Weekend of June 25 and 26, on the Gulf Island Earthship Build:

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It’s been quite a ride these last 6 weeks building two Earthships to completion with Michael Reynolds and his crew.

Being on an Off Grid Island with nothing more than a Tent, Bike,  Supplies, a lot of Chocolate,  my Camera Gear and a lot of will power has taught me both the gratitude of the simpler things in life, and appreciation for the eccentricities in life. Island Life here has been full of colour and wonderful people.  A little review…

Arriving via the only Passenger Ferry Boat to the remote Island where the Earthship build with Michael Reynolds and his crew would take place.

The Ferry dock is home to the Hub of the Island. The Blue Roofed building serves as the only Hotel, Restaurant, Internet (when there’s a signal), Interac and…

… you can’t help but smile at the hallway Graffiti leading into …

…the Pub, where Stacey greets you with a warm smile and remembers your name.

This was my view inside the pub just about every night, after walking the 4km trek to and from the Earthship Build Campsite, to download my Photos and bring these Posts to the airwaves to share.

This is the gorgeous view I glimpsed in-between mouse clicks and Copious Cups of Coffee…

…while other Volunteer Interns preferred to catch the Wi-Fi signal outside.

Upon leaving the Pub, a sight for sore eyes for us Interns is the ‘Cookie Shack’, a wonderful honor system for those late night sugar cravings, and caloric intake necessary for the trek back to ‘Camp Sauna’ and  ‘Camp Hugs’ .

Whether traveling across the Island by foot, pedal, Painted Pony… or not…

…the Island is full of mood, Raw Shores…

… wonderful Eccentricities…

…and Nostalgia that bring a smile to your face.

The Magic of the Island can be seen in the natural charm…

…and the larger than life local Creativity.

Starting at the Arts Centre…

…with Local Talent …

…and the colour of life that spreads throughout the Island…

…from the Island Goddess to the Food Fairies.

The evening calls Community to mingle on the outdoor deck of the Pub…

Where one can relax and enjoy the view of the far off Cruise Ships on their way to Alaska via the Inside Passage…

…until they disappear completely in the twinkle of an eye. All of these experiences have left me with Memorable Snapshots I can call up in my mind…

My time here has been exhausting and exhilarating. Would I embark on such a journey again?

I wouldn’t miss it for the world… Cheers ’till I share my next Adventure!

My 5 Week journey on Michael Reynolds Earthship Build can be read in it’s entirety starting HERE.

Photo credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 34. ‘Farewell to Island Life, and the Return Home’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Friday June 24, on the Gulf Island Earthship Build:

Here is a series of Photos selected over the course of the 5 week Earthship Build with Michael Reynolds, on the West Coast of BC. These photos depict a Time Lapse of both Earthships that were built on one site. In front is the smaller Studio Earthship, while behind is the Main House Earthship. Check out  ‘Photos of the Finished Smaller Studio Earthship’, and ‘Photos of the Finished Main House Earthship’ for more details and Time Lapses of the build. Note: this is NOT our house, but a build we participated in.

Day 1: View of Both Earthships, May 23, 2011

Day 2: View of Both Earthships, May 24, 2011

Day 3: View of Both Earthships, May 25, 2011

Day 4: View of Both Earthships, May 26, 2011

Day 8: View of Both Earthships, May 30, 2011

Day 11: View of Both Earthships, June 2, 2011

Day 15: View of Both Earthships, June 6, 2011

Day 20: View of Both Earthships, June 11, 2011

Day 24: View of Both Earthships, June 14, 2011

Day 33: View of Both Earthships, June 24, 2011

Image Credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 33. ‘Time Lapse of the Gulf Coast Earthship Build’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Friday June 24, on the smaller Studio Earthship Build:

Here is a series of Photos selected over the course of the  5 week Earthship Build with Michael Reynolds, on the West Coast of BC. These photos show the Time Lapse of the smaller Studio Earthship that was part of the two Earthships built on one site. Check out ‘Photos of the Finished Smaller Studio Earthship’ , ‘Photos of the Finished Main House Eartship’ and ‘Time Lapse of the Earthship Build’ for more details of this Gulf Island build. Note: this is NOT our house, but a build we participated in.

