got everything back. I'm licensed in Colorado.

>> Oh wow. >> Nevada. >> Wow. Yeah, this is >> Arizona. >> Full on greenhouse in here.

>> This is a a biosphere. >> Yeah. Humidity is what? What are we at? 80%.

>> Something like that. Tangerines year round. >> Oh, wow. This is >> fish.

>> I fished here and caught fish. >> Before. >> So, you can eat out of what you're growing in your house to some degree. >> Here's the thing. People ask me this question all the time. Can you survive on what you can grow in an Earth ship? I

used to say no because I was a steak and margarita man. Steaks wrapped in bacon with a side of bacon with a chocolate mousse. I got stage four cancer. I eat

nothing but vegetables and tangerines and sprouts. So my answer now is yes, you can live from what you can grow in an earth ship. Grapes, tangerines. This

is still an Airbnb. So >> okay, >> it's not set up to how I would have it set up. It's set up for tourists. This is a flamboyant house.

set up. It's set up for tourists. This is a flamboyant house.

>> Oh, yeah. This is not a assembly line home at all. You're uh this is a one-off. >> Yeah, exactly.

>> Oh, wow. >> It's like looking at the world and seeing what's needed. And I'm just driven to do that because there's so many people that don't have homes, so

many people that don't have food. That causes stress. The result of stress is disease, crime, spousal abuse, war. I see sustainable independent housing at

the root of the cure for the planet. And it's it may not be everything, but it sure as hell is a good start. So much flow in here. What about Gotti? Are you a Gotti fan?

>> I like Gotti. >> I can see a little bit of that in here.

>> Yeah, I've been accused of that before. >> Okay. Oh, look at this nice little romantic lounge zone. Were you ever married? Are you married? I was married once and had a son. I got married again and was married and divorced three times

to the same woman. My actual third wedding to her is in National Geographic because they were doing an article on trash in 83. And then finally we divorced for the last time and I married Chris who I've been with for 35 years

and she puts up with it. This is my life. I don't go to the spa or play golf or hunt or fish or do anything else. I live this. I do this. I wake up. I dream

about it. I wake up in the morning and do it. So you I mean you found your passion at a younger age then. I lucked out. Yeah. So I don't have any problem with doing this.

That shouldn't be sticking. >> We got maintenance people that What? Oh, you turn the waterfall on.

>> Have you got the fire on? >> Yeah. >> Oh, cool. Waterfall's over here.

>> That used to be a regular wood fireplace, but I had people chopping wood inside the goddamn building and destroying the floors. So, I had to make

it into a gas fireplace where they and then people will go and throw logs in there and try to burn a fire on a gas fireplace >> and then complain about tarantulas outside.

>> Yeah. PE people are their own worst enemy.

>> These are plastic bottles. What's is there a difference? Plastic or glass? as far as >> well plastic glass will last anywhere. Plastic has to be inside or it'll deteriorate outside.

>> Okay, another bedroom. So, I got to say the humidity is nice in the desert.

>> Yeah, we're creating an environment. >> There's the other bathroom.

>> Here's an interesting thing. >> There are people that do not want to live with plants. It's too earthy. I've made some buildings that block the plants off, but people do appreciate it and like it whether or not they want to

live this way. They got a compliment that I got pissed off at it. People,

these people said, "Well, I was standing in our ship and I couldn't tell the difference from a regular house. It had a washing machine and dryer and hot water and everything. It was regular." And I was like, "Live it. I'm busting my ass trying to make these things better. But then I realized that's the best

compliment I've ever had. >> Oh, why? >> Because I made it. I made them think they're in a regular house. >> Bruce. >> Mike's calling me Bruce Willis off camera.

So, everything coming off the roof, I'm taking every drop of water. Art played a role here. And art's nice, but economic utility is the most important thing in this world. >> Y

role here. And art's nice, but economic utility is the most important thing in this world. >> Y

>> I cannot do anything but this. This is my hobby. This is my religion. This is

my economic base. I was in Australia, I guess. No, I was in Haiti. I was in Haiti and then I had to go to Australia and then I had to go to China. But

anyway, I got impressed in Haiti with the with what we did in Haiti for the people and everything. in China then and and they take me out to dinner and they took me to McDonald's because they thought I would love well I

did I like a Big Mac. So they took me to McDonald's and I'm sitting there in McDonald's sketching on a McDonald's napkin about a building that we have built here many of them called Simple Survival. I'm at a bar in an airport

sketching on a napkin and people go what are you doing? I'm like I can't stop. If

I did stop I'd probably die. So, it's just I'm doing this. I'm doing it.

>> Has it gotten easier now, though? >> No. >> The state's still on you?

>> Oh, yeah. They're they're I'm refighting the battles I fought 30 years ago cuz there's new people there that Well, this is the law and I don't That guy's not here anymore that passed this variance for you. So, you got to do it all over.

I got water. I'm doing all over the subdivision itself. I'm having to refight the whole battle on the subdivision. >> So, you didn't do the hard yards. It's

in the rearview mirror. You're still >> No, I'm like >> it's on the treadmill.

>> I'm like definitely I see no end in sight and I've come to grips with it.

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Now, back to the story. >> Living a dream is a done kihote dream.

What I'm dreaming is impossible to try to get everybody on the planet into a building that takes care of them. >> What about highdensity urban areas? It

the most efficient way is stack them high. >> I can do it. I've got drawings that show it >> with bottles and and plastic or the those >> using the same designs. I build what I call a land assembly. Put earth ships in it. It's like a big parking garage only.

