Earthship Academy potential Client information
Important Information for prospective hosts for an Earthship Academy
Outline
Earthship Australia Inc, a newly incorporated community organization working towards planning and designing Earthships in Australia, in partnership with Earthship Biotecture, New Mexico are looking for partnership organizations or individuals to host an Earthship Academy school in Australia.
Expanding their highly successful Academy program in the United States, Michael Reynolds and his team from Earthship Biotecture are looking to expand the study opportunities to other locations across the world, bringing their extensive experience and professional team to Australia in order to teach the wider community and build an exemplary structure as a model for others interested in this design and living style.
Planned for December/January 2015/16, the Academy school will provide 4-6 weeks extensive training to 30+ individuals in Earthship design principles, construction methods and philosophy. Academy classes, labs and hands-on construction techniques are led by Michael Reynolds and a staff of top Earthship builders, electricians, plumbers, plant specialists and educators. This timeline cannot be moved as it is the prime period for North Americans to come over as it is their winter.
In Australia, the host site and community will benefit from having a start-to-finish Earthship built on their property with planning and plans assisted by Earthship Australia and Earthship Biotecture. With a huge following internationally and across Australia, the project will generate extensive media and attention for the local organization, providing further opportunities for partnerships and projects to coincide with the Academy school and provide a building which can be the start or compliment an existing community site or project.
The host organization and/individuals will be required to provide assistance for planning and building permits, have a site suitable for accommodating 40-50 people working and living on-site for 4 weeks and have the resources to purchase the necessary materials for a 4 week building project. Exact costs will depend on the design criteria and the site’s accessibility and assets.
With the facilitation of Earthship Australia, the potential client/site would be hosting a fairly significant and highly intensive program build, with theory lessons being held alongside an intense work schedule to complete a moderate sized house over the duration of the project. Before knowing the precise circumstances of the host organisation/client, the following information is to be used as a guide only but please be aware that a project of this scale requires full commitment and continuous communication with Earthship Australia and Earthship Biotecture over the next 15 months. It is our job to secure an appropriate site to ensure the project proceeds and we can gain the commitment of Earthship Biotecture as soon as possible.
Preference at this stage is for a community organisation or open-access co-operative site to enable the building to be open to the public for future visiting and use. Other offers will be considered.
Preparation for an Academy on your site would require;
Earthship Australia will co-host the Academy, with the fees generated from the school going towards the flights and payment of Earthship Biotecture crew and local crew and organisational fees.
The design of the building can be adapted but for ease of permit and logistics a small 2bed structure, either global model or survival model, would be appropriate for completion over the course of the Academy.
Outline
Earthship Australia Inc, a newly incorporated community organization working towards planning and designing Earthships in Australia, in partnership with Earthship Biotecture, New Mexico are looking for partnership organizations or individuals to host an Earthship Academy school in Australia.
Expanding their highly successful Academy program in the United States, Michael Reynolds and his team from Earthship Biotecture are looking to expand the study opportunities to other locations across the world, bringing their extensive experience and professional team to Australia in order to teach the wider community and build an exemplary structure as a model for others interested in this design and living style.
Planned for December/January 2015/16, the Academy school will provide 4-6 weeks extensive training to 30+ individuals in Earthship design principles, construction methods and philosophy. Academy classes, labs and hands-on construction techniques are led by Michael Reynolds and a staff of top Earthship builders, electricians, plumbers, plant specialists and educators. This timeline cannot be moved as it is the prime period for North Americans to come over as it is their winter.
In Australia, the host site and community will benefit from having a start-to-finish Earthship built on their property with planning and plans assisted by Earthship Australia and Earthship Biotecture. With a huge following internationally and across Australia, the project will generate extensive media and attention for the local organization, providing further opportunities for partnerships and projects to coincide with the Academy school and provide a building which can be the start or compliment an existing community site or project.
The host organization and/individuals will be required to provide assistance for planning and building permits, have a site suitable for accommodating 40-50 people working and living on-site for 4 weeks and have the resources to purchase the necessary materials for a 4 week building project. Exact costs will depend on the design criteria and the site’s accessibility and assets.
