Leo Bienkowski-Gibbs, 30, Victoria, Canada
Leo Bienkowski-Gibbs | Photo by Federica Miglio
What is it you think we accomplished here?
We moved around a lot of dirt and materials. (Laughing) One of the things we did is get a lot of people stoked.
What do you think the effect has been on the volunteers?
I won’t name names but one guy said this was the most profound experience of his life. And he’s had a very rich life. It shows what people can do when they’re committed to a certain project around certain values. You can actually accomplish an amazing amount. When we showed up here it was just flat grass, and now we have something that almost looks like a castle. You could probably throw hand grenades at that thing and it would still be standing.
Why were you drawn to Earthships in the first place?
Because I want to be free. I don’t want to work forty years for a leaky house that takes monthly bills. That’s just modern slavery to me.