You slide earth ships in it and it's on an angle so you can get the sun. There's

a bunch of early models here. >> Okay. These are sort of the earlier ones.

>> Yeah. And they're okay. They're still better than a frame house, but >> So, can someone go on Zillow to find these things online or >> Yeah. Lots of people have built them that I haven't had anything to do with.

>> Yeah. Lots of people have built them that I haven't had anything to do with.

There's some crappy ones out there. >> They've given a bad name to our ships.

Okay, here's some new ones going in. >> Yeah, this is a gravel pit that they made to make the highway and I'm reclaiming it with our ships. >> Is this your zone, Deb?

>> Yeah, this is my future house. >> It's about 2/3 done. Sorry for the mess.

This is all building materials over here. >> So, building material tires are in the walls or what?

>> Correct. Yeah. So every earth ship, the structural walls all around are made out of scrap tires that are filled with dirt, pounded down dirt, and that's what gives every earth ship that thermal mass. So every wall is about big and

that's what keeps that the temperature in the house at a stable. >> It's just tires and dirt.

>> Exactly. Yeah. That's why it's so easy. Everybody Anybody can do it.

>> So you're getting these tires from the junkyard or something.

>> Yeah, we get them from the junkyard. We also get them from just scrap tire places in town.

>> And a lot of people don't know when you take a tire off there's all this steel bead in them. There's a lot of material. They're quite beefy.

>> Yeah, for sure. I mean, some of these take about six or seven wheelbarls full of dirt just to fill them. Okay. >> We can look at some of them here that are already pounded. Um because of where my my house is in a bit of a strange

place here. So, we're actually building a retaining wall right now. And that's

place here. So, we're actually building a retaining wall right now. And that's

what all these tires are for. The tire walls in the house are done. Um, but

tires are great because they're, you know, they're they're they're garbage.

They're you can find them everywhere in the world and they're amazing building material. And so, yeah, you just fill them up with dirt, pound them, and they

material. And so, yeah, you just fill them up with dirt, pound them, and they become these 300 lb bricks, >> right, >> that don't go anywhere. And that make it so that the temperature is always stable in your house. You got a little pond here, future pond or

>> Yeah, it's been raining quite a lot. We had a big rainstorm last week and uh nobody wanted this lot because it is so deep and a lot of people were throwing their trash in here and I loved it because you collect water. I mean, it's

a waterfront property in the desert. >> You have to put these tire for the erosion. You can see it right there, right? That's what the tires are

erosion. You can see it right there, right? That's what the tires are protecting. So that's what we're starting tomorrow actually is we're

protecting. So that's what we're starting tomorrow actually is we're going to be doing a retaining wall all the way up here and then plant erosion

control grass and each tire. >> Well, come on in. >> Okay,

>> so this is a refuge model airship and it was actually one of the first ones that we started building. Uh but I've been taking my time to build it. I'm

completely building it out of pocket kind of, you know, I save up some money, put it into the house, and then save up some more money and put it into the house. >> Okay.

>> Without a, you know, a loan or mortgage. Once it's done, the house is paid off.

>> There's two bedrooms on either side and then living, dining area, and two bathrooms on each side of the greenhouse. >> What brought you out here? >> Ships.

>> And you're from where originally? >> I'm from the Canary Islands originally.

>> Love it. And my first project was in Malawi in Africa which I wasn't actually supposed to go and I only went to do some promo material to get some footage

and do you know video and photo and then ended up helping to organize the project there. And that was in September 2013. >> Okay. >> And then uh I met Mike and uh the rest

there. And that was in September 2013. >> Okay. >> And then uh I met Mike and uh the rest of the crew there and thought who are these hippies? And uh thought I'll give it a go. And yeah,

>> here you are. >> Ever since then. >> Okay, so this area has to be interesting for you with your Spanish because there's a lot of like older traditional Spanish in the region, right? >> Yeah. >> Which like words that have hung on for

hundreds of years that you don't even speak in Spain. >> Yeah, there is a lot of old Spanish last names and even when you hear some of the olden speak, it's it's very, you know, very old Spanish. And up in the mountains here, there's villages where

they still speak very old Spanish as well. >> Is that cool for you?

>> Oh yeah, it's it's very cool. Toss is an interesting place because you have the old Spanish taoseno, then you know you have all the Mexican influence. You

obviously have the Native American influence. It's a really cool cultural melting.

>> It is. It's an interesting confluence in rural America. >> Yeah, for sure. Yeah.

So if you put your hand right here, you can feel how there's it's almost like AC coming out of there. So that's >> Yeah. >> That's your cooling in the house. So

>> and that's just pulling from underground. >> Yeah. So there's a big tube going under the house. It can go either behind the house or to the front of the house. This

the house. It can go either behind the house or to the front of the house. This

one, because it's on a cliff, it goes to the front of the house and it draws in that cold air and then it comes out here. And because this window is open up here, you know, as the cold air comes in and it warms up, hot air rises and

that's what creates that cross ventilation. >> You pretty pumped on this thing?

>> Oh, I love it. This is my dream project. Um, and I'm trying to prove to Mike that you can do ships that are not totally flamboyant, but are a little bit more >> It's more budget friendly. >> Yeah. And also a little bit more simple in terms of the decoration.

So people living out here are most retired or most working in cows.

