It all begins with getting to know and care about each other.
In 2006 Tony and I married in Bowser. When we started the conversation of ‘what does retirement look like for us?’ we wanted ‘the travel experience’ to be a central part. Travel experience for us is really the end of the day… sitting on a roof top deck, surrounded by other travellers, drinking a glass of wine/cup of tea and talking. Talking about ‘what did you do today?’, ‘what are you doing tomorrow?’, ‘where do you come from?’, ‘what do you think/believe?’, ‘impacts of climate change?’ talking about possibilities. We decided to bring our experience here, to create a space and place people would want to travel to.
Growing up in Victoria, Tony was ‘an island boy’. After years in Vancouver he jumped at the chance to move back to the island finishing his career at the University of Victoria. He retired in May 2018 to work full time on our Earthship build. I was raised in Ocean Falls, Victoria and as a Rotary Exchange student in Belgium. An MBA from Royal Roads University was a life changing experience and foundational to our decision to follow a sustainable life style. Until Oct 2017 Capilano University provided the platform to practice energy conservation and sustainability. I now spend my time working in theDoighouse community gardens.
We searched Lighthouse Country for almost 3 years to find the perfect property to build our Earthship, farm and learning centre. Qualicum Bay offered it all… a short walk to coffee and a homemade meal, a local watering hole, within driving distance to shops and medical facilities and volunteering opportunities. The Lighthouse Country people surpassed our initial desire for ‘friendly’ and become friends. In 2014, the first time we stepped onto 3585 Lioness Blvd it felt like coming home. Every day it still feels like home.
Earthships are ‘radically sustainable’ off grid buildings designed by architect Mike Reynolds (Earthship Biotecture) – the garbage warrior. Construction of theDoighouse Earthship began Spring 2018. We are targeting 50% of our building materials to be recycled or repurposed. Similar to the concept of ‘barn raising’ an Earthship build is typically a group of volunteers working together to build community; learning new skills; making new friends; and raising a new building. Earth-shippers bring their cultural perspectives, knowledge and experience and truly enrich the build.
The goal of theDoighouse F&LC is to bring people together to learn, to laugh, and to share collective experiences. We believe that opening our home and our property to a multi-generational, inclusive, global community we are increasing the bonds that nurture and build community; foster resiliency, break down barriers, increase diversity and kindness. This is what is being built into the fabric of theDoighouse.