With the facilitation of Earthship Australia, the potential client/site would be hosting a fairly significant and highly intensive program build, with theory lessons being held alongside an intense work schedule to complete a moderate sized house over the duration of the project. Before knowing the precise circumstances of the host organisation/client, the following information is to be used as a guide only but please be aware that a project of this scale requires full commitment and continuous communication with Earthship Australia and Earthship Biotecture over the next 15 months. It is our job to secure an appropriate site to ensure the project proceeds and we can gain the commitment of Earthship Biotecture as soon as possible.
Preference at this stage is for a community organisation or open-access co-operative site to enable the building to be open to the public for future visiting and use. Other offers will be considered.
Preparation for an Academy on your site would require;
- Complete ownership/title/permission for use of the property for a build
- A property within 90mins of a major city to ensure easy transport
- Good vehicle access to the build site for material cartage/large equipment access and storage capacity for materials to be brought ahead of time
- Once the design is finalised, a commitment to gain planning and building approval within 6-9months with assistance from Earthship Australia in getting local architects to draw up council acceptable plans for your state
- Sufficient funding for planning and building approval, architectural drawings and for the dwelling, approximate costings would be between $1500 - $2000 per square meter for a global model or survival model design (rough estimate) This would include provisions for solar/water systems/earth moving/site preparation etc
- Good water and power sources established
- Camping facilities for 40-50 people living on site for 6 weeks to be established and prepared including a makeshift kitchen/composting toilet system
- Insurance and Owner-Builder registration to be taken out by the owner/site group - details for Owner building requirements across the states can be found here.
Earthship Australia will co-host the Academy, with the fees generated from the school going towards the flights and payment of Earthship Biotecture crew and local crew and organisational fees.
The design of the building can be adapted but for ease of permit and logistics a small 2bed structure, either global model or survival model, would be appropriate for completion over the course of the Academy.
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Design Criteria
The planned Earthship will be designed to suit the existing site and local organisation’s needs. Examples of appropriate designs and feasible projects include 2U survival pod which could be used as an office, studio, private quarters, visitors centre, meeting space, or a community hub. Global Model 1 Bedroom Could be used as a small home, studio space or BnB. The Earthship will meet the 6 criteria for Earthship principles including recyclable grey and black water systems, thermal mass for temperature stabilization, operable ventilation, solar electricity, food production cells and the use of local recycled and natural materials. Examples of potential designs; 
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Program Structure:
Students will be working solely on one structure for 4 - 6 weeks. Instructors divide the class into smaller groups and work on a variety of aspects like tire pounding, can and bottle wall construction, adobe mud pack-out and plaster, carpentry, roofing, glazing and systems. Groups rotate daily or more frequently so each student gets to try each task. Each day there is an introductory overview and end of the day Q&A session held on site.
Classroom
Classes are typically two hours long each. There is a Final Exam review two days before the Final Exam.
Partial list of Academy classes:
History and Evolution of the Earthship Concept
Thermal/Solar Heating and Cooling
Building with Natural and Recycled Materials
Water Harvesting, Storage and Filtration
Contained Sewage Treatment
How to Read Earthship Construction Drawings
Earthship Types
Earthship Finishing Options and Techniques
Food Production in Earthships
Introduction to Aquaponics
Solar and Wind Electric Systems
Basics of Electricity
Earthship Village Ecologies, Test Sites and Colonies
Sustainable Retrofit for Conventional Homes
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Projects
Project Planning and Staging
Plans and Permitting Process
The Owner/Builder Earthship Experience
Labs
The Labs give students a chance to go in-depth with technical aspects of the Earthship systems. With guidance from our Plumbing Specialist, students build a Water Organizing Module and learn about all filters, pumps and valves. Students also build a Power Organizing module and do hands-on basic electrical wiring for lights and switches. During the Earthship Maintenance Lab students learn all aspects of caring for an Earthship building from servicing the batteries for the solar system to cleaning out the grease and particle unit of the gray water system.
