Life in an earthship

This week I spent four days in an earthship.  For those unsure what an earthship is, it's a climate-neutral dwelling built from waste materials. The primary material is used tires, which are packed with dirt. These are used to build the walls, which are usually also stuffed with bottles and pop cans, for insulation, reduced use of concrete, as well as aesthetic appeal. Eartships are built to maximize the amount of sunlight which enters through large panes of glass, thus heating the inside of the dwelling. Rainwater is collected from a sloping roof and then purified, thus assuring a steady supply of water for all possible needs. Electricity can be generated using renewable sources such as wind, solar, or thermal, so essentially the entire habitation can be disconnected from the grid, as long as one is willing to live without internet. One of the most wonderful things about earthships is that they retain heat as well as providing enough cool air so they neither have to be heated in winter nor cooled in summer, even in Alberta!
The earthship I stayed in belongs to the lovely Jodie and Les, who have been working on it for the past two years. They live in it with their three dogs, Grover, Presley, and Sammy. Jodie and Les are not yet self-sufficient in terms of energy and they do have an internet connection. They grow a large portion of their food, however, and their goal is to eventually grow all their own fruits and vegetables as well as raising chickens.
During my stay there I helped out with some of the building tasks and was met with amazing hospitality. This was my first time in an earthship in this stage of completion, as I had visited Jodie and Les two years prior, when they were just building the tire walls.
Jodie and Les are wonderful hosts and my stay with them was a great way to launch my adventure as a nomad. All my needs were met, I felt greatly appreciated, and I shared many laughs as well.

I am now off to Athabasca, with a brief stop in Legal, AB.