>> It's evolved over the years. When we first started the community, it was youngish hipsters. What do you call them? U yuppies. Yepy types. But now,

youngish hipsters. What do you call them? U yuppies. Yepy types. But now,

you know, with the world going to hell in a handbag, you got old people, you got young people, you got single people, you got kids. Everybody is a little bit afraid. And you get them in a building like this and they're not afraid

afraid. And you get them in a building like this and they're not afraid anymore. So, there's a bit of that we're self-sufficient out here. Things go

anymore. So, there's a bit of that we're self-sufficient out here. Things go

really crooked, then we're we're going to be better out here than the than the cities.

>> Unless they drop an atomic bomb right here, Deborah will have everything she needs in this house. Whether the economy crashes or not, whether the politics goes crazy or not, she will have food. She will have electricity. She will have

water. She will have flushing toilet. Like when Hurricane Sandy hit New York

water. She will have flushing toilet. Like when Hurricane Sandy hit New York City, people couldn't even take a in New York City. How many millions of them here? No matter what happens, we're making a vessel that will allow you to have a life.

here? No matter what happens, we're making a vessel that will allow you to have a life.

>> And it's not like we're preppers or anything either, you know? It's not like we're kind of waiting for the end of the world but >> it is a solution. >> We're not waiting >> because it's alreadyed up. We're waiting for it to get moreed up.

>> And speaking of the bomb, it was developed right down the road. >> Uhhuh.

>> Well, that's what I said to 2,000 people once. I said, "New Mexico is a state that blew apart 10,000 acres that you can't even go to for another 250,000

years. They blew apart 10,000 acres in the interest of national security. I'm

years. They blew apart 10,000 acres in the interest of national security. I'm

just saying, can't we take a few hundred acres and test housing in the interest of national security?" Because New Mexico is the state that did that. And

the 2,000 people stood up and applauded.

>> This is a cool one. I like that. >> Yeah, that's a couple of architects.

They used to work for me and now they got their own architectural firm and they >> Oh, just to make it clear, this is private, right? This community like no one can just drive back here. >> Well, they do, but no, they're not. >> Okay, but it's private.

>> Yeah. >> Okay. I just want to make that clear. >> That was a package model. So, I got always the models. >> Model T comes in any color as long as it's black. And that's why I don't do clients much. See, what if what if Henry Ford was doing a special car for

clients much. See, what if what if Henry Ford was doing a special car for everybody that wanted one? That's what I'm saying with the refugee ship.

what you want. what you think you want. This comes in any color as long as it's black. That concept that he created, he created the mass-roduced

it's black. That concept that he created, he created the mass-roduced travel machine that took over the earth. Literally took over the earth. And so

travel machines are not a great thing, especially gasoline ones. So I'm trying till I die, which who knows when it's going to be, to get a a living machine that will take over the earth. And I've got it. See, I thought I had it years

ago, but I didn't have it so that it would catch to the people like a disease like corona virus.

>> Okay? >> I had my little dream, but people didn't like my little dream. So, I had to make it affordable is what the word is. Affordable and easy to obtain and easy to permit. I mean, all of the uppy people on the Titanic, they wouldn't

to permit. I mean, all of the uppy people on the Titanic, they wouldn't even get in a life raft with with a bunch of poor people. But when the Titanic was sinking, >> they'd get in any life raft. And it turns out there wasn't enough of them. Yeah.

>> So, I'm making a life raft for people to to jump into now because things are up now. Really? I believe the government should be providing this for

up now. Really? I believe the government should be providing this for people. They should have the common sense to realize that if all the people

people. They should have the common sense to realize that if all the people have everything they need, then what are they going to have to demonstrate about or fight about? But Mike, what about this? We were talking off camera about taxes.

>> Yeah. How much they piss you off? How much they piss me off >> to afford all that? You're going to have to tax more, right? This stuff's not cheap at scale.

>> No, not necessarily. >> Okay. >> They waste a lot of our tax money.

>> Oh, that's true. Take the war budget and you could house every human being on the planet. Period. Just like that. I could do the math. Take the war budget and you

planet. Period. Just like that. I could do the math. Take the war budget and you could house every human being on the planet. >> We still need a military though.

>> Okay. Take half the war budget and then have Oprah and and Musk contribute the rest. What the who can who can actually handle as much money as those idiots have? I mean,

rest. What the who can who can actually handle as much money as those idiots have? I mean,

I'm not a rich man. I am rich in the fact that I want what nobody else wants.

I want garbage. Nobody else wants it. And these things are 50% garbage.

>> These buildings are 50% garbage. And I'm even setting it up so they'll even be more. I'm trying to reduce the amount of wood. I don't like the amount of wood.

more. I'm trying to reduce the amount of wood. I don't like the amount of wood.

This is the Model T. We're going to >> Model T. >> This is two months into be building.

>> How many square feet? >> 1,600,700 something like that. >> Okay. How many beds? Baths.

>> Two beds. Two baths. Very simple. Our concept is uh grocery money. Our whole

company runs on grocery money. In other words, everybody makes enough to buy groceries, but there's no profit at the end of the year in this company. Here's

the funny thing is a lot of the people like Deborah that work with us, they live in Earth ships. They don't need much money. So, I'm seeing it work right before my very eyes. Oh, wow. This is okay. This is easy. You're saying

>> this is easy. I'm constantly making it easier. >> The windows are expensive though, right?

