Idaho modern oldtimer builds underground & solar $50 houses
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2015
- Mike Oehler lived for over 30 years in an underground home that he built for $50 (and expanded for $500) on his land in Northern Idaho near the Canadian border. Now in his seventies his arthritis keeps him from hiking up to his home, but he continues to “write and proselytize”
In 1968 like thousands of other San Franciscans hoping to go “back to the land”, Oehler bought property and began to build a homestead. After spending a winter freezing in a small cabin, he designed a home that would use the earth as insulation. With his first attempt he fell into the easy errors of what he calls a “first thought house”: a hole cut into a hillside with south-facing windows.
Gradually he began to innovate with subterranean design, creating better ways for letting light in: among them “the Hollywood Wing”, “the Royer foyer”, gables and most-importantly the “uphill patio” (which also provides space for an earth-sheltered greenhouse). He also created an inexpensive, low-tech approach to basic design with what he calls PSP or Post/shoring/polyethylene.
Mike Oehler's "$50 & Up Underground House Book": www.undergroundhousing.com/
On *faircompanies faircompanies.com/videos/idah... - Jak na to + styl
I’m mad when he was talking about packing the walls with earth he said “ and it’s dirt cheap “ and she didn’t even laugh at the beautiful pun. 😂
ikr? Such a good Dad joke!
I agree with you. She should really try and be funny back instead of such a butt. She's only after a story. Not careing for the reason for the story. Or who made the story happen.
He's cool ,she sucks!
I picked up on that..loved it!
@Victor B I couldn't believe she didn't catch on to that either. it was an epic pun! What a remarkable examplle this gentleman was..I was saddened to hear of his passing. for up until hearing of his death, I was thinking seriously about how to get to Idaho to look him up RIP Mike Oehler may God Bless Your Dear Soul.
I had the honor of spending a few months with Mike at his place in Idaho in the Fall of 1995. My son and I got to be guests in the original $50 house, stayed in the tiny red house home, and helped butcher a bear. What a year! Thanks for everything Mr. Oehlers. Namaste
I live near Bonners Ferry I've always wanted to see his build
Oh, how fortunate you got to be there w him !!! I'm kind of envious, I must admit. That must have been an adventure of a life time !! All the things you learned n experienced are priceless !!!! I'm so happy for you. You should maybe write a short story about being there w him n what he said n taught you n what you saw n felt n everything !!!
So cool.
I'm looking at this it seems you could bury a shipping container into the side of a hill?
@@jamesp7527 better coat that shipping container with tar or flex seal . I have thought about the same thing for years . I'm saving up money to buy property right now . Then game on . Hopefully you already have property to do that project
How many of us live at work so we can pay for a house we're hardly ever in..this guy has the key to happiness I think. I love this! ❤️
Yes, it's a key Thoreau concept. In youth we work to buy and collect things then the maintenance of those things burden us through life. In the end we all want simplicity and seclusion.
Everyone Works Every day to Pay for an OVERSIZED House they can NEVER Actually Enjoy.
All weekend is Spent Gardening & Repairs etc.
BONKERS FOOLS,
Live in the Smallest Possible House in the Very BEST Location.
ROOM ROOM , SPACE SPACE SPACE Etc = BONKERS IDIOTS With Far More Money than Brains.
Tiny House& PRIME Location is the Secret to COMMON SENSE.
That's what they teach the sheep to do.. when you fall for it, you become one of their victims.
When an old person dies, another Library burns. Rest in peace Mike !
Ah no. Did he pass away? I guess the house was unfinished. That’s sad.
The Wide Awake Club now I wanna know...poor guy
Ed Yagger unless they are trump supporters. Then it is a library not worth reading.
@@MrHellsing1055 trump is such a relatively new topic, you'd be throwing away years of knowledge because of the first chapter.
What does that even mean.
"We were biting off more than we could chew, but what we could chew was wonderful."
Love it.
Don't eat my grandpa! He is delicious!
Schrooms, maan!
Chew? Step into a Slim Jim. Ready to leave my home for a Hobbit Home. Actually, seriously, I've wanted similar most life since I was a teen. I'm handicapped in a chair with muscular Dystrophy hoping not to die at home. Still hoping and looking for anyone possible to a similar home and transportation. Start life over secluded. Peace and quiet.
I'm 36 years old and I've struggled to make ends meet while taking care of my family. One thing I always wondered is what someone could accomplish in a lifetime of hard work,for one's self, and not the daily hampster wheel alot of us are living on.
