The Garbage Warrior

Passively heated and insulated homes, functioning completely off the grid; self-sustaining with built-in greenhouses to grow enough food to feed a 4-person family year round, even in  -35° weather!  If anybody gets the Collapse, it's this guy.

The Garbage Warrior is an amazing film by Oliver Hodge about Michael Reynolds, an "eco-architect" who builds self-sufficient, off-the-grid communities in New Mexico where design and function, "converge in eco-harmony."   Reynolds is an artist and a genius!  He creates an evolution of design, experiments with the freedom to fail, then tweaks mistakes to produce magnificent and well-functioning treasures.  Picture glass and plastic bottles transformed into walls of stained glass mosaic masterpieces.  Or "garbage" forming the skeletal structure of homes for tsunami survivors or for those who suffered through Hurricane Katrina.

Earthship n. 1. passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials 2. thermal mass construction for temperature stabilization. 3. renewable energy & integrated water systems make the Earthship an off-grid home with little to no utility bills.
Biotecture n. 1. the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their sustainability. 2. A combination of biology and architecture.

When you watch this film please think about the following and then share your thoughts with me: the trajectory of our current way of life in the U.S. (over-consumption of fossil fuels, planned obsolescence, etc.) is completely at odds with Earth's tenacity.  What is the real growth of mind in this situation?  Is it to practice the same paradigm that has gotten us into this mess in the first place?  Or is it to think completely outside of the box?  In fact, even to say that "the box" doesn't exist?

"It's almost like a disaster has to happen in order for the rest of the world to start preparing.  And by then it may be too late."
~Michael Reynolds

This is a testament to diffusing knowledge and vision past elitism and hurdling over red tape.  The people making the rules may not be smart enough to look beyond the rule book and "beyond the rule book is global warming."

~Shreena