Idaho modern oldtimer builds underground & solar $50 houses

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.

[weasle]

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! ❤️

[TheKillermike]

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.

[edyagger]

When an old person dies, another Library burns.  Rest in peace Mike !

[DIDYOUSEETHAT]

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 $$$$ :)

[Victoria-dhvb]

"We were biting off more than we could chew, but what we could chew was wonderful."

Love it.

[koneko]

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

[ShaneYiT]

Dang, the guy died only months after this was published. RIP to a great minds

[deadbeatcupcake]

This dude won me over with the bbq window. He deserves a Nobel Peace prize.

[hourvideos]

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

[soccerboss]

I'm sad he passed. What a nice and brilliant man

[vwbeasley]

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. 😂

[MarkBoulders]

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.

[annoythedonkey]

This is one old timer I would be proud o call a friend and learn from

[kt]

“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. 🌿💙

[hookandcook]

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

[lookingbehind]

Reminds me of the sod houses in Iceland. They know a thing or two about keeping warm.

[Godluvs]

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.

[recipesfordisaster]

This guy is a weathered survivor and gentleman in one.

[hmax]

A man ahead of his time. Thanks for sharing.

[MjaySenoj]

I just bought his book. this man was truly inspirational and i hope it helps his family as well. rip friend :)