Help creating an earthship, kiva, permaculture garden and other eco-friendly, carbon neutral projects near Taos, NM, USA

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    off the grid on the high desert West Mesa between Taos and Carson, NM building various sustainable structures using thermal mass, passive solar, rainwater collection, upcycled materials and eco-friendly, carbon neutral construction practices.

    I’ve surrounded myself with cool people who are super fun with hearts full of joy and zero hate. Is that you? You’re welcome here. Come on by. Glad to have you.

    WE CURRENTLY HAVE:
    - two schoolies, large bus has wood burning stove, propane stove & oven; small bus has a bed and a small stove
    - a small vintage camper we are going to adobe in as a permanent structure
    - composting toilet out house
    - solar power
    - camping shower in a makeshift shower house which isn't great (options available for cheap showers in Taos)
    - room for car / RV / drop campers
    - couple sheds
    - root cellar
    - pit garden
    - herb garden
    - dog park
    - rainwater collection for plants
    - drinking water hauled in from West Rim community well

    Feel free to join us anytime May-October.

    We've constructed some earthworks to prevent runoff and force monsoon rains and snow melt to soak in. More work needs to be done. The main road and original driveway become mud pits fast, so I'm building channels to direct water to my lowest spot where I'm digging up dirt I need to build while creating a seasonal pond. There are some swales on the high contours and we'll be adding more.

    Working on: cob, adobe, aircrete infused with shredded styrofoam, an Earthship-inspired build and biodiesel projects that run concurrently building a cistern & shower house, a wallapini, a workshop, a kiva, and making fuel while growing food.

    In the future we will add chickens and goats, build additional living quarters, and work on better insulating & equipping buses. At some point we HAVE to build a rocket mass heater hot tub. It's inevitable.

    The main rule is we don't want any "trash". Everything needs to be responsibly composted or integrated into the build in a sustainable way. Scavenged and upcycled building materials are preferred.

    This is the high desert – about 7,200 feet in elevation. Please plan accordingly and dress for rapidly changing weather. If you're not used to the altitude, it can take a couple weeks to fully adjust.

    It's a dry heat. Monsoon season is July-August. Sometimes it rains five minutes, sometimes for several days. September is gorgeous. Car camping is still comfortable in October. Snow happens occasionally in Oct, but definitely Nov - March. As snow melts, we'll be pulling up sagebrush by the roots to make way for native grasses, flowers and herbs.

    You need:
    - you MUST carry water bottles / jugs with you. No single use containers, please.
    - blissware (bowl / container with lid, utensils, cup)
    - a sun hat
    - bandannas to cover nose / mouth during dust storms
    - 4x4 or AWD vehicle or a ride in

    The property is VERY off the grid. They are dirt/mud roads and they are BAD. You will either need to have a vehicle with high clearance or arrange for me or somebody to pick you up at the entrance to the neighborhood, where there is parking available. Neighbors and I hitch-hike in and out of the neighborhood and to and from Taos and Taos Ski Valley all the time. Usually takes me 5-10 minutes to find a ride on the highway. Could take hours to find a ride in the neighborhood though.

    Airports:
    Santa Fe Airport (SAF) 1.5 hr drive
    Albuquerque Intl (ABQ) 2.5 hrs
    Taos Regional (very limited flights)

    Train & Bus:
    – New Mexico Rail Runner from ABQ to Santa Fe (very inexpensive. currently $9 one way)
    – Ride the Blue Bus from Santa Fe to & around Taos (FREE)

    People are coming and going, so lemme know what dates you're looking at so we can make sure we have a spot for you. If you wanna video chat sometime that'd be cool.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    You can learn how to be self-sufficient and live off the grid without having to spend a lot of money. The native people have been living in a pueblo nearby for thousands of years - it is the oldest continuously lived in community in North America - and have a wealth of knowledge about farming techniques and every aspect of life.

  • Help

    Help

    We have several concurrent projects involving gardening, permaculture and eco-friendly, carbon neutral construction

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    I took seven and a half years of French in school. I can read some and understand a little but speak next to none. I would give anything for a babble fish, because I would like to instantly speak and understand all languages.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We currently have several school buses and campers and will be building more structures to house people. We will provide water and at least one meal a day.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are surrounded by beautiful mountains and hot springs. The Rio Grande River is 5 mi away and offers Whitewater rafting, swimming, and fishing. Our neighbor to the north is the Carson National Forest. Earthship headquarters is a couple miles away. Taos ski valley is 30 minutes away and is referred to as the snowboarding capital of the world. There's a free bus from Taos to Santa Fe. Taos has tourists but the west mesa is the wild west. It's fun. Carson Cafe is the closest coffee / pizza / beer hang spot and it's always a good time. I produce stand-up comedy shows in Taos and Carson, NM & quite often my comedian buddies drop in and camp out.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    I have solar power and Starlink internet which is very fast and reliable. The Wi-Fi covers the whole property. Starting next year, Starlink will provide T-Mobile signals as well. Cell coverage is currently spotty, but available in most areas.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    The last couple miles of roads are not great. They are dirt and caliche so during monsoon season they are muddy, and during winter they can have ice and snow. Four-wheel drive vehicles are preferred but on a good day a regular sedan can get in and out okay if you drive slow.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    We have a dog park area with double gate airlock style entry. The rest of the property is partially fenced but not yet completely dog-proof. Completing the fence is on the to do list. Random neighbor dogs wander in and out and are friendly but you've gotta watch your food and recycling or they'll get it. All dogs MUST be properly socialized to humans and other dogs, leash-trained and dog park friendly.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    15 hours/week- no food, 25 hours/week- all food

Host ref number: 277727469296

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