We only get one shot here and aren't coming back, so go for it... dream big. Anything is possible. 💞
Live with less. Work hard, grow your own food. Family all works together. No TV.
@@pattystordahl3754 I feel the same. All tv is is entertainment. The only thing i learned from tv is how to turn it off. Older movies i enjoy but for most of my life i've been just fine without mainstream tv.
So much it is unfathomable. Th e time to exit the hamster wheel is soon.
@@Brandtphenom Time to exit the hamster wheel now. Not soon.
I come back and watch this alot because he reminds me of my grandpa. Like exactly like him. The way he talks. His witty remarks. His genius. Gets me choked up. I never thought there was another man like my grandpa.
YES EXACTLY! I was a partner in a construction company, I designed an underground house and tried to convince my partners to build a prototype. Could not get anyone to go for it. For my own houses, as a single person I built houses with apartments in the basement, separate power meters for main floor and basement. I live in the basement apartment and rent out the main above ground house. Just make sure if you build a house for that purpose the main separating floor needs to be sound proofed concrete, not wood. In other words you build a concrete house underground, then build another house on top of it to rent out for extra $$$$ :)
You'll have to sell the idea to younger influencers and watch it go popular
P
Did you ever take a hard look at using Hemp-Crete blocks , or forms filled and packed down ? They seem to be bullet proof.
@James Bond It matters how thick the earth is packed, and what type of weapon/ammo you are utilizing.
I wish this video went more into plumbing... where to bathe etc.
Wow, what a great video. My name is David Fairall and I and my family lived at Mike's for over a year helping him get his last book The Earth Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book published. I was one of the artists and did all the computer work to put the book together to send into the printers. In that book Mike wrote a very nice tribute to my contributions to it but really it was Mike who did that great and wonderful book. I learned so much from him and have tons of funny and crazy stories. I just found out Mike passed on this year and I am so sad. Mike was one of a kind. It was my building school group who built, roofed and put soil on top of his disaster room he shows off on his hillside. Later working for Mike I helped supervise several building school teams save and improve his Ridge House. Great experiences living and working with Mike. I don't know if anyone knew this, but Mike deeply cared about people and always sent free books to people in prison who asked for a copy. He was also a very very good cook and his homemade soups and grilled steaks were famous with his building schools and guests. I will always love you Mike and our family of four me, Jill, Ian and Hannah say farewell old friend.
David Fairall thank you for sharing your knowledge of this inspirational man.
thank you for sharing.i cried when i heard Mike passed from this dimension.he is one of a kind.my wish to live like Mike.remainds me of my dad too.
I'm sorry for your loss. He seemed like a very intelligent, imaginative guy, and I'm glad for you and your family that you got to know him. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on him.
David Fairall How do I find his book. What is his last name? And is it on Amazon?
David Fairall what a wonderful tribute! Thanks to people like you he will not be forgotten.
Reasons to build underground:
1: Warm in winter, Cool in summer.
2: Half the building materials
3: Build it yourself with hand tools
4: Less taxes. "What for this hole in the ground?!"
5: Aesthetically pleasing
6: Can be built by anyone
7: Camouflage it so it can't be found
8: It's defensible
7: Takes up none of earths growing surface
8: Radiation resistant
9: Tornado Proof
um bud, the house in this video would in no way be radiation resistant, and tornadoes are rare enough in idaho to not worry about to begin with
Bad for Flooding though
Its on a hill
Floods and land slides wipe it out.
This isn't a flood zone...duh
This dude won me over with the bbq window. He deserves a Nobel Peace prize.
lol 100%
its a perfect invention tho. Its a kids dream of being able to stay inside while cooking cozy outside simultaneously
For being a Hermit ? Then he has to stand in a long line.
Exactly
he is amazing old fella ;)
Dang, the guy died only months after this was published. RIP to a great minds
Never know . . . when one's time, is up ! As it's been phrased - 'we're all on this earth, as short while.' Soooo . . . while you're here, try to make your mark, as best as you can/see it . . . in living it with value, and, living it in style ! 🇺🇸
Where were these castles created ?
@@paulsuprono7225 in the 70’s and 80’s I think. I bought his book years ago and bought a new copy just this year. It is so cool to get to see and hear him. Glad I found this.
