By Mike Templeton
For all the ways technology has brought tremendous blessings to human life, there is a trade-off that can make us wonder if the blessing is really worth the cost. The Urban Appalachian Community Coalition definitely relies on technology for many of the things we do, but we are also acutely aware of what damage technology can bring to the environment, for example. The most sophisticated projects for UACC begin and end with old-fashioned ideas like talking to people. When it comes to solutions to things like the housing crisis, climate change, efficient use of resources, Appalachians have long been at the forefront of renewability and self-sufficiency, most often out of pure necessity. One way people are doing this now is to find creative ways of building homes. The “earth ship” is most definitely one of the most creative ways of using what is at hand to solve a distinctly modern problem.
First, an earth ship is a structure built in the architectural style developed by architect Michael Reynolds. It uses only natural and discarded materials like straw, tires, bottles and which employs a passive energy efficiency system. Earth ships most often use a mix of solar, hydro, and wood to heat and produce energy. An early model was developed in Johnson County, Tennessee by Ken and Etta Lebensold nearly three decades ago. They started with ideas and models they had seen on the west coast where earth ships have been around for a long time. Affordable land in Tennessee drew them to the Appalachian hills, and the examples they had known out west provided models for how to make the most of their land. Using tires filled with dirt to create 300-pound rubber lined bricks, straw, and plain old mud, the Lebensolds built a home out of the ground of their own land.
This is an earth ship—so named after the sailing ships which subsist in the ocean in states of complete self-sufficiency. The Lebensolds worked with some eco-friendly contractors out of Asheville, North Carolina who had a deep and firm understanding of how to build the earth ship and situate it such that the Lebensolds could make the use of things like the water sources that were already present, and the earth on which the house is built in order to grow their own food. Using solar panels, a woodstove, and a water turbine said to resemble R2D2, allowed the Lebensolds to live completely off-grid, unplugged from the power grid and the water system. In photos, the house resembles a beautiful Appalachian cottage, and it remains warm enough year-round for them to cultivate tomatoes in the kitchen and bananas in the living room. Information about their early project can be found in the archives of The Appalachian Voice.
The earth ship idea also took off in Appalachian Ohio with Blue Rock Station in Philo, Ohio. A few miles east of Columbus, in Muskingum County, Blue Rock Station is a 38.2-acre tract of land with an earth ship home, a full working farm, educational centers and programs, guest chalets—more than can be listed. Jay and Annie Warmke are the owners and proprietors of Blue Rock Station, a project that began 30 years ago when they decided they needed to build a home that was more attuned to the natural world than anything available. With straw, bales of hay, and other materials similar to those used by the Lebensolds in Tennessee, the Warmkes built their earth ship and set about expanding the operation into a full working farm. They also immediately decided that what they had done was just too important to keep to themselves. Over the years they have developed educational programs that include workshops and internships on sustainability, building earth ships, farming, and other subjects that are central to life at Blue Rock Station.
If all of this has peaked anyone’s interest, Blue Rock Station offers internships, with full information is on their website). These hands on learning opportunities can get you on your way toward building your own earth ship. Keep in mind that the whole idea of the earth ship is to make building a house an affordable, accessible, and sustainable solution to a housing problem that grows each day in America. Yes, you will need land. No, you do not need to be in the billionaire class to do this. I might also add here, Blue Rock Station is advertising for a farmer to take over the work of the farm on their site. This is on the website. I ain’t gonna lie, I am jealous of whoever gets to do this. You can also take a look at Earth Ship Biotecture in New Mexico which offers a full course of study in the practices of building sustainable living structures. This is a fully immersive program that requires long-term commitment. For those looking for a career opportunity and a path toward a sustainable home. Earth Ship Biotecture is a real possibility.
The presence of earth ships is growing around the United States as the last vestiges of reasonably affordable land makes the Appalachian region and Appalachian Ohio likely places for people interested in building earth ships. The long-standing Appalachian practices of self-sufficiency contribute to the rise of the earth ship in the Appalachian region. This same self-sufficiency is what drives the work of the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition, and the investment in sustainability is absolutely consistent with all we do. Building an earth ship is not for everyone, and perhaps that is a good thing. The complexity of issues like climate change and housing demand multiple creative solutions. Earth ships are just one piece in a mosaic of creative solutions to vastly complex issues.
More information on Blue Rock Station can be found on their website: bluerockstation.com/about-blue-rock-station
Blue Rock Station also has a Facebook page for you to follow for the latest news: facebook.com/BlueRockStationFarm
More information on Earth Ship Biotecture can be found at their website: earthship.com
Photo source: earthship.com
Michael Templeton is a writer, and independent scholar. He is the author of The Chief of Birds: A Memoir published with Erratum Press and Impossible to Believe, published by Iff Books. He is also the author of Collected Apoems, forthcoming from LJMcD Communications and the awaiting of awaiting: a novella, with Nut Hole Publishing. Check out his profile in UACC’s Cultural Directory. He has published numerous articles and essays on contemporary culture and works of creative non-fiction as well as experimental works and poetry. He lives in West Milton, Ohio with his wife who is an artist.