>> Yeah. There's $10,000 worth of glass in here. >> So, hurricane, you need impact windows for hurricane for country. >> The tornado proof that we're work, that's the that I'm drawing right now. >> Bulletproof glass.

>> So, that's the biggest expense, I bet. >> Yeah. Bulletproof glass and a slab roof, not a metal roof that would blow away in a tornado. >> Dad, this is what yours is going to look like? >> Yeah, it's a similar model. This one is a little bit bigger, a little bit better.

like? >> Yeah, it's a similar model. This one is a little bit bigger, a little bit better.

>> So, it's under construction. >> Okay. >> Bathroom at either end. But see, here's the thing.

I just can't stop. I don't like the amount of wood. >> You're not liking that for fire.

>> Fire, termites, and a tornado would take the roof off this house.

>> What are you going to use instead of wood? >> Cement vault. >> Okay.

>> So, I've got the same building I'm building with cement vaults. Other than that, >> it's nice because you can see all the tires. >> Yeah. Okay. So, they're all like this with the tires. >> Yeah. That's garbage. And >> what is the can doing here?

>> Well, we fill between the tires and that just makes us use less mud to make it so the mud.

>> This is This isn't concrete. >> This is No, that's mud right from the That's seriously. That's dirt >> and that works. >> Straw and a little bit of sand and straw.

That's seriously. That's dirt >> and that works. >> Straw and a little bit of sand and straw.

>> You just get it wet and it sticks. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's formulas. But this

is, see how I could show you pictures of mountains, mountains of tires in California that they don't know what to do with. They tried making roads out of them and the roads caught fire and and we got an Earth ship that went through a

forest fire and all that's left is the tire walls. The tire walls won't burn when they're filled with dirt. >> These don't burn. The rubber burns though.

>> I can Yeah, but I can take a blowtorrch and put it right here and all it will do is smoke. But if I got a bunch of tires in a pile with air all around them,

is smoke. But if I got a bunch of tires in a pile with air all around them, they'll spontaneously combust. But see, you got people saying, "Oh, tires will burn and they'll off gas and all this stuff." The thing is, in different

conditions, in this condition, they will not burn. Okay, Mike. So, what do you think someone would pay for something like this? >> 500 grand. >> Okay. So, not starter home.

>> Not not super cheap. >> So, how is this going to be the Model T?

Because the Model T was super cheap. >> Well, the Well, it's 500 grand is is super cheap these days. Well, here's the thing. You have to weigh it all out.

500 grand with no electric bill, no heating bill, no water bill, no sewage bill. 500 grand is it.

>> You pay 300 grand for That's what happened with Habitat for Humanity. They

build these cheap ass houses and nobody can afford to heat them.

>> This thing will last a while. Do you think >> this thing will last the the details on this? It'll last a hundred years. The roof is forever. >> All right. So, it's all about that view.

this? It'll last a hundred years. The roof is forever. >> All right. So, it's all about that view.

>> I'm selling them as fast as I build them. And here's an interesting thing. There's no foundation.

>> It's just dirt. >> Just the tires are on dirt. And why? If you got a frame wall of 2x6, it comes down to the earth and it will just punch into the earth. So they make a 16-inch wide concrete

footing to spread the weight of the wall over the earth. A tire wall is already wider than its required foundation. So it's a monolith wall. That is its

foundation. So to start this building, me and Deborah just came out here and

foundation. So to start this building, me and Deborah just came out here and started beating dirt into a few tires. Period. No power, no water, no sewage.

the thing's got and what we do is we bring in the power system usually and run the mixer and the saws off the solar power system and build the building with solar power.

Some Swedish businessmen and the Indonesian government got together to try and develop the rest of their 11800 islands so that they wouldn't destroy the destroy the coral with sewage. So they wanted me to show them how to do it

what we're doing on a 30acre island and they gave me the island of Yalapa 30 acre island. The government came there with a band and folding chairs brought

acre island. The government came there with a band and folding chairs brought out on boats and everything and christened the whole project and I was going to develop the 30acre island and I did. I built two buildings there. I had

a hundred students there at a time. It was like a new planet. We were

developing a new life. And then the Indonesian government's got five levels and none of them know what the other's doing and they're all corrupt. They took

five of my students, held them hostage in a hotel and threatened them with 40 years in prison for for wrong visas. Finally, I t got in touch with a agent there and was talking to the immigration official and everything and they wanted to trade then

they wanted to trade me for the five students and my wife said no to that.

And so then I had to buy them out. So I bought these students out. I will never go to Indonesia again. Corrupt. And so there's there's all these opportunities in different parts of the world, but this is still the best place to do this.

The the United States with all of its faults is the best place to carve the future.

>> So Mike, you're originally from Kentucky. >> Yeah. Came out here in ' 69. Then I just saw Jesus Christ, this place is this is wonderland really. You know, you could be up there in the mountain skiing or you could be out here racing motorcycles

or you could be rafting the river. I mean, and there's land, wide open spaces, wild cats, elk, buffalo. >> Did you achieve your goal of getting injured on the motorcycle?

>> I got injured, but not bad enough. And what I ended up doing was mountains over there. there's a vocational school and I ended up getting a job teaching drafting

there. there's a vocational school and I ended up getting a job teaching drafting over there and that turned out to be worse than Vietnam. The Hispanics and the Indians were stabbing each other right in front of my face. And so, but I

got out of the war by two years of teaching, which was horrible. And then I was able to stay here and do this. And then I, you know, I slowly realized that, well, I'm kind of experimenting and this is the place to do it. I didn't

have a plan at all. I was just planning to take care of myself and have a life.

