Standing on the precipice of 2014, I can think of no better day to talk about the dreams and aspirations I have for the future.
For the past 30 years I’ve wanted to live in sustainable housing. There is a growing sustainable housing movement in the world. People are tired of paying electric and water bills, and relying on heating and air conditioning. They want to live simply, and off the grid. They want to have less of an impact upon the planet.
I’ve been reading about these houses for decades. Rammed earth houses. Cob houses. Houses made from hay bales. But the one design that appeals to me most, the one that has sparked my imagination since the very beginning, is the earthship.
There’s a basic article about earthships that you can read here, but suffice it to say they are completely self-sufficient, from the water treatment systems to the solar and wind power generators. They’re attractive and creative and comfortable, stay at a steady 70 degrees year round, and they even include indoor gardens. You can live sustainably and comfortably at the same time. It can be done.
I’ve been trying to get to the point where I can live in a rural North Carolina community in an earthship for time out of mind. Something always seems to get in my way. I hope this is just the universe’s way of making me appreciate it even more once the goal is achieved. Time will tell. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with these amazing photos to spark your imagination.
The View from a Drawbridge 
I love your idea – I, too, believe in having as little impact as possible. Happy New Year, and may your wish come true! 🙂
Thanks, Lynette! The older I get, the less I believe it will happen, but who knows?
I so want to design my own house…
That would be cool.
I would be good at that…
You’d probably put the stairs in upside down. On purpose. 🙂
Uh… yeah…
Our first home in TN was built out of cordwood (firewood), from the trees on our property. We cut floor boards with a jigsaw with power generated from the truck. The house was 20×20 two story, My Husband and I and three teenagers,built this. When the older kids moved out, we had another child and lived in the little one while we built the Big House. Our little cordwood house is now a shop where my Husband is building an ultra-light. In the early days, we lived off peanut/butter sandwiches, spaghetti and tuna salad. Worked very hard, kept the food in the snow in the winter and used a little propane refridgerator in the summer. We grew our food, butchered our hogs, milked our goats and loved every minute. Our years in the little house were the best of my entire life, and Now in the winding down years, life is easier, relaxed, less complicated, and chock full of wonderful memories. I was 36 when My Husband and I started this part of our life. And I am telling you now, the best years, were the struggling years of 40-60. We pretty much started with nothing in our pockets, Except the weekly paycheck, three teenagers and a lot of dreams. There is never a perfect time to marry, have a child or built a home. Sometimes you just have to do it.
With everything you have going for you or not. YOU will get there. Come for a visit with open eyes and heart.
Have I told you lately how much I admire you? If I haven’t, I should have. Sounds like you lived the life I was supposed to. It makes me happy that someone has. Got your letter by the way. Thank you!