staying at an earthship
Timelapse photography of the earthship in El Prado, New Mexico.
It was the end of 2010, I was living in the Philippines, and I had just discovered Earthships. They seemed like a dream: a home made of recycled materials (tires and bottles to be precise), living off-grid, the ability to grow your own food and best of all: no utility bills to pay.
At the time a boyfriend and I had dreamed of building one in the Philippines as an arts center for the youth, and through it, teach them how to build similar structures as homes that worked for them. We thought what better way to learn than to go help build one. At the time there were call outs for interns to join their builds in Haiti, BC, and Taos. Our time was ending at the film studio and we thought why not make it our next adventure. I spent hours reading about Earthship Biotecture, studying it, watching videos and getting myself prepared to join a build.
But he and I parted ways, and I never made it.
Until this past month, twelve years later.
Re-married, with a little one and a cat, on a road trip across the U.S., I was lucky enough to convince my family to stay at the Greater World Earthship Community in El Prado, New Mexico in a cute little earthship we found on Airbnb. I felt like a child in a candy shop. We pulled into the community with the sun setting, passing homes shaped into the earth with nothing but their whimsical rooftops calling attention to their existence.
Entering the earthship, I was greeted by tropical plants and the smell of the earth. It was cozy, warm, despite the cool temperature outside and its energy instantly made it feel like home. In the morning I woke up to the sunrise and a blanket of snow, the mountain air clean and crisp. El Prado is located 7,123 feet above sea level so it took time to adjust, but standing there taking in the view I simply couldn’t believe I had made it.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude.
It warms my heart knowing that there is a better way to build a home and living sustainably is more than just a dream.
Although our stay was short, I know I will return someday.