And I did a couple of situations where I got a place out that way that I lived in one of the first ones that had a windmill and everything. And I was living free. I built it out of pocket. I was living free. And I'd wake up in the

living free. I built it out of pocket. I was living free. And I'd wake up in the morning and I'd realize in my head that I owned my life. I was like in my 30s or something. I wake up in the morning, I can do whatever I want. I don't need any

something. I wake up in the morning, I can do whatever I want. I don't need any money because I got a house that takes care of me. You know, I I did some drawing and stuff, but when I wake up in the morning, I owned my day. I didn't

have to go to work at a job I hated or anything. I owned my life. And I The epitome I had, I guess, was what if millions of people owned their life? What a world this would be.

>> What's your advice for young people, the young Mike out there in the world we're in? I know you're not too happy on the direction it's going, but let's be try

in? I know you're not too happy on the direction it's going, but let's be try to give them an optimistic message. How do how do they own their lives?

>> The way you own your life is get in a home that is a vessel that takes care of you. Even if you have to build it yourself, but forget the American dream.

you. Even if you have to build it yourself, but forget the American dream.

Make it be a very simple thing that takes care of you and then add on to it as you will. So, educate yourself. >> So, don't get alone. Save up like Deb's doing.

>> Do not get alone. Do what Deb did. Deb's doing it. You know,

>> Deb's one step at a time. You don't have to have a finished product day one.

>> No. And you don't have to have a a 14 bedroomedroom, seven bath, whatever. Get

I've seen so many people get divorced right in the middle of their construction drawings, much less their build. Live simply so that others may simply live and start learning to live simply. And we know how. And we have an

academy. We have students. We we know how to teach people. >> Okay. You have an academy here. I'm

academy. We have students. We we know how to teach people. >> Okay. You have an academy here. I'm

going to I'm going to direct people to the link down below and I'll talk more of it at the end of the video. But for you guys that want to know more what Mike and Deb are doing out here, you have a link that shows everything. The

website's pretty comprehensive. >> It's It's could be better, but >> it's rustic. It's I like it.

>> It's uh the academy happened by accident when I built the first beer can house in 1971.

The media came and did pictures on it and they went all over the world. Beer

can house all over the world. It's in >> Beeran House. >> Beer can house. It's on MoMA right now.

The reason it went all over the world was because some idiot insane person was out in the desert of New Mexico building a house out of garbage. Not because of ecology, not because of recycling, just some idiot was in the desert making a

house out of garbage. It was a human interest story. The media latched on to it. They never quit. They kept following as I kept finding out what I was doing.

it. They never quit. They kept following as I kept finding out what I was doing.

And then, you know, a decade or two ago, I went out. I I started figuring out that I was I was making housing that would take care of people and I went, "Holy sh I I want to do this." And so I just dug in and now every single day I'm

inspired. It's negative inspiration. I'm inspired by Trump making a $300 million

inspired. It's negative inspiration. I'm inspired by Trump making a $300 million ballroom. I'm inspired by houses being blown apart into twigs. I'm inspired by

ballroom. I'm inspired by houses being blown apart into twigs. I'm inspired by all the things I see on the news to make a model T for lots of people.

>> One thing I think you forgot to mention about living true like owning your life is not worrying about what others are saying. You you weren't trying to fit into the mold obviously. So you have to be resilient to >> Well, I'll tell I'll tell you what

trained me for that. >> Yeah, >> I have I've had a lot of different training. When I was in college, my dad was a milkman, so I went to

training. When I was in college, my dad was a milkman, so I went to architectural school. He didn't have any money at all. He made a hundred bucks a week.

architectural school. He didn't have any money at all. He made a hundred bucks a week.

I went to college and my dad and my mother took me to my freshman year in college. It was a co-op school where you could work three months and go to school

college. It was a co-op school where you could work three months and go to school three months. Yeah. Architectural school Cincinnati. My dad gave me $350 and left crying

three months. Yeah. Architectural school Cincinnati. My dad gave me $350 and left crying and I had to make my way through school and I had to play music, sell books,

sell drawings, do do term papers for rich kids, whatever. I did all this kind of stuff. But at the same time, I I tried to get into a fraternity.

of stuff. But at the same time, I I tried to get into a fraternity.

I I pledged to a fraternity, two or three different fraternities.

>> None of them wanted me. You want, Mike? >> No. No, man. I was I was rejected big time. So I So that set me up for I've been rejected for my whole goddamn

time. So I So that set me up for I've been rejected for my whole goddamn architectural career. I've been rejected. >> So it was a good lesson. >> Well, yeah, Bruce. It was

architectural career. I've been rejected. >> So it was a good lesson. >> Well, yeah, Bruce. It was

almost every one of these houses I got a story for. What we were doing, what we were thinking. Happy castle there. It was basically a packaged earth ship with

were thinking. Happy castle there. It was basically a packaged earth ship with a hut that is only good in the tropics cuz they're very cool and a double greenhouse. And then I after that one I started doing all the green houses double.

greenhouse. And then I after that one I started doing all the green houses double.

>> You had a construction crew out here with you doing this?

>> Oh, I've got a construction crew. I've had construction crews have to unlearn.

