About Us
Biotecture Planet Earth is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Contributions to Biotecture Planet Earth are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Biotecture Planet Earth’s tax identification number is 46-4120704.
Our Mission
The purpose for which the organization is formed is for expanding the use of affordable, sustainable buildings throughout the world and for educating the public about the architecture, construction and maintenance of those buildings and homes.
Our programs and projects include:
Building affordable housing, community centers, schools and community oriented buildings using local materials and sustainable living methods.
Teaching and training people on how to develop and use sustainable living structures to improve their quality of life and the one of their community.
Researching and developing new materials and educational techniques for affordable, sustainable buildings and homes.
The Team
Andy Bratz – President
A life long resident of Camarillo, and currently still lives there but is building an Earthship Global Model in the Greater World Community now. Andy has completed the Earthship Internship and he has also traveled with BPE and Earthship Biotecture to help with the Puerto Rico project twice and hopes to make it out there again for Phase 7. Andy received his education from Phoenix Institute of Technology graduating with an AA Degree in Architecture, his achievements include making the Dean’s List and having a solid 4.0 GPA. After graduation, Andy moved back to Ventura County to work for a handful of successful Ventura County-based Architecture firms as a designer, production drafter and eventually project manager. Throughout the 8 years working under those professional firms Andy was able to gain valuable experience in all phases of industrial, commercial, mixed use and single-family residential as well multi-family residential projects. In November of 2000 Andy created and opened his own company Draphics and it is one of the leading drafting / design company in the area. Since that time Draphics has done over 1,000 projects including room additions as well as custom homes, tenant improvements, commercial remodels.
Lynn Aldrich – Treasurer
A visit to the Greater World was enough for Lynn to want to build an earthship and plan to retire in Taos. She incorporated energy sustainability concepts of earthships into her teaching first year college physics. WIth many years of non-profit experience and an accounting degree, she brings those experiences and skills to help BPE thrive as a non-profit supporting energy sustainability in humanitarian builds.
Benjamin Fields – Secretary
Bio TBC
Paola Garcia – Director
Bio TBC
Deborah Binder – Executive Director
Originally from the Canary Islands, Spain, Deborah has lived and worked in six different continents and speaks three languages fluently. She has a higher degree in International Marketing and Public Relations and has extensive experience in Project Management, Fundraising and Public Relations all over the world. She has project managed over 25 Earthship construction projects all over the world. Her passion lies in autonomous living and technologies and bringing this knowledge to those who need it the most.
Biotecture Planet Earth holds a zero tolerance policy with regards to abuse towards race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, ancestry, or medical condition. This policy applies to Biotecture Planet Earth board members, employees, partners, contractors, collaborators and volunteers.
If you are interested in joining the Biotecture Planet Earth Board of Directors please email info@biotectureplanetearth.org
PAST BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF:
Nicole Leduc
Nicole is the Clerk of the Greater World Land Users Association and lives with her husband Zac Helmberger in the earthship they helped build in 2004. She brings thirty-five years of experience in the high tech corporate world as Manager and Director. Nicole was previously on the Board of OUR Ecovillage in BC and has worked with other non-profits in Taos, NM. She has a MS in Communications and is trained as a usability specialist.
Amy Duke
Amy was born and raised in Aurora, Illinois. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stanford University. She played volleyball professionally in Europe and for the US National Team.
Amy has been working for Earthship Biotecture since 1999 and is currently the business manager of the company.
She lives in an Earthship in the Greater World Earthship Community that she built with her husband, Tom Duke. They have 2 children.
Peter Kolshorn
Peter was trained in architecture school at the University of Cincinnati and has been building and designing earthships and sustainable buildings throughout the past 30 years in Taos, NM. He is one of the founders of Taos Mesa Brewing.
Judy Ann Sutton
My work as a health care provider has seen work in the Emergency Room, a rural clinic, working for the Army in Germany, working for Peace Corps in Uzbekistan and for the Department of State in Madagascar, Kenya, Japan, Afghanistan, Belgium, Libya, Wash, DC, and Nicaragua. I was in charge of budget, supervision of staff, and community building. I have lived in an Earthship for 4 years and host a weekly craft group for community members.
John E Walker II – VicePresident
John E Walker II Born and raised in Albuquerque and fortunate to experience the great outdoors with a father who shared his love for the sacred and the mystical, I grew up knowing nature provides us with everything we need. My wife Deborah joined me here in 1989 giving birth to my second son in 1990. A retired school teacher and currently a massage therapist she shares my interest in sustainability. Both our sons JohnRobert and Luke enjoy wilderness adventures and are excellent outdoorsmen. It is only fitting I combine my love of nature with sustainable building as we embark on my post retirement career as a Encore fellow for Biotecture Planet Earth.
Janet Baucom – Secretary
As a child, I always wanted to be outside in nature – running, riding my bicycle, or playing with dogs. I also loved mathematics (my degrees are in math) and dreamt of teaching others (which I finally do today – away from corporate computing [scientific – flight simulation, telephony, emergency management, and business] done in past remunerative work). As I grew, I felt drawn to philosophers who saw life as extending past our physical existence because they matched my own experiences too. I knew our culture, and many of its social constructs (including religions, schools, and even health systems) were used by others to separate and build fear, rather than unite people. Today, I feel blessed to live in an Earthship, and want to help propagate them around the world where a lifestyle in harmony with Earth and its creatures are most welcome.
Linda Carter – Secretary
Originally from St. Louis, MO, I have lived in Alton, IL, Grafton, WI, Crowley, TX, and Roseville, MN. Two of my grown children, a son, and a daughter (with a son-in-love) still live in Minnesota, and Milwaukee, WI. Most recently I bought an Earthship in the Greater World with my sister, Janet Baucom, in November 2018. A contract job in Minneapolis, MN, kept me from moving here until August 2019. A month after my arrival I attended the Earthship Academy. At warp speed I was able to learn about Earthships and meet and work with an amazing Earthship crew and bond with students from around the world. The experience was something I will always cherish. Life here continues to be one great exciting adventure. The last 15 years include experience in Supply Chain as a Buyer, Procurement Analyst, and Human Resource Trainer. Areas of work have been in manufacturing, healthcare, and defense. In 2014 I acquired an M.Ed. degree in Human Resource Development from the University of Illinois – Champaign Urbana. My passion lies in watching the growth and development of people, plants, and Earthships. It is a wonderful opportunity to be on the board of Biotechture Planet Earth and I look forward to work with others to serve our planet earth.
Chris Pieper – Director
Chris Pieper received his B.S. from the University California at Berkeley in conservation education. After graduating, he taught science and environmental education at Sacred Heart Schools in Palo Alto California. In 1998, Chris moved to Taos with his wife Elana and taught Earth Science at Taos High School. Chris and Elana have raised two children in Taos. He and his wife currently own and operate an outdoor gear and clothing store in Taos called Mudd n Flood. Chris enjoys gardening, hiking and skiing with his family . “I support the mission of Earthship Biotecture because it serves a critical need in our community and the world – building affordable, earth-friendly and beautiful structures for families and community spaces.”
Alix Henry – Director
Alix is a licensed architect practicing in Taos, NM (henryarchitectstaos.com), and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Webster University where she teaches two classes Living On/ Off the Grid and Global Ecologies and Sustainable Living. She has dedicated her architectural practice to principles of sustainability; and worked for 6 years with Solar Survival Architecture (predecessor to Earthship Biotecture) where she was an architectural intern, builder and manager of earthship rentals. She lives with her husband and two kids in an earthship that she built in the Greater World Community. They have lived there since 1998.