Time Lapse of the Studio Earthship, View from the East:

Day 1: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, May 23, 2011

Day 3: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, May 25, 2011

Day 8: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, May 30, 2011

Day 9: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, May 31, 2011

Day 10: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, June 1, 2011

Day 12: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, June 3, 2011

Day 13: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, June 4, 2011

Day 26: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, June 17, 2011

Day 33: View of Studio Earthship, East Side, June 24, 2011

Time Lapse of the Studio Earthship, View from the West:

Day 1: View of Studio Earthship, West Side, May 23, 2011

Day 15: View of Studio Earthship, West Side, June 6, 2011

Day 20: View of Studio Earthship, West Side, June 11, 2011

Day 24: View of Studio Earthship, West Side, June 15, 2011

Day 30: View of Studio Earthship, West Side, June 21, 2011

Image credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 33. ‘Time Lapse of the Studio Earthship’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Friday June 24, on the smaller Studio Earthship Build:

Here is a series of Photos selected over the course of the 5 week Earthship Build with Michael Reynolds, on the West Coast of BC. These photos show some of the Finished Details of the smaller  Studio Earthship that was part of the two Earthships built on one site. Check out ,  ‘Time Lapse of the Finished Smaller Studio Earthship’, ‘Photos of the Finished Main House Eartship’ and ‘Time Lapse of the Earthship Build’ for more details of this Gulf Island build. Note: this is NOT our house, but a build we participated in.

Finished West Wing Can Wall of the Studio Earthship.

Next to the Kitchen sink (left) is the indoor Greywater floor Planter and closed Particulate Filter. The Kitchen (right) is in the process of clean up, but completed.

Finished cement floor in the pattern of a Sunrise in the main room next to kitchen.

The Studio Earthship Bathroom is cozy (left), and shows well the Bottle Wall (right) next to the Brown Coat Plaster finish over the ‘Battered’ Tire Wall beneath.

Studio Earthship Greenhouse Hallway with a view of the Light shining through the Bottle Wall at the East Entrance.

Landscaping outside the East Entrance of the Studio Earthship.

East Entrance of Studio Earthship with finished Wing Can Wall, Planters and Landscaping.

Image Credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 33. ‘Photos of the Finished Studio Earthship’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Friday June 24, on the Main House Earthship Build:

Here is a series of Photos selected over the course of the 5 week Earthship Build with Michael Reynolds, on the West Coast of BC. These photos show the Time Lapse of the Main House Earthship that was part of the two Earthships built on one site. Check out  ‘Photos of the Finished Main House Eartship’, ‘Photos of the Finished Smaller Studio Earthship’ and ‘Time Lapse of the Earthship Build’ for more details of this Gulf Island build. Note: this is NOT our house, but a build we participated in.

Time Lapse of the Main House Earthship, View from the East:

Day 1: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, May 23, 2011

Day 2: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, May 24, 2011

Day 3: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, May 25, 2011

Day 4: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, May 26, 2011

Day 8: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, May 30, 2011

Day 9: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, May 31, 2011

Day 15: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 6, 2011

Day 23: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 14, 2011

Day 24: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 15, 2011

Day 25: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 16, 2011

Day 26: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 17, 2011

Day 29: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 20, 2011

Day 31: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 22, 2011

Day 33: View of Main House Earthship, East Side, June 24, 2011

Time Lapse of the Main House Earthship, View from the West:

Day 1: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, May 23, 2011

Day 2: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, May 24, 2011

Day 9: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, May 31, 2011

Day 15: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 6, 2011

Day 17: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 8, 2011

Day 19: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 10, 2011

Day 20: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 11, 2011

Day 23: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 14, 2011

Day 24: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 15, 2011

Day 30: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 21, 2011

Day 33: View of Main House Earthship, West Side, June 24, 2011

Image credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 33. ‘Time Lapse of the Main House Earthship’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Friday June 24, on the Main House Earthship Build:

Here is a series of Photos selected over the course of the 5 week Earthship Build with Michael Reynolds, on the West Coast of BC. These photos show some of the Finished Details of the Main House Earthship that was part of the two Earthships built on one site. Check out ‘Time Lapse of the Main House Eartship’,  ‘Photos of the Finished Smaller Studio Earthship’, and ‘Time Lapse of the Earthship Build’ for more details of this Gulf Island build. Note: this is NOT our house, but a build we participated in.