RIP MIKE
@@foxfirelabradors5939 Same here, bought his book late 1970's or early 80's, never built one, but always dreamed.
I'm grateful that you caught this man on camera, especially since now that he's gone, I can come back and see him again whenever I want
He's a good soul.
I miss the old guy. I've read his books for a few years now and started working with him all thanks to Paul Wheaton. And then I noticed that Mike hadn't called back from my last question to him and then I heard. We were working on publishing two new books! I hope someone does it. They were great little books! RIP Mike. Be the best hippy you can be in Valhalla!
Pack your garbage out when you do.
I am greatly saddened to hear of his passing. I visited Mike on his Idaho property back in 1992. I stayed there in a small cabin, down on the flat land on the north side of the ridge, for about a month.
he passed? what a loss. I just commented on wanting to meet him and possibly work on a project of his for nothing more than to obtain his knowledge and know how
10:48 “we were biting off more then we could chew, but what we could chew was wonderful”
I remember reading his first book when I was a kid. It has been an inspiration to this day. RIP Mike 😢
I love this video, I've watched it a few times and only found out today he had passed away a few years ago. Rest in peace Mike you are truly a great guy.
This just popped up on my YT feed and I'm glad it did. This guy was a genius with underground house design to get as much natural light as possible while keeping drainage at a minimum. Thank you so much for this. I've been planning to make a home of my own and this definitely gives me some different ideas.
Thank you for making this film, Kirsten. Warms my heart to see your kids there and Mike rocking the hammock bed. A true hippie, he lived the hippy ethic fully. I was gifted the '$50 and Up' book when it first came out and spent hours dreaming of and sketching inexpensive, earth-bermed house designs. In the end, I went conventional as practicality and economic conditions warranted it for me, but most of Mike's concepts are reasonable, if modified for modern application. RIP Mike, back to the earth, buddy.
I'm sad he passed. What a nice and brilliant man
Soccerboss792: I'm sure he'll do angel work inspiring others, ☺️.
“I can’t guarantee it’s not gonna collapse on us.” 😂 I love him. What a great guy. RIP Mike. Thank you for your contribution. 🌿💙
Lol. Her response was funny.
He died? That's sad 😢
This man was a Saint. It is sad to hear he passed away, but he lived an honest life. He treated the Earth as if his mother. A beautiful soul.
The Earth IS our mother. Treat her accordingly.
Reminds me of the sod houses in Iceland. They know a thing or two about keeping warm.
They have to; they live in Iceland.
"Its dirt cheap" ahahaa, good one dad
The Time Of Cave Men Is Gone ,Seven Billion ,And Growing Daily,Get Real.
Lol 😂
@@roberthutchins3435 lolwut
@@roberthutchins3435 you can move in with your dirtbag neighbors then. Stay outta the woods Sissy !!
@@roberthutchins3435 I don't think you know what real is.
He sounds like an amazing person full of knowledge and wisdom. We need more people like him that still knows how to off the land like our Great Grandparents did their parents lived. It would benefit us all to learn how to live off the land.
Look up "the lost ways" book. A lifetime of old knowledge that you're looking for.
@@dannyarrowheadstalker3054 cheers for the recommendation, will check it out!
How he keeps them dry? I mean rain and all? I think majority were abandoned, because of rain, so it is not so simple…or?
I just bought his book. this man was truly inspirational and i hope it helps his family as well. rip friend :)
I've always wondered why people didn't build houses like this, or Hobbit houses, in areas with high tornado activity.
Jaradis so true
In western Oklahoma the water table is so high basements will float only a few weeks after installation.
Also flooding is a factor. Though Oklahoma does not have a beach, high tide will make the Cimaron and other rivers flow above ground when most of the time it's under the sand, depending on rain, etc.
Because there are restrictions with every piece of property you buy in the USA
The dirt is hard as hell to dig in Oklahoma...3 hours a day, I'm only getting 2x2 dug daily
Someone in Washington state builds hobbit homes. I forget her name, but it was featured the channel
This is one old timer I would be proud o call a friend and learn from
His wife and children are digitizing and putting out all his books.
nothing to learn from him unless your the same age and did a project 30 years ago
I bet he's got an acre of weed secreted close by.
@wore out Da Vinci you do realise that every social movement has have pioneers to blaze the way, and show its possible by the sweat of their brow? Earthships, hobbit houses and all the rest that are seen now have their genesis in the efforts of guys like Mike.... I know a couple of them, and buildiing knowledge is only PART of their wisdom. What have you done lately that's as impressive as this?
