We have created a backyard earthen sleeping pod in a way th…
We have created a backyard earthen sleeping pod in a way that is pleasing to the soul. The structure provides us with most of the things that traditional shelter was designed to do without many of the social, emotional, environmental or financial costs that modern industry comes with. The process we used was much more like that of a cultural community arts project than a construction industry project. It was mostly all done with bare feet, live musicians, many children, even toddlers and with a food sharing element. The structure was hand-sculpted from earth excavated locally and mixed by many bare feet at musical mudstomp events, (where music fuels the mixing of mud by bare-feet to make it into a dance) and so it has a high ratio of positive memories per square feet of construction. It’s a small space with a high ratio of walls to openings, big fat walls (up to a metre atively small openings which makes it feel cosy inside. “The cosiness factor” is a term I created to name the simple but powerful blend of comfort, protection and freedom inherent in traditional shelter that is most often missing from the modern dream home concept. “The cosiness factor” is also a feeling which speaks to our inner child, that we all instinctively know and can recognise immediately.
Wood-fired cooking and heating appliances have been added to our sleeping pod cubby to take advantage of all the abundant fuel that falls down from the trees in the surrounding bush. We also added a composting flush toilet, gas heated shower and outdoor kitchen fed by a rainwater tank) In addition to protecting us very well from the natural elements, this structure provides protection from the “unnatural elements” meaning that it is free of debt and bills. The closest thing to a bill is changing over the gas bottle for the hot water shower and the only thing like a debt is the feeling of gratitude to all who helped make its creation happen, especially the children, family, friends and others who showed up, The closest thing to debt is a sense of obligation to continue sharing what I have learned, which feels like an honour. Spending time in this structure has given me a feeling and a power which (besides the relaxation and rejuvenation from sleeping behind walls that have a healthy charge from the earth free from EMFs VOCs and bills) I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but my recent revelation has given me more insight.
This revelation touches on a few angles to this project - mainly some powerful financial mathematics (which bolsters all the touchy feely stuff) that might get you to consider doing something similar.
Replies
For decades I have mostly been talking about the “touchy feely” side of my experiences with Mud Fun and recently some mathematics was revealed to me that adds a whole new perspective which I’m sure you’ve never heard or considered and so I’m keen to share it with you and have you challenge it because I’m certain it will challenge you. I’m calling this discovery “Bank Power Bank” which is a kind of power that is strongly related to financial freedom and wealth.
This came to me while I was spending lots of time in and around our completed sleeping pod and feeling a certain way which I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
Noticing the immediate positive emotional reactions of people visiting the cubby and hearing them express how much they would like to have one, and then noticing that no one was able to take any next steps, there was a conflict. As I began pondering the most probable obvious roadblocks for people to take next steps, I discovered a game-changing revelation hidden in plain sight, based on maths.
The obvious roadblock is that we only have so much time, energy and money available, and as romantic as the backyard sleeping pod cubby house concept might feel at first sight, it doesn’t take long before our logical brain kicks in and categorises it as a whimsical nice-to-have play-thing, and not as a serious asset that can provide any stability, wealth or power, which takes precedence.
And then I discovered the maths that shows another opposite perspective. To be clear, we are not collecting any rent here from this sleeping pod cubby; (despite offers) we are enjoying the space as extra room to spread out in, and as I spend time in and around it, I’ve realised I’m collecting an energy and power which very few people have. This power has a mathematical element and I came up with the term “bank-power-bank” to describe an aspect of this power which comes from the idea of a power bank, as in a storage of power that you can take with you anywhere, and also “bank-power…
this is very interesting, thanks for writing it
That’s fantastic! I’ve been dreaming of building a hobbity home out of earth since I was a child. These places are very special indeed. I love it when people include coloured glass bottles in the walls as decoration. The only limits are your imagination! Thanks for sharing. Would love to hear/see more.
here's another shot of my cubby