A  Rock Retaining Wall (left) helps keep the Earth Berm behind the Earthship Roof Line from Eroding until Grass and Vegetation has had a chance to grow in.  The Earth Berm reaches the Roof Line (right), covering the Water Cisterns. For now Sticks are marking where the Cistern lids are buried below, for  maintenance access.

Each Bedroom in the Earthship has a Walk Around Open Closet to allow in maximum Natural Light in the U-Shaped room.

Here is a Walk-Through view starting at the left side of the Walk Around Closet.

A simple Shelf is on the back wall, and includes a Clothes Hanger Rod…

… while the Open Box Closet also has a shelf and clothes hanging rod.

Detail of the back wall shelf and it’s finished corner (left). Close up of the Screened Vent Box (right) covering the Cooling Tube that extends back 40 feet through the Earth Berm behind the Earthship.

View from the Bedroom, looking out past the Greenhouse Hallway, and through the exterior front Windows of the Earthship.

The finished cement floors are still wet after clean-up, as I photograph the finished Kitchen.

Just between the Kitchen cabinet housing the Sink, and the vertical glass to the Greenhouse Hallway (left), is the Floor Planter for the first pass of Greywater from the Kitchen sink. The fresh Sprouts were grown in the last few weeks by Volunteer Interns while on the build. You can barely see the space for the floor planter behind the Kitchen cabinet housing the sink while standing in the middle of the main room (right).

In the Greenhouse Hallway, directly outside the Kitchen, is the Particulate Filter, shown here with the lid closed.

Here is the Particulate Filter with the lid open, allowing easy access to clean any particles from food or hair too large for the Greywater system.

Here is one of the Floor Planter Boxes (left), part of the Greywater system,  inside the Greenhouse Hallway, without any plants yet. Directly above (right), the Operable Vent Box on the roof is open for maximum air flow from the Greenhouse Hallway.

Here is another Operable Vent Window. This is one of several that are part of the front exterior glass wall facing South for maximum exposure to the Sun. These large windows have screens that slide up for easy egress in an Emergency, or simply large items that need to be passed in or out of the Greenhouse Hallway. It certainly makes getting rid of Planter weeds easier by simply chucking them out of the front window!

Standing in the Greenhouse Hallway, and facing the West entrance (left), you can see the finished Bottle Wall, with the Brown Coat Plaster of the wall below. The finished detail of the corner (right), includes a Brown Coat Plaster Wall, and wooden planks in the Ceiling. You can just see part of the window into one of the Bedrooms.

Walking through the West Wing Airlock (left), we can now step out onto the finished cement floor and landscaping. Everything is sloped away from the Earthship exterior, to allow good Drainage away from the house.

Looking back towards the doorway, we can see the levels in the cement floor pours.

Here we are looking at the East Entrance to the Earthship, with the finished Can Wall.

Image credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 33. ‘Photos of the Finished Main House Earthship’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Friday June 24, on the Completion of the Gulf Island Earthship Build:

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It’s here…this is it… THE LAST DAY on this 5 week Double Earthship build!!! Last minute details like hanging doors, and leveling out the Main House West Entrance for the final cement pour.

The Bottle ends are getting ‘Buffed’ with a wire Drummel to get out the stubborn bits of ‘Cling-on’ wall mortar (left), and the ropes have been attached to the indoor Window Vents between the Greenhouse Hallway, and the Living Space (right).

The Main Earthship Greenhouse Hallway window array is complete with hanging ropes for all the operable indoor and roof top vents.

Since today is the last official Workday on the build… it’s time for a major Clean Up. That means the Earthship Biotecture Crew has to sort out their personal tools from the massive pile of organized chaos that’s left… and make everything look GOOD for the Locals who are coming this afternoon for a looky-loo and celebrate a grand finish with us.