I bought and read Mike's book on underground house building, several decades ago.
Changed the way I think about housing!
Underground houses don't burn very well....lol genius!! Old timer intelligence they don't teach in school.
what a lovely warm hearted old timer' I could well spend my days there chilling out with him' peaceful bliss
This guy is a weathered survivor and gentleman in one.
I always dreamt of marrying a smart, funny guy like him. RIP Mike, man like you are what makes the world wonderful.
Thank you for this wonderful video! I just ordered his "$50 and Up Underground House Book" and "The Earth-Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book." I left NYC last summer and am now living semi-off grid in the country. This is just the info I've been looking for! What an inspiring man Mike seems to have been.
this man represents a dying breed in America today everyone alive today needs to watch and learn from him and realize that we must live frugally to be happy and sustainable with our mother earth
have you done the math? have you actually taken a city and calculated the amount of space? we would take up all the space on the planet and everything else would die if the world did this. our populations are too big for this now. We need cities and mass farming to survive, we just need to figure out how to do it more sustainably.
did you ever consider that maybe there are to many of us and that maybe we shouldn't have ever reached a population this high if you really think about it we are kind of like viruses the way we consume all the resources in an area and forever expand to new areas continuing to consume everything I personally believe we are vastly overpopulated on this planet and in the coming decades this will take its toll on our race mass starvation, droughts, and many other things
Bradley Simmons or we could have barely enough to start exploring space. resources are near infinite, have you ever considered we are natures new way of organizing energy?
malthusianism is bunk
so WHO do think should be killed!!! would YOU DO IT??? YOU people all want to cut down the population as long as it's NOT YOUR FAMILY!!!!
A Hippy! A real Hippy. Not the fake modern ones. Now in his 70s. Totally cool. I've met other Hippies in N. California that did the same things. Very creative guy.
SargonBighorn Exactly. hippies don't live in 3,000 apartments like the ones in NYC who wear long beards and lumber flannel shirts and dirty sneakers. fake wannabes. This guy is real.
SargonBighorn hi I'm a hippie✌💖🌈 Im 31 but have been a hippie my whole life😊 we are still here! just poor and high so i try to be the best version of myself but its hard these days I'm planning on opening a community housing garden project soon!
There are a lot of us hippies in the inland northwest. Mike was well known at our barter faires around here.
He mentions this type of structure is 'easy to camouflage' and is 'defensible.' Not exactly the true 'hippie.'
Also, he builds things.
@@kencabinson9720
Those are hipsters
THIS, is how We made Our’s Root-Cellars in Scandinavia, for Hundreds of Years...
It’s a good Idea, to build something, like this.
Whatever; Great Video. I liked IT. Thank You!😀👍
I just bought a house that I plan on converting to off grid, I plan on making a root cellar in my hill as you mentioned.
GREEN living at its best!👍👍👍💚💚💚
I really wish a copy of this film is kept in a museum somewhere. Mike was a National Treasure. He taught about architecture, history, self-sufficiency, physics, mathematics and sociology. He designed the houses for his needs rather than his wants. And he was happy. He was a Master. God bless him.
What a sweet smart guy. Sad to hear he's gone. I wish I could've talked to him to tell him how scared I am of bugs and ask if they're a problem in these houses just to see him look at me like I'm an idiot.
How do you know he's dead?
he died on Feb. 2, 2016.
that's sad
You hate bugs, I found 6 scorpions in my house, 7 outside, 2 black widows, fire ants The bugs up there I would gladly deal with....oh yeah killer bees.
Tmobile Sucks I agree with your name. lmao
This man is amazing, and a legend! He started the underground house movement. People don't do enuf homework before they think they know it all. This man lived it!!! He is the dinosaur of underground dwellings!
Dear Ms Dirksen, i`am a Photographer from Germany and I just want to say thank you for your work.Its inspire me a lot. warm regards Christian, even for the people you met.
Kirsten Dirksen God bless mr. Mike Oehler. Please help him with his artheritis. Give him MMS so he could feel better and remain healthy. People need him and he deserves to live without pain. Appreciate him.
A man ahead of his time. Thanks for sharing.
very cozy love this stuff, I didn't know he passed away God rest his soul. A rare person that if we had more of this earth would never have ended up this way...
lieu Gebo climate change can still be reversed theoretically so don’t stop fighting, homie !!
