Ancient Echoes, a lodging and retreat center tucked within McElmo Canyon, will be hosting a construction workshop and volunteer session from June 7 to 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, instructing attendees on the Earthship Biotecture building method.
The style utilizes cans, tires and bottles along with natural materials to create off-the-grid structures. Volunteers will leave their mark at 14537 Rd. G in McElmo Canyon, collectively building a permanent bathhouse for the campsites available to rent out on the property.
The method is intentionally basic and easily replicable. Nathan Schroering, the land steward of Ancient Echoes, was enchanted by the Earthship communities near Taos. Learning to build the self-sustaining structures inspired him to incorporate their style into the Ancient Echoes property.
“It doesn’t have to be precise,” Schroering said. “It’s easy to teach people and to empower them to build it themselves.”
The finished product will have two rooms containing toilets, showers, a bathtub and a sauna for the campers lodging in the tents at the retreat.
Schroering along with other staff and volunteers began laying the circular foundation of tires for the bathhouse, filling them with dirt and securing them with a minimal amount of cement.
“Tires ship across the ocean to be burned, so it's a good way to recycle,” Schroering said.
Ancient Echoes’ neighbors, Sutcliffe Vineyards, donated empty wine bottles for the windows, and the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez is accepting donations of aluminum cans for the walls of the structure. Schroering estimated that he has amassed around 3,000 cans so far, but his target is 5,000.
Schroering built Earthship-style structures in New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Australia and the Zuni reservation. By providing an opportunity for people to volunteer or to simply observe the project, he hopes to inspire others to utilize the inexpensive and resourceful method in their own projects.
“I want to create a network of alternative construction in this area,” Schroering said.
Ancient Echoes owner Celine Leavitt said the bathhouse was much needed for the property, but the opportunity to build sustainably is another step for her vision of the sanctuary.
“I just can’t think of anything more in deep alignment with what we need on the planet,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt said a school group recently came by the retreat, dumping dozens of single-use plastic bottles into their trash. Rather than lamenting the waste, Schroering used the plastic bottles to help fill the tires.
Schroering anticipates the complete bathhouse build will take two months. He hopes those who volunteer over the next week will also be inspired to come back to attend any of the cooking or yoga workshops or simply to stay in one of the tents or duplexes on the property.
“I hope they want to come back and use this,” Schroering said.
Those interested in volunteering or seeing the project can contact Schroering at 812-309-8072.
avanderveen@the-journal.com