Lectures will include topics themed around;
Introduction to Earthship Design Principles
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance Economy,
Pragmatic Studies - Architecture and its relationship to comfort
Introduction to types of Earthship designs
History of Earthship building methods
Pragmatic Studies - Solar/Thermal Heating and Cooling
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance Politics
Pragmatic Studies - Building with Natural and Recycled Materials
Pragmatic Studies - Power consumption
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance Religion
Pragmatic Studies - Solar system design
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance World
Pragmatic Studies - Water Harvesting
Pragmatic Studies - Majority World Earthship applications
Philosophy Studies - Earthships in the World of Sustainability
Pragmatic Studies - The Owner/Builder Earthship Experience
Pragmatic Studies - Earthship Finishing Techniques
Pragmatic Studies - Earthship plans and permitting
Pragmatic Studies - Earthship Community Concepts and the REACH Earthship Community
Pragmatic Studies - Food Production and Gray Water Plants in Earthships
Pragmatic Studies - Solar hot water
Pragmatic Studies - Contained sewage treatment
Pragmatic Studies - Building an Earthship Waldorf School in Sierra Leone
Students will be working solely on one structure for 4 - 6 weeks. Instructors divide the class into smaller groups and work on a variety of aspects like tire pounding, can and bottle wall construction, adobe mud pack-out and plaster, carpentry, roofing, glazing and systems. Groups rotate daily or more frequently so each student gets to try each task. Each day there is an introductory overview and end of the day Q&A session held on site.
Classroom
Classes are typically two hours long each. There is a Final Exam review two days before the Final Exam.
Partial list of Academy classes:
History and Evolution of the Earthship Concept
Thermal/Solar Heating and Cooling
Building with Natural and Recycled Materials
Water Harvesting, Storage and Filtration
Contained Sewage Treatment
How to Read Earthship Construction Drawings
Earthship Types
Earthship Finishing Options and Techniques
Food Production in Earthships
Introduction to Aquaponics
Solar and Wind Electric Systems
Basics of Electricity
Earthship Village Ecologies, Test Sites and Colonies
Sustainable Retrofit for Conventional Homes
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Projects
Project Planning and Staging
Plans and Permitting Process
The Owner/Builder Earthship Experience
Labs
The Labs give students a chance to go in-depth with technical aspects of the Earthship systems. With guidance from our Plumbing Specialist, students build a Water Organizing Module and learn about all filters, pumps and valves. Students also build a Power Organizing module and do hands-on basic electrical wiring for lights and switches. During the Earthship Maintenance Lab students learn all aspects of caring for an Earthship building from servicing the batteries for the solar system to cleaning out the grease and particle unit of the gray water system.
Lectures will include topics themed around;
Introduction to Earthship Design Principles
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance Economy,
Pragmatic Studies - Architecture and its relationship to comfort
Introduction to types of Earthship designs
History of Earthship building methods
Pragmatic Studies - Solar/Thermal Heating and Cooling
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance Politics
Pragmatic Studies - Building with Natural and Recycled Materials
Pragmatic Studies - Power consumption
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance Religion
Pragmatic Studies - Solar system design
Philosophy Studies - Sustenance World
Pragmatic Studies - Water Harvesting
Pragmatic Studies - Majority World Earthship applications
Philosophy Studies - Earthships in the World of Sustainability
Pragmatic Studies - The Owner/Builder Earthship Experience
Pragmatic Studies - Earthship Finishing Techniques
Pragmatic Studies - Earthship plans and permitting
Pragmatic Studies - Earthship Community Concepts and the REACH Earthship Community
Pragmatic Studies - Food Production and Gray Water Plants in Earthships
Pragmatic Studies - Solar hot water
Pragmatic Studies - Contained sewage treatment
Pragmatic Studies - Building an Earthship Waldorf School in Sierra Leone
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Here is a copy of the materials list for the Ushuala project which would be the responsibility of the Client/Organisation to source ahead of time, particularly if the project is out of Victoria where most of the crew is based. Expectation of Earthship Biotecture is the site preparation and materials collection will be ready when they arrive and the building can begin.
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To discuss your potential to host an Earthship Academy please get in touch via email earthshipsaus@gmail.com once you have read and understood the information above, we would love to hear from you!