There’s a bit of a rush to just get everything on the trucks and rolled on out in prep for the big departure for most of the crew tomorrow morning.

I’m looking on, and the first thing that comes to mind is ‘Roll ‘em …

Roll ‘em Roll ‘em…

…Rawhide!‘… and yes, I’ve just ‘dated’ myself.

Here’s our celebratory final photo of a job well done!

The build has come to a close, and the Locals have come out in droves to check out both completed Earthships, and Celebrate our success.

This is a great opportunity for Earthship Biotecture to demonstrate a completed, aesthetically pleasing, fully functioning ‘Tire House’ that had the local community scratching their heads when they initially heard about a build involving tires, bottles, cans, and recycled materials… after all… who would want to live in a house made from other people’s ‘Garbage’ ! This is also an opportunity for us Volunteer Interns to answer questions to the best of our ability, especially from the hands on perspective of working on the build from beginning to end.

Let’s not forget … not only is it the last ‘Freaky Flamboyant Friday’ of the build (left), but it’s also ‘Beer:30′! (right).

Now… you’re probably wondering where all the fabulous photos of the finished two Earthships are.?

There were way too many photos for this post, so I’ve conveniently split them up into the following Posts:

Photos of the Finished Main House Earthship

Time Lapse of the Main House Earthship

Photos of the Finished smaller Studio Earthship

Time Lapse of the smaller Studio Earthship

Time Lapse of BOTH Earthships

Images Credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 33. ‘Finished Construction, Clean Up and Celebration’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Thursday June 23, on the Gulf Island Earthship Build:

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We’re rounding Third Base and heading for a Home Run… we have 2 days left on this Earthship build, and that includes today! So today is all about the Finishing Touches. Here the Landscaping Rock Wall is being built up at the front of the smaller Studio Earthship.

Inside the Greenhouse Hallway is getting hosed down (left), and now we can see how handy and effective those tapered and slightly sloped cement slabs really are … I mean, how nice would it be to simply ‘Hose Down’ a floor inside our house… especially after a Big Party!

Over at the Main House Earthship the Bathroom is in a race for completion (right).

The ‘U-Shaped’ Bedrooms are simplified in design when it comes to Closet Space. They aren’t ‘Walk In’, but rather ‘Walk Around’. They’re a nice open concept with some decorative carpentry at the top (left). The Closet itself is also open (right), with simply a shelf and a clothes hanger rod in front.

The Airlock Bottle Wall looks great with the smoothness of the ‘Floating Wall’ finish. There’s also a nice contrast between the regular cement colour of the Bottle Wall, and the beveled lip of the Brown Coat Plaster finish over the double Can Wall below.

The inner joy of a successful build nearing completion is infectious. It’s either that, or the anticipation of returning to the world of luxury like sleeping in a real bed, getting dressed in non cramped quarters, electricity, and running water!

The ‘Velox’ venting front windows are getting roll down screens (left), while indoor Vent Windows are shimmed into place (right), and installed between the Greenhouse Hallway and the Living Space.

As the build winds down, so do our supplies, however we’ve gotten rather good at improvising (pat on back). We’ve run out of regular sized cans, and are left with some oversized beer cans. It takes some practice, but you make a slight twist, and the trick is to make sure that when you place the cans in the wall, that the end facing out, is flush and matches the curve of the wall. Here you can see the progression from the close-up on the left, to the final result in the wall (right).

Speaking of Beer and improvising… it’s ‘Beer :30′, and quitten’ time on another workday (don’t ask, it’s in the contract). We’ve all come to realize what a big incentive like a little bit of Beer at the end of a workday can be. Besides, it makes the Build Mascot jump for joy too. One day left… ONE DAY!

Next Post…

Image Credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 32. ‘Rounding Third and Heading for Home!’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Sour the milk-improve the odds.

That’s my way of saying change the environment in your intestines so that it isn’t so nice and cozy for the Candida to grow in. Many people with Candidiasis have a tough time producing Hydrochloric Acid in their gut which really is about breaking down the food properly.  For the most part chewing your food long enough allows saliva to stimulate the majority of acid in your stomach which will tackle the first part of digesting the meal.

