What is an Earthship?
An Earthship is a self-contained vessel capable of sustaining an environment for human habitat on its own through its own interfacing with natural phenomena.”— Michael Reynolds, Earthship Inventor
Desert Concept, Rainforest Reality
The origin:
We purchased the original architectural plans for the Doighouse Earthship directly from its creator, Mike Reynolds. While our build honours those core, self-sustaining principles, a design born for the New Mexico desert required a major evolution to function well in the climate realities of Vancouver Island.
The adaptation:
To bridge the gap between alternative building and strict local regulations, structural engineer Mark Fleischhaker and architect Keith Tetlow reworked the blueprints.
Their adjustments ensured the structure fully complies with BC building codes while optimizing the Doighouse specifically to withstand the wet, heavy demands of a West Coast temperate rainforest.
The 6 Core Principles
Building with Natural and Recycled Materials
Earthship construction prioritizes sustainability by utilizing locally sourced, organic, and repurposed items to form the core structure. Our "waste not, want not" approach diverts garbage from landfills by transforming materials like tires, cans, bottles, and salvaged cabinetry into functional home features.
Thermal/Solar Heating and Cooling
Creating a comfortable indoor climate without fossil fuels relies heavily on strategic architectural design and natural airflow. Our south-facing thermal mass design maximizes Earth’s most abundant resource, the sun's warmth, to heat the earthship while utilizing natural convection for free cooling.
Solar electricity
Off-grid power systems allow our earthship to remain completely self-sufficient and independent from traditional utility companies. We harness the sun’s free energy using solar panels to power a standard 110V system, running everything from everyday appliances, including a heat pump clothes dryer, to modern tech like Starlink.
Water harvesting
Sustainable water management begins by capturing rainfall directly from the sky. Although we are in a temperate rainforest, we experience several months with virtually zero rain. We collect and store rainwater from the roof structure in two large underground tanks for year-round use.
Water Conservation and Reuse
Water conservation - maximizing every drop requires an intentional lifestyle and closed-loop recycling systems. We use water wisely to ensure Earth’s precious resource is not wasted.
Food Production
The ultimate step in our self-sufficiency journey will be turning our living space into a thriving, edible ecosystem. Greenhouse space is integrated into the design so we can grow our own fresh, organic produce year-round. Feeding plants with recycled water from our sinks and showers will create a beautiful, closed-loop food source that feeds us and reduces our grocery bill.
Our Self-Sufficiency Journey
Join us as we continue to build and adapt our sustainable oasis on Vancouver Island. Reach out to learn more about our off-grid lifestyle, or stay updated on our latest progress.