I have his original $50 and up underground home book. It is brilliant. I've wanted to build one for years. His ideas live on!
Brilliant. This video as well as others are extremely beneficial. Great information. I love hearing from those before us. We have so much to gain. As a young man in life at 37, any age is young. So as a young man. These ideas are fascinating. The level of thought and effort that go into these, free sustainable housing is incredible. I take my hat off to those who are continually stepping outside the box to inspire others to create and enjoy.
What a wonderful video. Thank you.
I can't help to keep thinking about drainage
Sorry to hear about his passing but he left us with a legacy that not many people have followed
he has a whole chapter on drainage, you should look up his book; it's online, on his website
Is it only me. I think its an absolute load of crap.Good lord whats the matter with you people. so he is old , but not that old he is only in his seventies . sorry I just cant listen to the garbage he comes out with .
Don't worry they will be.
@@colinellis8661 then don't
colin ellis ......you shush you. .Old wisdom is the best wisdom. I don’t care if you agree with it or not. Not everyone agrees with what someone says. Take it with a grain of salt. You might learn something. 😉
Grandpa was an amazing fellow.. I have so much respect for him. Thanks for making and posting the video.
I had a copy of the “$50 and Up Underground House” way, way back in the day.
I spent hours upon hours examining every page and taking it all in.
I was living with mom & dad in my early 20s. I think mom gave me the book trying to put some ideas into my head! LOL!!!
Hi Mike.... I met you at the U of Oregon in 1973 when you came to speak about your underground house... the first one you built... later that summer, a friend and me were in Idaho and we stopped at your land when we were in Bonners Ferry, remembering your directions, we hiked into the house and checked it out. You were gone... out on a firefighting crew, I think the note said.... We hung out for a bit and then left you a note on your writing desk.... I remember the "original" space, when you turned on your chair from one part of the house to the next.... It was awesome....
Seeing this video tonight really warmed my heart.... great work you've been doing for over a half century.... best wishes for your health.... try organic sulfur crystals.... it will make you younger.... Cheers.... Bruce Hake... Portland OR
So sorry to hear by reading down in this thread that MIke has passed on....
The houses underground are called earthling homes I lived in one that my dad mom and me and 2 sisters built from scratch I lived in it till I turned 18 and my dad still lives there and it has 10 rooms and you can mow the roof an I loved it an I still love it. We are very proud of it.
Wow that's so 18th century
@@charlesneely4008 assuming thats a positive comment rather than an asinine one, thats a strange century to choose, as the 18th had pretty much no underground houses and people generally had lots more brothers and sisters
@Thornspyre I don't trust any history past a hundred years and even then most of it is lies.
I would imagine that if some of the homes that were lost due to the fires in Calaforcation would still be there if they were built like this but, and the big but, is the local building codes would probably not allow it.
Wow I would live to see that not being a weirdo it just sounds amazing
i have to greatly honor this man as he was amazing and has lived the life ive always wanted.
I'm less than a minute into this video and I wish this was my grandpa
a very wise woman once told me, "You know, every human is an autobiography You just have to take the time to read their book!"
I have lived with that nugget of wisdom for over 35 years and tried to live by it. I sure wish I could have read this man's book, personally that is to meet him. RIP
I love how he love all of his windows and really stresses the importance of windows
This is absolute genius!! Every prepper should invest in structures like these.
I'm just now finding this on the web...his life was fantastic from what I've seen here.
I'm sorry to hear he passed away, but thank you for not taking this video off the net.
What an intelligent and interesting man. Mike not only listened to the earth he understood her value and was thankful for the bounty she shared.
Mike, I hope the new journey you find yourself on is every bit as beautiful and fulfilling as this one was. May you meet good friends, enjoy copious amounts of laughter and find quality soil that's dirt cheap.
This old man doesn't care about anything ,even looping his belt all the way through..I hope to be like him one day.
haha my favorite comment
Women always talking about they can't find a real man where here is right here but that's okay because he don't want none of you fake Kim Kardashian social justice Warrior feminazi and nasty type of woman so sorry ladies he's not available he's happy and content the way it is
He's. Living quite good. Linda Milwaukee wis
He cared about the Important things, the rest was just a missed belt loop 🤣
This man is filled with life and I hope he has many more years left.
Jack Hammer He is dead and buried in the earth now. Good man it seems.
would love to be younger and have a partner to build such a perfect house..
