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The GARBAGE WARRIOR wants to build an Earthship in NZ!
Hi,
Mike Reynolds, aka 'The Garbage Warrior' from the film of the same name, and his Biotecture practise are wanting to co ordinate an Earthship building workshop in New Zealand.
Earthships are beautiful self-contained buildings, harnessing all the good principles of Permaculture and the Transition philosophy. They produce their own power, heat and water; recycling their own grey and black water. Whats even better is that they are made out of recycled materials - other people's rubbish - typically rammed earth tyres, bottles and cans. These buildings are beautiful and have a soul... Walking though an Earthship you find yourself caressing the walls, feeling for a pulse.
Earthship Biotecture made initial attempts to schedule a workshop for 2009 on Waiheke, but this has fallen through. We have plans to build an Earthship in the Wellington region, probably starting 2010 and I am aware of rumours of many other people wanting to also build their own Earthship.
so... I would ask that those who are interested in being part of one of these truly great building projects, visit Earthship.net and register. On the forum is a child board for NZ, where I'm hoping people can pop up and introduce themselves, so we can pool interest on behalf of the Biotecture team. I'm also keen that people use the forum to pool planning consent information for the benefit of others - we're only trying to save the planet right? Owners, builders, labourers, anyone, has a right to be part of an earthship project - please get behind this.
Many thanks
Happy happy
Rob Gourdie
Garbage Warrior
wow, pretty exciting..
do you know how I can get a copy of the Garbage Warriors and if there are any copyright issues for public screening?
Jeanette
tt Whitianga
Hi Jeanette, You can buy
Hi Jeanette,
You can buy the DVD online from their website earthship.net and equally I would suggest you contact them (Jonah) and ask about permission to publically screen it. I am not sure that they own the rights to the movie, so it may not be up to them, but I'm sure they'd know. I'd hope that people would be reasonable about that kinda thing for the sake of the Greater Good.
FYI - there is an Earthship project in Oamaru that is starting to go through the planning process. I think they expect to start ramming tyres next spring/summer.
Cheers
Rob
garbage warrior
thanks for your reply. I can't seem to be able to purchase it online..only US orders..where did you get yours from?
wow, an Earthship project in Oamaru...that's great!!
Jeanette
NZ Earthships
When I googled nz earthship, I found mention of one in Waikato (being built in 2005) and Savita - that's the community, not the town - (being built in 2007). Does anyone know the status of these? Finished? Got all permits and official sign-offs? Their websites don't say.
Cheers,
Cheryl
NZ Earthships
Hi Cheryl,
The Waikato one is finished. It is owned by the Gubbs.
The Savita one is still floundering and attempting to get permission apparently. I am about to get in contact with the Savita people. I get the feeling they have not fully committed to spending the money on the planning permission process (Earthships are not a cheap option) hence it is dragging out. But I hope to make contact with them soon and get the facts.
There are a couple in Oamaru who have land and are entering the permission process as we speak. I believe their intention is to start construction in Spring (Sep?) 2009. Having spoken some more with the Biotecture folks in New Mexico, their costs for the workshop seem prohibitive to hosting one in NZ. I am trying to get them to see how the place would 'go off' once they started building them here, but they have only one business model and it loads the costs on the first Earthship-builder, yet the workshop mainly benefits the subsequent builders.
I am doing my best to get the locations of various Earthship projects in NZ plotted onto a Google map, so everyone can see what is going on, where. As for us, we are currently relocating back to NZ from the UK this year and plan to purchase some land once we get back and then crack on with an Earthship, probably in the Wellington area. I am doing this work now so the permission process is streamlined when its our turn.
Cheers
Rob Gourdie
earthships
hi Rob
Very exciting about the building prospects. Where is the one in Waikato?
I am desperately trying to purchase a copy of Garbage Warriors to no avail..cant buy it online unless US customer.
Would it be possible to rent your copy? We will pay you a postage and rental fee?
Thanks for your consideration
Jeanette
tt Whitianga
Earthships & Garbage Warrior
Hey Jeanette,
You must have thought I had forgotten about you! Sorry.
I actually currently live in Brighton in the UK (I'm a Kiwi and we are moving back to NZ this year).
