Gorge Bridge and Earthships
Just 10 miles northwest of Taos Pueblo on U.S. Highway 68 is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It’s an impressive steel “deck arch” bridge about 1,300 feet long and 600 feet (or more) above the river at its midpoint. We parked in the handy rest area on the western side of the gorge; fortunately the rain let up long enough for us to walk along the trail (part of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument) and take some photos of the bridge. The “Memorial Ship” bus in the parking lot was a sobering reminder that many people have committed suicide by jumping off this bridge; perhaps the dedicated counselors on the bus have saved some lives. As we exited the parking lot, we were surprised to see a herd of bighorn sheep grazing next to the highway!
Less than 2 miles from the Gorge Bridge on Highway 68 is Earthship Biotecture, a community of environmentally sustainable dwellings. The 1970’s brainchild of architect Michael Reynolds, each Earthship home is constructed of natural and recycled materials and is completely self-sustaining (“off the grid”). We took a self-guided tour of the Visitor Center and learned more about Earthship houses. For example:
Outer walls are made from used tires “rammed” with earth; inner walls are made from used aluminum cans and/or glass bottles, glued together with mud (often with attractively patterned results); in theory, anyone can build an Earthship house.
Heating and cooling for each home is achieved passively via geothermal and solar energy; electricity is generated by solar panels and sometimes windmills.
Water is harvested by collecting rain and snow on the rooftops and then filtering and storing it for later use; the grey water is recycled (e.g. to water plants and flush toilets).
Food is grown organically in greenhouses that are integrated into each home. In the Visitor Center greenhouse, we saw kale, Swiss chard, figs, and many more things growing.
Outside the Visitor Center, we could see dozens of Earthship houses, stretching into the distance toward the Sangre de Cristo mountains. It’s an admirable effort, but after 50 years there are just 3,000 Earthship houses around the world. Kudos to Michael Reynolds for his vision and determination, and to all the environmentally conscious people who build and/or live in Earthships!