@John Brier ja ja.. am in love with you already.. ja ja..have a good day.
I agree and felt the same as watching the video. Where r they?? Always love being in the forest and nature. Mike was so smart and had the right idea.
Me too. I am now widowed only 66. Have nice sellable property. Love to hide away in Red State.
Lol, same problem here in Oz!! So just gonna do it myself- me + the fur kids..😄
@@cheremichael367 NSW or QLD? ✊🏾
this is literally like a 30 or so minute drive from my childhood home lol
I had the original book and spoke with Mike on the phone when I was planning an underground greenhouse.. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS!
They don't want people to do this cause government and business, one and the same if big business like Mansanto, Walmart, etc, etc can not have Control and make money value from it in order to elevate themselves...
Ancient Aboriginal Indigenous people, the 1st people all over the planet, have always done this and still do..
Love this old guy and others like it!!!
Peace, power and Prosperity!!!
F*** the government, We the People the civilians of this country could easily overthrow the government and change it to what we need it to be.
plus Israel can't collect no taxi from people that's not working and not on the grid system
Yeah who writes the codes? The construction industry. Can't build with anything alternative and if you do you need to pay an engineer thousands to say it's safe. So if you got enough money you can build a house for free but if you don't have money you gotta build a house that costs money. Makes sense!
@@TheNinjasniper12 That's anything but easy, even if the Army doesn't shoot at the protesters. All it takes is a few hundred ill-intentioned armed individuals spread among the army and civilians to make things hard for the protesting revolutionaries.
Dennis Keith Mooney JR. We would need to all agree! Good luck on that! Also we would be fighting those who want to control others! Look at the guy who was turned in for building his house in Europe ! There is always a Karen or Karl who can’t keep their nose out other people’s business and break their necks to turn people in!
Thank you so much Kirsten for your documentaries. I fell they're important for not only our current understanding of people and their shelter, but also culture from a historic perspective.
What a great soul you found in the forest! I fear there aren't many like him left.
I had the privilege of meeting Mike at the 2nd annual International Permaculture Conference in Olympia, WA, back in 1986... I attended a talk he held there, as I had already read his book and was a fan of his work. Definitely an outside-of-the-box thinker.
I love this old guy, I wish he was my grandpa! He has so much knowledge. I wish that I lived closer to him, I would volunteer on one of his builds so I can learn as much as I could from him. His life experience is so priceless, it's hard to put a worth on experience. He truly is a trailblazer, and ahead of his time! God bless you old timer, and your family as well! Love from Canada!
It's amazing how this video brought so many strong emotions out. You do great workoh, you're one of those beautiful souls on Earth.
@Real Underdog it brought out so many strong emotions because everyone needs and wants a place to call home! and for many people in the last twenty years or so, any chance of that went out the window... thankyou, politicians everywhere.
Such a cool, old wise guy - I love this kind of true pioneering spirit and know how - much thanks for all you do!
He has made him a warm home out of basic necessary. Wonderful!
learning carpentry i wanna build self sufficient houses like this. people are just too stuck in the pickett fence mindset
Also try rice or straw bale home building permaculture etc. I am ready I have land if anyone Would like to help me build... off grid. But access to 500 gal a week I need an rv or
Check out the Nebraska earthhouses?
Here is the Nebraska earthhouse
Mason Reynolds You look like a picket fence!!!!!!! You Vashon Island boy!!!!!!!!!
Don't forget zoning laws. Its not just learning the skills to leave white picket fences behind, but also the NIMBYs that want to stop sustainability.
Zoning laws have been co-opted to making houses that suit infrastructure to a way to oppress the working class.
Thank you so much!
I bought Mike's book when it came out and I was just a young lad.
Inspiring.
Did you end up using any of his ideas?
+VikingPreparedness EXACTLY what I signed in to say.Thank you Kirsten! And Mike,This is a real treat!
Hey I tune into your Channel also, V.P. Enjoy looking in on your building.
I have his $50 book....one of the best books I ever bought. As he was talking about the Bears I was thinking about the pic of the bear in his book, and that old surplus rifle he shot it with.... while I may never put his book to use in a construction project, it is information I have in my toolbox in case of need.
VikingPreparedness 9
Read his book years ago, even started collecting windows and off cuts. Divorce changed things but still have very fond memories of those experiences and his work had a lot to do with it.