You can get the DVD on Amazon.co.uk (ugly url to follow) http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001L4I272/ref=s9_newr_c5_i3?pf_rd_m=...
I'm sure they will ship it to NZ. I'd happily rip you a copy of the DVD but I think that's a bit unethical on behalf of the independent film maker. Its probably a bit far for me to send my beloved copy but if you want to get in touch rob_gourdie*at*yahoo.com then I will see what we can arrange. We're planning to show it at a Brighton&Hove TT event sometime soon.
I am in full swing trying to organise an Earthship build and workshop in NZ (with Mike Reynolds and crew or others from Europe). If anyone is serious then please email me. I am receiving proposals from them and will forward them on.
kind regards
we're only trying to save the world - why worry?
Rob
Garbage Warrior
Hi Rob,
Thanks so much for your email and your enthusiasm.
I will check out amazon to purchase a copy.
Please keep me in touch with any action happening in NZ.
Thanks again
Jeanette
Transition Whitianga
Garbage Warrior
Hi Rob,
Yes, have a copy and what a doco! Plan to show it shortly at Transition Whitianga, here in the Coromandel Peninsula.
How are you going with the Earthship build and workshop in NZ? There are a few very keen Green Builders in this area..let me know how you get on...
Jeanette
Earthship NZ website launched!
Hi Jeanette!
So glad you have a copy of the movie now.
How are things going? Great!
I launched a website a month or so ago called http://earthship.co.nz . This is focussed on getting the Earthship concept realised in NZ. I will give this a fresh post on this forum so everyone catches view of it. We have the proposal for a build crew and workshop with a couple in Oamaru right now and I hope to send it out to people in Taranaki, Wairarapa, Waiheke & Cromwell as well shortly (not to mention people in Australia, in case we can join forces and split costs). I am aiming to get another variation on the proposal together and also send them out to others who are serious about starting an Earthship project.
We have an increasing database of volunteers from up and down the country registering via the website. When a project is ready to start, we are hopeful that we will be able to pass an 'army of volunteers' their way! I've also expanded the Earthship NZ network to encompass a lecturer in sustainable architecture at VUW, a structural engineer who was intimately involved in the Brighton, UK earthship build, local build control officers and a couple of film makers - so it is all going from strength to strength.
Please visit the website and keep in touch with what is going on. There are a number of helpful links on the links page as well as some good technical and social collateral that could aid any design or planning process.
On a personal front, I plan to head up to Glasgow in July before returning to NZ in September. There is an earthship project up there at a place called Greenhead Moss Nature Park, where they are building a remote visitors centre. It is designed by Mike Reynolds I believe, but is being built by a European Crew who have worked on a number of builds in Europe (Brighton, Fife, Normandy, Brittany, Spain, Zwolle etc). Interestingly, the will be deploying a 'European' design for the first time. As you can appreciate, Earthships need to be tuned for local conditions and this Euro design represents the feedback from all the previous Euro builds. This is interesting because NZ conditions are more closely aligned to European ones than the New Mexico desert. I am hopeful that we can import that Euro knowledge into any NZ builds. I plan to attend a workshop whilst up there.
Take care - we're only trying to save the world... why worry!?
Rob
Glasgow Earthship
Although Earthship Biotecture designed and provided drawings for this project, the Earthship Biotecture build team is not involved at all in the execution of building the project. Therefore this project cannot be considered an 'earthship' without direct supervision from Earthship Biotecture.
--
Michael Reynolds
Earthship Biotecture
earthship
hi jeanette we live just over the hill north of coro what would be the chance of borrowing your doco of the build we have friends in whitianga that could pick it up and return it hope to hear from you soon yours terry
garbage warrior
hi terry
I have lent out the dvd to a friend, but hope to get it back next week.
I am happy to share it, but do want it back (have had trouble getting it back in the past..)
I'll let you know when I get it.
(You can get your own copy on amazon.com , or on their website earthship.net)
thanks
Jeanette
earthships
hi jeanette hey thanks for you prompt reply yes i would like to borrow it if able, to see how it applys to our hemisphere before buying my own copy and of course returning it is guaranteed thanks once again terry
earthship
Hi There,
The Waikato earthship is in Ngaruawahia. You can read about it here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/features/582505/Tyre-house-now-quir...
