Kyle and Mandy, it’s great to have you both here. You spent more time at the Earthship this season than anyone else—over a month on and off. During that time, you were incredibly proactive, identifying projects, making improvements, and really engaging with all aspects of the site. To start, could you each introduce yourselves?
I’m Kyle. I’m fairly new to Web3 but have over 20 years in IT. Outside of tech, I’m passionate about hands-on projects, especially if it’s something others avoid, like custom electrical or plumbing work. I love finding creative solutions and building things with a unique touch. I was also part of the team that built the GM bus, which gave me experience in layout, electrical, and water systems.
Hi, I’m Mandy. My background is in art and English, though I eventually shifted into business, coaching, and spiritual work. I live full-time in an RV with Kyle, which has been an adventure in itself. During COVID, we left the corporate world, bought an RV, and started traveling. We met through meditation and got involved with Web3 through friends we met along the way. We were discussing the TEARS project at MetaCamp in Costa Rica, which brought us here. I spent a lot of time at the earthship doing art, baking, and enjoying the experience.
We met in Denver at MCON2 when you were showing the GM bus project. You visited the site briefly that same year. I’m curious, before you arrived, what were your expectations?
Honestly, I expected a much rougher road. We’d heard so much about it being challenging, so we were bracing ourselves for something steeper and more rugged than it was. That said, the road is long and rocky, and our RAM 3500 isn’t exactly built for off-road adventures. But, overall, it was easier to navigate than expected.
I also expected the area to be more populated, with a more established community. I thought we’d meet more neighbors, but instead, we found a few close-knit, big personalities. And while the setting was more rugged than I imagined, the earthship itself was beautiful—like stepping into a unique, boutique artist home. The wood paneling and sunlight made the inside feel warm and inviting.
Great to hear that! So, once you settled in, how did you find the experience of living there?
It’s incredibly quiet. Even the closest neighbors feel distant, and you have this high-desert landscape stretching for miles. It’s beautiful, but there’s a solitude that takes some getting used to. For me, the quiet was an opportunity to slow down and reflect, almost like a road trip or a retreat where you’re forced to leave the daily patterns behind. It was a great environment to work on my own thought patterns and explore what I wanted to create.
It brought me back to my childhood in the high desert, where things were underdeveloped and peaceful. It’s definitely an adjustment to be so remote, but there’s something special about being alone with your thoughts. It feels like the earthship itself encourages you to look inward—it’s almost womb-like. That quietness really breaks up your usual routine and gives you space to reflect.
I noticed that you both brought different goals for how to spend your time there—Mandy, you were focusing on art, and Kyle, you took on some mechanical projects. What kind of projects did you tackle?
We got right to work! First up was fixing the hot water heater, which had failed just before we arrived. With some troubleshooting, we figured out the problem and I spent the first night wrestling with it to get it up and running. Another big project was the old Toyota Tacoma parked on the property, which hadn’t been started in about a decade. I did a full assessment—replaced chewed-up belts, fixed some electrical issues, and even took locks to a local locksmith to make new keys. It’s not fully operational yet, but it’s close.
And then there was the weeding! When I saw those sticker burrs, I knew they had to go before they got out of control. We tackled them daily, pulling and burning what we could. I also spent time creating art and baking, enjoying the creative space the earthship provided.
The sticker burrs are relentless! I can’t thank you enough for taking that on—it’s a huge task. How was it working on projects together there?
It was fulfilling, but we definitely stayed busy. Meeting one of the local residents, Jez, was a highlight. She’s 93 and full of life—she took us on tours of nearby petroglyphs and shared food from her pantry with us. Her independence and pioneering spirit are incredible.
Yes, Jez is amazing. We helped with a water filter issue at her place. Being part of that local fabric for a bit was meaningful, and we got to meet others who love the quiet, challenging nature of living out there. They value the isolation and don’t want easier access because they feel it would change the character of the place.
So now that you’ve had some time to reflect, are there things you’d suggest we change or prepare for future residents?
The composting toilet was intimidating at first but manageable. It’s really just a matter of getting used to it, and we didn’t find it as bad as expected. The bigger challenge was the seemingly limited power system. I was working nights while doing maintenance during the day, and cloudy days really made us worry. It would be great to add battery capacity and maybe find ways to reduce the power draw from high-demand items, like the fridge.
Yes, we found it very helpful to plan meals carefully so we didn’t have to make frequent trips to town. Stocking up on essentials and easy meal options like soups or pasta helped. For future residents, having a checklist of kitchen items and water-saving tips would be useful, like setting up a system to save water while waiting for it to heat.
Good suggestions. I think a lot of it comes down to planning and understanding what’s available on-site. A checklist would help set expectations.
Agreed. The water situation was more manageable than we thought, but it would be nice to have a gauge for water levels inside the house. Having more battery capacity would be my top priority, though, especially for residents who need to work during cloudy weather.
That’s high on my list too. If you could change one thing about your time here, what would it be?
I’d have set aside more time for creative projects. It’s easy to get caught up in maintenance work, so I’d be more intentional about designating creative time and starting projects beforehand to keep the momentum going.
Same here. I’d tell future residents to bring a project they’re already invested in so they can dive right into it. Don’t be in “busy mode” like normal life—really embrace the creative opportunities this place provides.
I hope you both have the chance to return with those intentions in mind. Thanks for everything, and I look forward to seeing what you create next time.