As I mentioned before, the Doighouse project is more than just an Earthship (in construction). It is a garden, it is a forest, it is a community. But more than anything, it is a learning center created for exchanging information on sustainability, off-grid living, permaculture practices, and appropriate technologies. Though the basis for all of this is people and places, including the folks directly around us, as well as people from around the world who pursue these areas of interest.
It is therefor quite appropriate that once in a while we take a break from pounding tires, and visit a place that is somehow related to what we are all about. Two destinations so far have been OUR Ecovillage near Shawnigan Lake, and Free Spirit Spheres in the hamlet of Dunsmuir, just a few kilometers from here.
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I have heard the name of OUR Ecovillage (O.U.R. stands for One United Resource.) mentioned a few times, relating to successful cases of intentional communities withstanding the test of time. A few weeks ago Tony and Susan organized a visit there for the entire crew of volunteers who happened to be around at the time. It was a guided tour of the village, including a verbal presentation, a visit to the birthing-healing-farewell center as well as the artists’ center, a stroll through the gardens, looking at the gray-water system, a few houses being constructed, and a delicious lunch created from the products of the place.
The place seemed very familiar: lots of beautiful cob structures, mature trees guilds laden with fruit, and friendly locals who seem to be getting their fair share of visitors. What impressed me most, however, was the talk on fitting their lofty ideas of communal ownership, land stewardship, mixed zoning, etc. into the present legal framework. Granted, it took them a good twenty years to do so, but finally they managed to set a strong precedent for any similar endeavor in the future. In this regard they are very similar to the Doighouse, which is paving the way for any code-approved Earthships in BC. Of course, it is really hard to get a good impression from a guided tour of this kind, so I wasn’t even looking for more. However, when I found out that you can legally camp there, I decided to make it my half-way-stop on my bike trip back to Victoria.
The other field trip we took only a week ago, was the complete opposite. It was not so much about the organizational structures in place, but about the physical ones. But those have the potential of dropping your jaw wide open: suspended spherical tree-houses!
The idea came about from the well-known struggle with the building code. And since all the regulations on buildings start with the foundations, the most straight forward way to avoid them all together is by not having any. Instead, you could have the structure hanging in mid-air, preferably from the huge trees growing in this region. Looking at the numerous benefits offered by geometry, and the many systems and materials from the world of boats and RVs, the owner and visionary Tom came up with these amazing structures, which are beautiful to behold, and comfortable to be in.
Since the living space is minimal (10 ½ feet or 3.2 m in diameter, giving an effective floor-area of around 45 square feet or 4.1 square meters) he can afford to use the best material for his spheres, resulting in gorgeous wood-panels and brass fixtures. For the structure itself he uses aluminum, fiber-glass, and plastic, with a minimum of steel for essential parts. The furniture of course is all custom made, including self-folding murphy-beds, and similarly modular bookshelves and tables. Most of his spheres are rental units, so you can come and hang out in little balls among the giant trees for a day or so. He also makes spheres for sale, though with the 6000+ hours of work going into them (eclipsing the $20,000 additional material cost) they tend to be less sought after for purchase.
I’m really happy about these two informative excursions, adding on to the already rich experience of the Doighouse Build. They are valuable for all of us who are interested in other ways of living, and I’m glad to share them with any of you who may be curious about them. I urge you to follow the links for more information on the places, and schedule a visit so you can see them yourself.
If you're interested in coming to visit, or better volunteer for a while, please contact [email protected] and visit http://thedoighouse.com/ Looking forward to getting to know you!
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