Thank you for documenting this, an innovator and free thinker, I appreciate hearing him out on his design philosophy. The more I listened the more I saw it made sense. I guess he passed 6 months later...thanks for posting his website the family is still maintaining it.
That's one grandpa that as a kid I would've loved to go visit for the summer.
For anyone wanting to know more about Mike, he was on two episodes of Louis Theroux's docummentary series "Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends". One episode was about Mike, the other was with Mike and a couple other people who were also shown on the show, spending Christmas together in New York city.
Thanks
I've owned his book since I was a kid. I'm 54 now. Still dreaming of building underground.
Of all the less expensive, more sustainable building options I've been exploring, I keep coming back to earth sheltered designs. Just makes the most sense of all.
this man and his natural born gumption is what this world lacks!
YES! Love this guy's book, its about time someone did a decent video on him!!! Thank you Kirsten
Read his 1st book "..50 dollars or less", fantastic book, superb content, and a very good writing style. The guy was brilliant.
no wonder him and me like eachother believe it or not I write to but I write for a hobby many of my articles have been in papers I'm an advocate for the elderly I'm an advocate for when military men and women get out of the service I think our country should take care of them if they're wounded once they do their job and they get hurt doesn't mean our job stops by protecting them I love our country I love our military and I love America and I think someday we will all come together and be as we should but holy Toledo when is that going to
A perfect example of underground housing can be found in Coober Pedy in Australia. Year round room temperature underground, including an underground shopping mall! Loved it!
Rally like this my wife and i live in a yurt and are preparing to build a hybrid house half below ground. Im planing on Vloging about it on my channel. This video has given me some grate ideas to incorporate into my design,
back before you won the clear 1/4 mill, apparently.
Is that you, Papa?
That's 'great' ideas ! 😄
Whats with the all the spelling mistakes 😕
I think he is right about the natural light being necessary.
I was 13 when the "Movement Migration" took place, it was one of the inspirations I had early on, unfortunately, I lived on the other side of the states and got caught up in the "things of society"....now that I am an old baby boomer, my spirit has returned back from whence I came....I have dreamed that the home my Dad left me, has the upper floor removed, with the basement left intact and the earth top replacing it....but I am only a little tiny lady now and this may always be my dream...It is a good one tho and maybe, one day...
I'd be happy to help fulfill your dream.. You furnish supplies and I'll furnish labor..
The key is. Build with nature not against. This fellow is brilliant!
This is so neat!! I'm wondering how the wet soil does not rot the wood. I absolutely love this!! You could do so much with it :) Way to go-- You are so smart
this guy got a name for everything! i call this the cool room.
Thank you Kirsten!
I've seen him before, but all the videos had horrible quality. I'm glad you got this on camera :)
What a wonderful man. Wise beyond the times.Loved this video
I can only imagine the wonderful things this man could have taught us All! 🙏💜
That old hippy dude is awesome. Still sharp, loves what he does, and the way he brushes off bears as more of a nuisance than a threat is funny af
Outlook and Attitude make all the difference!
“This is my barbecue window, and down there is my campfire window”
This man was a true treasure, thank you for sharing his work
I dont know who this Mike guy is but that old man is solid as F. So many of these ideas are exactly what I was pondering as I worked my way through engineering school. I was raised in a crappy house that my mother designed and built over 5 years in Indiana. It was 60% underground, 2 stories and one of kind. She lives in it still today and it's quite nice. Worth over 300k. Something tells me she's smarter than I thought and she might know this guy. She was a Hippie in Cali and Seattle Wash, where I was born. I'm going down the wormhole as soon as this video finishes.
What a wonderful man.
Thanks for filming him, he will be a legend, for future generations, he is a legend!!
Love his visions. Wished when I was younger had those thoughts. Smart man. Way ahead of his time in so many ways. The added plus......living in nature in the forest. My kind of living!!! Love it. Solar power the way to go today...
I truly believe that underground is the way to go. The heat we are experiencing throughout the world, makes me believe that one day, underground houses will be a must.
So much wisdom. A truly great human.
Thank God that this man shared his knowledge in this documentary video.He was really ahead of his time .
Watched this video, bought his book, now watching a second time to be inspired. Land is expensive here in New Hampshire, but by golly I'll make it work!
These houses remind of the lord of the rings “ hobbit homes”. Watching this definitely triggers the creative side of doing what most people dream of (Building and owning their own home) Thank you for sharing.