And when they unlearn, they still my own crew is a force trying to get me to be conventional. Consequently, I put them out to pasture. I I'd rather have a a

conventional. Consequently, I put them out to pasture. I I'd rather have a a crew of high school students to be help me build these and that's basically what I'm getting.

>> So you can shape them the way you want to. >> I can so they won't they won't try to train me, you know, cuz I'm you know when I first built the first tire building it fell over. I stacked them up and filled them full of adobe dirt and

they just fell over and the people that was that were working for me are going, "This guy is insane." You know, even though I've been doing it for as long as I have, it's weird for people to look at cans and bottles and tires as building

materials. There's the Johnson's. That's where you're going.

materials. There's the Johnson's. That's where you're going.

>> All right. So, I'm going to go into this home. >> See, there's the You go. Right behind

that van is the door. You just knock on the door. >> Okay. >> Mike, may the force be with you. Thank

you so much. >> Need it. >> Appreciate it.

So, we have Brian Johnson. >> Brian >> and Jess. >> And Jess. Yeah. >> And Lionus. >> And Lionus.

>> And Louis, who's inside. >> Louis is inside. >> Hopefully, they're going to be good boys in that.

>> So, Brian and Jess have lived out here for how long? >> Uh, 6 and 1/2 years now. We got really lucky once we went down the Earth Ship rabbit hole and knew we were looking to like move into the Earth Ship community. We went and looked at that one across

the street which is very similar in layout to ours. Okay.

>> And it was still in the process of being built and we kind of had this dream for a little bit of oh maybe we'll get that and finish it the way we want.

>> And then our realtor walked us through here which was already had already been finished and we were like >> okay. They had just started running it as an Airbnb like six weeks before or something right? >> And we walked through here and we were like, >> "Okay, from from this vantage point, it looks amazing." Well, please

>> Should we go out through the yard first? Do you want to see it from the front first?

>> However you want to do it. It's your home. Let's go through the front.

>> All right. You're unique because you guys are a couple living in yours.

>> Correct. Yes. So, we live here full time. >> Okay. This is great. Look at that. So,

this is one of two of Mike's renditions of a global model with an extra wide greenhouse to the front. >> Okay. >> I think the design behind this was Mike

kind of saying something to the naysayers, the people who said, you know, you you can't have a family of four in here. Well, you easily could.

Um, you know, you don't have enough storage. Well, he put in a garage and, you know, a bunch of closets and stuff like that. So, it was kind of, you know, you met Mike, you know how he rolls. This was Mike's, you know, those guys.

I'm going to do it my way kind of thing. You know, >> I'm not war.

>> Yeah. And so, he wanted to kind of push the boundaries of what an Earthship was to like make it more of it's not a suburban home. It'll never be a suburban home, but to have a lot more of those kinds of amenities and things like that

was his goal with this. >> It's comfortable to live in. Yeah. At this stage. >> Yeah, absolutely.

>> Super comfortable. >> Can we go in? >> Yeah, for sure. >> Um, and you were both from where?

>> I'm from Colorado originally. >> I'm originally east coast, but I was in Colorado for 20ome years. So, we we ran a business there and raised our family there. And

>> what was the catalyst? We were coming down to TA just for vacation and fell in love with TA and then like most people do wandered over here and we're just from then on kind of

>> struck. It smells so good in here. >> Oh, nice. The rosemary helps. >> That's what it smell.

>> struck. It smells so good in here. >> Oh, nice. The rosemary helps. >> That's what it smell.

>> Yeah, rosemary and lemongrass. We could do a lot more food production here. Um and we're starting to do more, but we were traveling recently and it's

here. Um and we're starting to do more, but we were traveling recently and it's hard to keep food going when you're traveling. This fig tree here is not in the fruing phase, but this will have 15, 20 ripe figs a day when it's in the right

season. And there's a lot of different food around here. Here's one of two

season. And there's a lot of different food around here. Here's one of two grape vines that produce pounds and pounds of grapes twice a year. Three

banana trees. When you get harvested bananas, it's almost too heavy to hold.

This guy will grow another like 3 feet. And then once the bananas all grow out, when you whack them off, you you can hold them. And they're just so heavy. There's so many of them.

>> Yeah. >> It's crazy. >> So, what do what do you guys get by living out here? Like, how is this added to your lives? >> Peace. >> Peace.

>> Yeah. Uh, so yeah, when we lived in Colorado, we had a pretty social business. We ran a a music magazine covering live music in Colorado. So, we

business. We ran a a music magazine covering live music in Colorado. So, we

were out and about a lot and, you know, just like constantly running. And we

would come down and sneak down to TA cuz it was an easy getaway. and we would come down here and >> it feels like another land. I mean, it's >> we were chronic, you know, lifetime renters living in Colorado. We couldn't afford to buy. And so, this is our first

home ownership experience. >> Wow. >> Yeah. And there's a whole bunch of stuff that was intimidating that is super simple now. there were things that, you know, weren't just set

up right in terms of like living here and living here full-time that we've now dialed in. And so, it took us time to take this Earthship and dial it and make

dialed in. And so, it took us time to take this Earthship and dial it and make it our own. And now that we've done that, now we're like head over heels.

