About Us

Front doors.

Our Underground Home

We live on 20 acres of woods and bamboo in an underground  home we built ourselves.   We started the house in 1975 and moved in 8 years later.  The home was far from finished but the inspectors knew us by then and we think they felt sorry for us.  When we moved in there was no landscaping at all around the house, just the rocks and dirt left over from excavation and construction.  Inside the house we only finished one bathroom and the floors were just concrete, scored and stained to look like tile. Most of the trim work was yet to be done and the front door opening was boarded up, waiting on doors.  We’ve lived here for 27 years as of 2012.  During that time we’ve done dozens if not hundreds of projects, inside and outside the house.  Landscaping has been ongoing all this time and shows no sign of ever ending.  We both enjoy different arts and crafts and combine our talents in the projects we do.

Why an Underground Home
We got the idea to build an underground house during the 1974 oil embargo. This was the first “energy crisis” the U.S. had faced and help launch the whole alternate energy movement.  There were lots of advantages to building underground.  The home was mostly concrete so fire was not much of a danger.  Being underground we knew we would be safe from tornadoes, a big concern where we live.  And most of all, being underground, the house would be easier to heat and cool.  Another thing that mattered to us was aesthetics.  We liked the woods here and wanted a home that would have very little impact visually.  The home has lived up to our expectations.  We heat with a small wood stove and cooling is done with a small AC window unit.  We feel safe during the worst of the storms and from most areas on the property, you can’t see the house.  In fact, most visitors drive right past it and go to the shop.

Plants and Flowers
We share a love of plants and have turned our roof area into a tropical flower garden.  With woods and bamboo covering most of our property the roof of the house is one of the few sunny areas, and you need sun to grow many of the plants we like.  We’ve slowly created beds and planting areas in front, behind, and on top of the house.  With an abundance of rocks we’ve built walls and patios all around.  We grow ferns, banana trees, gingers, elephant ears, hostas, cannas, and all kinds of flowers.  My own personal garden, tucked away in a sunny corner is filled with carnivorous plants.  These are all native to the southeast and all are becoming endangered.