RE: Subaru Mission - A Driving Adventure

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I like to drive and enjoy a good road trip. I've done the Colorado to east coast round trip 3 times. I'm still thinking about an eventual western trip through Montana and into California.

I thought that you are based in Mexico... I recently saw your posts about the modified Earthship in Mazunte. I'm currently working with a group to create a place for community at a ranch in the mountains an hour or so from the Huatulco area.

Ideally, I'd like to participate in several communities around the world and am interested in finding something that fits in the US as well. The mountains are my natural environment and I do love the southwest. After 6 months in the Mexico jungle I'm pretty sure that I can adapt to anything :).

If/when you return to Oaxaca it would be great to meet you in person and have you up to the ranch for a visit.



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Yes, indeed I am based in Mexico. Mexico City to be exact. Not the most ideal place to live, which is why I would like to find a better one to move to. I've been looking at properties around Mazunte, where I have been involved in the construction of the Earthship theater. It's beautiful down there, though being right on the coast has its drawbacks. I don't like it if it's TOO touristy, and also a bit higher up in the mountains the climate is better for my own taste, as well as for growing things. San José del Pacifico is a place I have heard good things about, and San Mateo even more so. But I still haven't checked them out for myself. Of course one of the most important factor is having good neighbors, that is, people who have things in common with you. So I just love reading that you are creating a community with like minded folks. I would be excited to meet up with you when I return, probably around October.

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I've lived in Colorado for 20 years and so like the elevation and drier climate but there's a really short growing season. The ranch is at about 1000ft (300m) so it has a different climate than the beach areas with a lot more rain. Also, there is a beautiful river that runs along one of the property borders. Our website is just coming online if you'd like to check it out: https://www.ranchomukuna.org/

I'm thinking about building a proper earthship here but I'm not sure if I need the full earth berm tire wall since the climate here is warm/hot all year round. Of course the thermal mass may be a good way to keep things cool...

We passed through San José del Pacifico on our road trip from Oaxaca City. Definitely a cooler climate and a cute little town nestled in the pine trees.

You can message me directly if you are on @eco-alex's commuity website: https://www.ecovillages.io/communitynetwork/

I am making plans to travel this fall, but either way the ranch would love to have you for a visit!

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Ooooh, talking about the growing season! My friend's friends in Taos, at whose place I picked up the Subaru, told me the same thing: Their last frost this year was just a few weeks ago in June!!! And then on the other end,things start falling apart in October, but sometimes even by late September. So yeah, that climate is just begging for an insulated thermal mass, with a big greenhouse on the southern front. In Mazunte it's a whole different ball game. There constant ventilation and cooling is the objective, so no south-facing windows there, and also no greenhouse, but the big berm with cooling tubes does the trick. What could also work, I think, is an open, indoor cistern, even though our building is going to have a regular curried one.

I just checked out the Mukuna site. I'm so excited to visit. Actually I was about to write them an e-mail, but thought that I really would like to mention you, except for... Are you known there as dmwh too? --- Ah, just checked, and saw your message. Awesome! I'm so happy about connecting. :-)

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That indoor cistern is an interesting idea. It would create a micro climate inside the building... Thumbs up on the cooling tubes. I may try using something similar in a casita that is being built now using adobe bricks. It would be more of a geothermal system with buried piping in the ground rather than in a berm.

You are welcome to send your Mazunte friends the website link. I'll DM you my email address and you can copy me in if you'd like.

I'm down in Crucecita right now and enjoyed 2 visits to the beach today. I love it.

Exciting things are happening all over!

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At the Earthships Academy in Taos our classroom had an open indoor cistern, and it was considered a "failure" because it made the place uncomfortably cold. But in tropical climates it's exactly what you want. In fact you could have a well designed system of open canals trickling through the living area. Combine cooling, aesthetics, and irrigation, plus the relaxing sound of flowing water.

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