>> This house makes you interact with it in these lovely ways. You know, it's living >> and like neither one of us are gardeners at all. We have no idea what we're doing. This is all completely because the gray water system feeds this from

doing. This is all completely because the gray water system feeds this from below and we do the trimming and you know fertilizing and stuff necessary to keep it lovely. But

>> it's really self this is a simple house to live. Looking back, we were can we can we course through >> we got down here 8 months 9 months before CO hit. First of all, we thought,

God, do we just fall ass backwards into like the best living situation for that, but also it meant then that our business of 20 years wasn't functioning because it was based in live music, >> right? >> So time. >> Yeah. Very crazy time.

>> So what what do you do for work now if you don't mind me asking? We're just

doing side gigs and stuff. >> Yeah. >> Work from home. >> Yeah. I mean, here and there. We're

lucky that we had built some savings and stuff, too, to make it work out for now after working all those years. But he used to be a reporter and I used to be a nurse and then we did the magazine for a while. >> Now we're seeing Well, you have a new chapter.

>> Brian, how am I How am I doing? Am I doing all right? >> Oh, yeah. You're doing great. Yeah,

you're doing absolutely, you know. Yeah, we were psyched to have you uh interested in us. But I'm actually going to start driving Snowcat for the Tal Ski Valley this winter. So yeah, I'm really excited about it. I'm like a I'm ready.

I'm like a kid like getting keys to a car. >> So you went full >> city music scene >> in the mix.

>> Everyone knowing you >> night life >> to get me out. >> Not everybody knowing us, >> okay, but a lot of people. Uh get me out to Earth Ship. Let me drive some snowat.

>> Yeah, it was like looking for the opposite kind of after a while, you know? Like

>> I hear you like we're pro. How old are you? >> Uh 53. >> Okay. You're a bit older than me. So

there sort of like a flip. You just >> you just like want the quiet. >> Yeah. I mean

>> I'm going that direction. >> We have three adult kids, three grandb babies, and a fourth on the way. A grandson on the way. >> You have a grandson on the way?

>> Yeah. Yeah. We have three. >> You are grandparents? Yeah, we're grandparents.

>> So, you met early. >> Well, actually, I was a single mom for a stretch and then this wonderful gentleman came in and >> changed that for you. >> Oh, yeah. We've had some very exciting chapters.

>> The the girls were 26 and 10 when we met >> and they're now uh what's the math on that? 24, 28, and 32. So, >> good for you. Ah, we've been together a

long time now. Dialed and styled. >> Dialed and styled. Like Exactly. That's

like one of the things Mike has his own tastes on things, including lighting and stuff like that that we changed out. And um we added a dishwasher, which is, you know, crazy for an Earth ship, but we have the power reserves to do that. We

added a fridge that runs on AC power versus DC. Um so we could have a modern fridge with water through the door. >> All solar. >> All solar. Yep. And then water just from rain water. >> Yep. Just from rain. >> A supplement around here for the

rain water. >> Yep. Just from rain. >> A supplement around here for the community where you can order water if you need to if there's a dry season, but we've been wet as can be. That's amazing. >> That to me is wild that out here you're getting what 8 to 10 inches a year, something like that. >> Something like that.

>> And then you could let you could live off of that coming off your roof >> because it's, you know, because this house does things on its own by design

that normal contemporary homes don't do. Like every normal home uses fresh drinking water, basically treated water to flush their toilets. We're using gray water. So, we're using water that we've already used to like wash our hands or

water. So, we're using water that we've already used to like wash our hands or shower or do the laundry or whatever to flush our toilets because why do you want to waste that water? >> And it all happens behind the scenes. It

goes through very simple filters and stuff. So, you don't like smell it or see it or you wouldn't know that it was any different than a normal house. And

that's a misnomer. some people have is that they think that that process is gross or stinky or something, but that's like all behind the scenes.

>> You don't you don't smell it or see. All I smell is plant life.

>> That's what we do too, you know. And we're incense burners, so you probably smell that. >> Yeah.

>> This guy, >> they're loving being out here instead of in an apartment. >> Oh, yeah.

>> They're actually both babies, so they're he's only three and >> he only knows out here.

>> So, this is all they've known. >> Okay. This is interesting. It's sectioned off.

>> Yeah, it's very linear. To get from one room of the house to the other, you have to go through the greenhouse. >> Nice office. >> I mean, this is probably what 65. This is

>> Yeah. That just dropped 10°. >> Yeah. You know, in a normal house, when you say you're cold or you say you're hot, you walk over the wall and you turn a little dial. And here we open up a little vent or a transom or close something. And so, it's it's the same kind of >> same amount of effort.

something. And so, it's it's the same kind of >> same amount of effort.

>> Yeah. It's the same amount of effort. You're still getting up and going over to do something, but it just it it makes it all natural. >> You don't hear a motor start.

>> That's a big deal. >> We noticed that traveling in hotels and stuff. You don't hear anything if you notice. You don't hear when you want it

stuff. You don't hear anything if you notice. You don't hear when you want it cool or hot or anything. There's no mechanical noise here other than a few pumps.

>> Okay. Let's go. Let's go silent for a second. Ready? >> Okay.

>> Nothing. >> Yeah. >> Silence because of these tire walls. the tire. Yeah, right.

>> It's insulating. >> And especially this room, too. Like that's this is the best room to do that in cuz it's the center of the house. So, it's it makes it that much more damp of >> very fine. This guy produces a bunch of green grapes. You can see the back is

another little Earth ship that's run as an Airbnb over there.