Monica.
Earthship is a business. i
Earthship is a business.
i dont wish to discourage anyone, in fact, i would like to encourage you, some simple internet searching will uncover further information about both earthships and the various methods you can use to bypass them and build your own home for cheap/free.
http://www.thatroundhouse.info/ is a great start, they have documented their struggle with their local(UK) govt and show you how their awesome cottage was built.
http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/projects.htm has information about a up and coming building method which costs VERY little, and is possibly the strongest and safest building material widely available.
http://www.simondale.net/house/ is my favourite, do not dismiss this as a 'hobbit home' that is simply the aesthetic they went for, you can make your structure look however you please, you can use recycled toxic materials if you so desire, or you can build like our ancestors, its up to you, but please, read about, and see the pictures, showing how the house was built, its inspirational.
dont let cynical business owners sell you an 'idea' especially one that is older than history.
*P.S. i dont wish to discourage those who would simply rather have a builder build their home for them, i am just sharing information, if you would really rather the comfort of being in the hands of a professional, then Earthship is no doubt the way to go.
Earthship Biotecture is a business
Hi Suss,
Mike Reynolds' "Earthship Biotecture" is indeed a business. There is also "Earthbuilds Europe" which is another experienced Earthship building business.
***Rest assured, Earthship NZ and the earthship.co.nz website that I set up is a not for profit project. I am committed to improving the accessibility to Earthships in NZ and throughout the world so it is not governed by financial means.***
We witnessed the destruction of the tsunami in Samoa and Tonga. Now we watch the NZ government ship tonnes of conventional building materials and specialised plant operators, to replace the destroyed buildings with buildings of the same design. I hope in the future when the next catastrophe inevitably strikes the Pacific, we could send a few experienced Earthship builders to build better, more survivable and efficient buildings from existing waste in situ. As well as equipping locals with the low level skills needed to complete the majority of an Earthship, rather than shipping tonnes of plant, diesel and specialist operators.
I would just like to add that building an Earthship is approached in a similar manner to building a conventional house. To that end there is a need for architectural services, engineering consultancy, staging and project management, as well as qualified trades people. There is nothing wrong with engaging with businesses to build an earthship. However I so often have to retreat from conversations when talking to NZers about my passion for Earthships, as they often get very animated when they finally 'get it' and start talking about the 'business opportunities' to make us all rich. They don't get it. Earthships are about building relationships and communities alongside the physical building itself. Buildings should take a lot of physical effort, they should take their time and they should see a lot of love, sweat and tears poured into it. Unfortunately the commodity housing that surrounds us today contains none of that, as well as none of the performance properties we need in housing in todays climate changing, peak oil environment.
cheers
Rob
ps. I have just returned to live in NZ after 11 years in the UK. I hope to pick up the pace with moving earthships forward in NZ, so please keep an eye on the earthship.co.nz website and know that any advertising will only be to defray costs of the project which I am currently funding entirely myself.
garbage warrior DVD
purchased thru local CD store in Devonport Auckland, only took a week from date ordered and hassle free.:)
Earthships
Hi Rob,
My name is Shaun. I live in Wellington and am intending to apply for an earthship internship next year. In the meantime I would love to get involved with your Wellington earthship project. I have building experience, and have recently read the first earthship construction book. Please email me! Lets get this party started!!
Earthships
Hi Shaun,
I have already spoken to someone in Motueka that has land that could be used to build a demonstration building for building code approval. In addition to Earthship Biotecture in New Mexico, there is also Earthbuilds Europe who have projects trhoughout Europe and a couple called the Potters in Canada/North America who also use a team to build Earthships. All I'm saying is don't think there is only one way of getting Earthship building experience. I would like the chance to get people together to work out what the first objectives for Earthships NZ should be eg. funding/grants to fly a practitioner out or a demo project etc.
I may well be working up in Wellington from November so there is a high chance of organising a get together.
Keep an eye on the Earthship NZ (earthship.co.nz) website for updates.
Cheers Rob