The Stones' Earthship Home Gardens

The Stones' Earthship Home Gardens

Sue and Geoffrey Stone came to Earthaven in 1999 with a dream to build their own earthship, a home built from recycled tires filled with rammed earth. They began construction in the fall of 2001 and built 75% of the home themselves, which took 3.5 years to complete. Since they moved into their home in the spring of 2005, they have been focusing on landscaping and gardening. It shows. Their home in the Upper Rosy Branch neighborhood is a treat to visit. To see a chronicle of their building project and images of their in-process and completed home, click here.

This lovely sign and wall mark the entrance to the Stones' cart path. View of the shed behind. Retaining wall tires are planted with sun-loving herbs, such as thyme and oregano, and other drought tolerant plants.

Retaining wall made from recycled beer bottles imbedded in concrete. The bottles make use of a throw-away resource while allowing less use of concrete.

Long view of the cart path leading to the main entrance of the house. Both tire and bottle walls can be seen as well as solar-powered walkway light. A solar-powered golf cart can be driven right to the front door.

Pictured here is a water catchment tank which holds rain water from the flat roof above. This water is used for all domestic and garden needs (except drinking). The tire garden system helps to retain moisture for the strawberries and wild flowers

Main entrance to the Stones' Earthship on the west side. Gardens of flowers along the path. Homemade (by Geoffrey) ferrocement water tank on this side of the house as well. Sue is the rock-wall artist.

View of the gardens in front of the house. Lovely herb, rock, vegetable, and flower garden with the Buddha looking on.

We grow ornamentals such as iris, daylilly, zinnia, as well as herbs such basil and calendula, and of course edible vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, lettuce, and greens. We also draw a variety of woodland and migratory birds to our garden feeders which are directly outside our large south windows and are a joy to watch. We sometimes get a sighting of the migratory rose-breasted grosbeak, a rare treat.

Our home incorporates passive solar design, which enables us to optimize our heating and cooling without fuel. We grow muscadine grapes and kiwis on this arbor to the south in order to provide both extra shade in late summer when the sun starts to creep in as well as fabulous food to eat. By winter the leaves are gone and we have full sun to warm our home.

These steps at the front door were made from rocks on-site and the stone patio area was made from concrete using a plastic form.

 http://www.earthaven.org/farms-gardens/Stone%27s_Garden.php