What in the world is an Earthship? Are they out of this world? No, in fact, they are very down to earth - so much a part of the earth that they take nothing from it.

They are more common than you would think, especially in a small area of Taos, New Mexico, where earthships are created in communities of believer/owners, usually far from the madding crowd.

An earthship is an environmentally-friendly home made of recycled materials at its core and covered in stucco for esthetic reasons. And the reasons are clear- who would want to look at walls of recycled aluminum cans, used tires filled with adobe earth, glass bottles and other junk? But the environmental savings in an earthship are sound - these homes are 100% reliant on solar energy and rainfall caches. The air in the recycled containers, plus the addition of filler dirt gives a consistent, cave-like insulation against the elements. Because of their self-sufficient nature, they are able to be built in remote areas that can offer homeowners unequaled, virgin views of canyons, mountains, and spectacular sunsets, untethered by city water or electrical services.

In this modern era of apparently endless stores of fossil fuels, the idea of an earthship to protect the environment may seem antiquated - a relic of the '70s back-to-nature, commune, and flower-child movement, but the concept has its staunch supporters.

Actor Dennis Weaver believes in earthships so much that he has purchased two, one as his primary residence in Colorado and the other as a vacation property in Taos . He also became a good friend to the architect who conceived the original earthship, Michael Reynolds. Reynolds, who started the earthship movement over 25 years ago, has made the continuing promotion and building of the earthship the core of his firm, Solar Survivor Architecture.

RE/MAX associates Linda and Philip Valaika not only embrace the concept they have made the selling of earthships one of the specialties of their Taos office.

"Because this is not your conventional style housing, earthships are usually built in their own communities. Michael Reynolds started the communities - Greater World, west of the Rio Grande River Gorge just outside of town, then another called Star, on High Mesa sagebrush land - a 45 minutes drive west of Taos. Reach is the third one in the mountains in the community of Valdez, a suburb of Taos.

The Valaikas have just recently sold Weavers' vacation ship, located in Reach. "It was beautiful with one of the most spectacular view you ever saw. It is high up in the mountains, built into the mountain, about 8,500 high," says Philip Valaika. "Mr. Weaver had the home finished out with flagstone flooring and it was really handsome."

Valaika admits that Weavers' celebrity status helped facilitate the sale. Weaver sold the home as is, including the handsome New Mexico-style furnishings, and show business memorabilia.

It was Reynolds who introduced the Valaikas to Weaver. "We were one of the few REALTORS® who are willing to pursue listings that are "off the grid." Your clients who are willing to buy a home with no well, no utility service and no sewage system are few."

"But we try to educate people who do show interest. Sewage, for example, is handled through a number of solar disposal toilets, compost systems and other septic systems. Propane gas can be used to supplement heating with back up space heaters. Water is available through a cistern water caching system or solar system. Some earthships even have waterfalls which oxygenates the water and many have indoor planting areas. At this high elevation, homeowners can grow things like banana trees, palm trees and things that normally wouldn't survive in our climate. Most homes are built into the mountains to enjoy the views," he says.

Published: August 21, 1998

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