>> Okay. How's the community overall? Or people just stay to themselves for the most part? if I mean I think like any community a bunch of people stay to

most part? if I mean I think like any community a bunch of people stay to themselves a bunch of people want to you know build greater things. >> Mhm.

>> Everybody here has something in common to live in a place like this.

>> Yeah. Is there is there a little bit of the self-sufficiency thing like the societyy's getting a little haywire? Let me just be away from it all and and nature sort of >> makes human problems look silly, right? When you look at on that >> I think that you would probably say that there's more of that here than than

elsewhere. For sure. nature lovers and people who want to be peaceful to mother earth and

elsewhere. For sure. nature lovers and people who want to be peaceful to mother earth and >> who I mean what a shower in rainwater >> who doesn't want to shower in rainwater and walk out from your bedroom in the morning and pick fresh grapes from your

own garden like it's kind of crazy >> and then and but then was such a styly modern place >> at the same time >> that was an achievement that Mike made here was to make that hybrid and we happened upon it honestly at the the right time right? You know, when they

were still achievable price-wise in our world and >> because Mike can take a building like that one out there and build it in 6 months. >> This one took like 4 and 1/2 years. And

yeah, there were stops and starts in there, but like there's so much of this that's handcrafted that took extra time. Yeah. And economically, it's not feasible for him as a builder. And it gets away from the whole earth sty earth

ship ethos of like you can build these anywhere and build them cheap and that kind of stuff.

>> He's working on He's all about the Model T these days. >> Yeah. Exactly. Like anyone it's easier to do. You can produce a lot of them >> because this takes a lot of craft.

to do. You can produce a lot of them >> because this takes a lot of craft.

>> Exactly. We can see that end time. >> This one's super cool, too, because he knew that when he was making this one. This is an example one essentially, but there's so many students that had come had traveled here to help um you know to learn at the academy

>> that helped with this house in phases. And so then we'll be like at the brewery or somewhere else and they'll be like, "Wait, which house do you live in?" I

worked on that. And like so many people contributed to like learning and building on this for >> people feel Mike's purpose and they want to be part of it. Yeah. Oh, yes. Yeah. >> Yeah.

>> And then we go to the outside here. We have a sauna. A woodfired sauna.

>> Doing it right. Real sauna. >> There you go. So, this is the sauna life here.

>> Smells like cedar. >> Yep. >> And you just sit down and look out at that. >> Absolutely.

>> That's what you want. >> Gets pretty toasty. >> Yeah. Every day I'm looking around here going just I can't believe this place. Look at this crazy >> and I just can I jump up on it? >> Sure.

>> So just the fact that >> in many ways it's unassuming. >> Uhhuh.

>> If you're looking at it from this angle >> Oh yeah. >> It's just a mound of dirt, >> right? If you drive into the community from the north side and drive past it on

>> right? If you drive into the community from the north side and drive past it on Highway 64 at night, you don't see any lights because all you're looking at is

the back BMS of all the homes. >> So, you have to be heading north for any of the lights to show from the highway. And it's a really neat perspective.

>> So, yeah, most of the windows are going south and southeast of them.

>> Correct. That's part of the design. >> Okay. Yeah. So this is a dark sky community which is another super cool thing. >> Yeah, we got ridiculous lights time like like amazing skies. >> Do you guys get out of here much or you pretty much grounded here?

>> We travel in our van and we uh sometimes we'll take 30 days or something and go somewhere far away for a while and just wander day by day not really knowing where we're going to go. That's kind of our favorite style of travel.

>> I love the just the wind out the silence out here, the freedom blowing through you. Oh yeah. Well put. >> Oh, and you got a garage here. >> We do have a garage.

you. Oh yeah. Well put. >> Oh, and you got a garage here. >> We do have a garage.

>> Oh, that I didn't know those were happening in these homes.

>> Yeah. So, that was another one of Mike's kind of like, you know, oh, an Earth ship doesn't have enough storage space. Well, here's a garage. What are you going to do with that?

>> And power is in there. We have a little pond here that's actually creating hydroponic layer to the garden. So, >> this is the most amazing garage.

interesting garage I've ever seen. >> So, every few hours a pump turns on automatically and there's a little fountain that comes out here. But what

else the other part that it's doing is it's pumping water all the way down to the other side of the greenhouse and it all comes back through this upper trough. And so we have mint and things growing in it down there that are

trough. And so we have mint and things growing in it down there that are completely selfwatered that they clean the water for the fish and they water the plants at the same time. And >> got a bunch of fish in here, but they're all hiding. Yeah,

>> guys. >> One big happy family. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much.

>> Respect. Love what you're doing. Love what you're doing. >> Thank you so much.

>> Thank you. Yeah. Cheers. For sure. >> Cheers, brother. >> All of your future endeavors.

>> Thank you. You, too. >> Yeah. I hope we uh pass in our travels at some point.

>> Yeah. Well, you're set for traveling. That's for sure. Look at that. All

right. I think this is the end of the video, you guys. >> Cheers. >> Thanks for that. >> Thanks.

>> Take care. >> Take care, you guys. >> All right. There we go. a unique way of living out here in the New Mexico desert. All the information you need is down below in the description if you want to learn more about what's going on

out here. It is beautiful, fascinating, innovative, very creative. This is part

out here. It is beautiful, fascinating, innovative, very creative. This is part of a greater New Mexico series, guys. Check out my other videos on the state.

Thanks for coming along on that journey. Until the next one. [Music]

Thanks for coming along on that journey. Until the next one. [Music]