However a way to finish off digestion can be done by taking a supplement tablet in the form of hydrochloric acid.  Digestive Enzymes are another great way of dealing with undigested food. The name of the game here is not to leave behind any undigested bits for the Candida to nosh on.  This is not a beloved family pet.  We don’t want to feed it.

One last little aggravation for Candida is to include enough Fibre in your diet.  This can be in the form of supplements or food stuff. The aim here is to create a rapid exit for your waste matter through the digestive tract and out the ‘poop shoot’.  No line ups or waiting around. The fibre’s job is to absorb and carry off any toxins (alive or dead) produced by the Candida quickly and efficiently thus ‘Souring the Milk’.

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + Herbals

Brunch:

Buckwheat Pancakes (no topping)
Coffee

Lunch:

Rice bowl with Japanese Style Hamburger mixture
Homemade Guacamole and Rice Crackers

Shot of brandy

Dinner:

Stuffed Peppers, with rice/meat mixture and plain yogurt

Snack:

Brown rice tortilla chips

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 71 ‘Sour The Milk, and Improve Your Odds’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Wednesday June 22, on the Gulf Island Earthship Build:

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Those of us partaking in last night’s activities at the Island Solstice Rave, are what you would refer to as ‘Hurting Units’ this morning. So thankfully we have the opportunity to grab a morning Espresso at Cafe Rousselle, courtesy of some fellow industrious interns over at ‘Camp Hugs’.

Not only do they Recycle at ‘Cafe Rouselle’…

They’ve also been growing Sprouts using recycled Blue Board. These sprouts will be transplanted to the Earthship indoor Greywater Planters any day now.

We’re almost there, both Earthships are almost done. We have three days left including today, and the original pile of Construction Materials are almost gone. We’ve already been recycling many of our own scraps to maximize the the building supplies.

The overview of both the Studio Earthship (front), and the Main House Earthship (behind) shows how well they blend into the surrounding Earth Berm.

Landscaping is started outside the East Entrance of the Studio Earthship (left). This Bird’s Eye View (right) shows all the organic round curves of the Brown Plastered Tire Wall, and finished Can Wall.

Here’s a Bird’s Eye View of the Can Wall Planter Stacks on the Wing Walls of the Studio Earthship, filled with fresh earth and ready to be planted.

Here’s a Worm’s Eye view of the stunning result when those planters are filled.

Inside the Studio Earthship the Bathroom is getting the finishing touches. It’s a tricky task to plaster around the cabinetry (left), and masked Bottle Wall edges (right).

Over at the West Wing Entrance of the Main House Earthship there’s still a lot of work left to be crammed into these last 3 work days.

Inside the West Wing Airlock is a mix of tasks yet to be completed. On the left, the bottom portion of the wall has the Brown Plaster Finish, yet the Bottle Wall itself needs to be flushed out with a ‘Floating Wall’ finish. On the right, the entire Bottle Wall is finished, but the bottom portion still needs the Brown Plaster finish. Every detail to the build has been worked on in a continuing flurry of activity this last week, and everything will be done by Friday’s deadline!

Even with only two days left on the Build, another Volunteer Intern has to leave today. Thankfully it’s only the finishing details left to be completed, and he’s been here for the long haul. It’s been great seeing your fantastic smile each day Sam!

Over at ‘Camp Sauna’, I’m treated to a fresh Gourmet Meal made by a fellow Intern in the Outdoor Kitchen. I came prepared with all ‘Powdered/Deyhydrated’ Hiking Foods for 5 weeks, so all I had to do was add hot water. However, most nights have been Protein Power Bars and Coffee while sitting at the Pub’s Internet to post all these posts on a regular basis. Having a real meal is a huge luxury and greatly appreciated.

Speaking of which, tonite the skies were ominous as a Storm has been brewing…

Boats are getting rolled in the harbor…

… and even though it’s not like being there… I took some photos to hopefully show the unusual wave activity and tossing effect on the boats…

Figures it’s the one time I didn’t have my Flip Cam on me!

Next Post…

Image Credits: Monica Holy

Island Earthship Build: Week 5. Day 31. ‘Espresso Cafe, Gourmet Food and the Perfect Storm’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!