Garbage Warrior
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Garbage Warrior

2007, Environment  -   148 Comments
8.45
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Ratings: 8.45/10 from 94 users.

Imagine a home that heats itself, that provides its own water, that grows its own food. Imagine that it needs no expensive technology, that it recycles its own waste, that it has its own power source.

And now imagine that it can be built anywhere, by anyone, out of the things society throws away. Thirty years ago, architect Michael Reynolds imagined just such a home - then set out to build it.

A visionary in the classic American mode, Reynolds has been fighting ever since to bring his concept to the public. He believes that in an age of ecological instability and impending natural disaster, his buildings can - and will - change the way we live.

Shot over three years in the USA, India and Mexico, Garbage Warrior is a feature-length documentary film telling the epic story of maverick architect Michael Reynolds, his crew of renegade house builders from New Mexico, and their fight to introduce radically different ways of living.

A snapshot of contemporary geopolitics and an inspirational tale of triumph over bureaucracy, Garbage Warrior is above all an intimate portrait of an extraordinary individual and his dream of changing the world.

Directed by: Oliver Hodge

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Happy South African
Happy South African
9 years ago

Watch this its worth every minute.
May thinking like this continue to flow through the minds of generations to come.

Norma Idalia Lujano-Ramos
Norma Idalia Lujano-Ramos
10 years ago

God bless his soul and many blessings to his crew for changing the world and introducing the gift of freedom to this country. Self sufficient eco friendly homes will be the future of the earth...yeiii!!!

Brown Under
Brown Under
10 years ago

Yes here in New Zealand they have the resource management act that is a barrier to developing lands also councils charges to change your bath room around cost you an arm & a leg - $2,100 for the application, must have an approved master builder $10 to $15 thousand, qualified plumber $3000 & council must come and tick of the work and that is additional fee. All up $20,000 to change your bathroom - daylight robbery.

Nick Gixie Rudd
Nick Gixie Rudd
10 years ago

Brilliant stuff, True grit till the end and he finally got the so called right to build.... Right to build, what a joke. Im from the UK and like the US its got some stupid rules and bs statutes to follow, Look deep and they are all about whether the Governments or the (already) stinking rich can make a easy buck out of you. Freedom is the future, Money and riches are the past. the sooner the money system is sunk the better.

Horst Müller
Horst Müller
11 years ago

A very frustrating video to watch, because it doesn't explain anything, but have to say that I only got half way through it before I gave up.
For intance this tyre thing? What is the thermodynamics behind it? How does he drive his computer? What does he plant in his garden and how is it used? How much rainwater does he harvest and is it enough? Questions, questions and no answers.

Vancouver_JB
Vancouver_JB
11 years ago

These guys are leading the way... take the ideas and make them fit your situation. A lot can be achieved by understanding the passive design techniques they are using... bottles in the walls might not be your ideal solution but the solar heat gain is much lower than a window and it still allows natural light into the space. Take these ideas to the next level!

Great documentary, thank you so much for putting this on the web!!

Shane Henrik Lamminparras
Shane Henrik Lamminparras
11 years ago

"We're running out of WATER"..... "It gets negative 30-35 degrees FAHRENHEIT here".... alright turned off this documentary finally.

Glen Hale
Glen Hale
11 years ago

Good example of nothing repeats like history, as the depression rolls on there will be more building's like this , now you have 3 generations of families living under the one roof and modifying their homes to suit.
Just shows how we have wasted money of stupid laws to help support the blood suckers who sponge of the sweat of others.

EffnWasted
EffnWasted
11 years ago

Why would you want to be self sufficient. When you can work hard to line the pockets of your local power, gas and hydro companies. Or pay top dollar for "cookie cutter" houses. I can't see that bill ever being passed. Not unless the people take back their government. But of course they would have to learn to think for themselves first.

Awesome documentary. Well worth the watch.
I'd like to get a hold of some building plans too please!

Oh yea! Seeing them go assist the people of The Andaman Islands. I could really see all the Relief Fund Donations at work. Perhaps they just forgot to send it?

Jo McKay
Jo McKay
11 years ago

loved this; now where do 'we' get a hold of those home building plans?

realitygirl
realitygirl
11 years ago

absolutely love this and I am glad he finally got his law passed. I have 2 concerns - rain water can be polluted so I think he needs a filtration system in use. Secondly, while it does take a long time for plastic to break down, it does eventually do so, so I would not want to use it in my structure. More laws to further a project like this will be much more difficult as it will start cutting into others profits and they will fight it - unfortunately.

Jonathan Lueck
Jonathan Lueck
11 years ago

Inspiring, intelligent, funny, and just a good story.

Kendyl Taylor Van Dÿck
Kendyl Taylor Van Dÿck
11 years ago

This documentary is brilliant! I was laughing my ass off, felt inspired, provoked, and well-informed. I literally watched it twice all the way through, and watched the court house scenes about 5 times. So funny. Love it.

Sherman Monro
Sherman Monro
11 years ago

Absolutely inspiring, and what a dumb legislature body we have! These people are like snails and all day long they push papers! We need smarter people in these offices.

Marishka Noyb
Marishka Noyb
11 years ago

Maybe he should do it on the Indian reservations because laws are different there aren't they?

Marishka Noyb
Marishka Noyb
11 years ago

Yes but tires can't be used like that here it is illegal to have tires on the ground without rims on them...something to do with polluting the ground.And can you build them in New England with our kind of weather?

Matt van den Ham
Matt van den Ham
11 years ago

very inspiring documentary! brilliant

Pavlov Georgi
Pavlov Georgi
11 years ago

bravo!!!!!

Johnny Silverseed
Johnny Silverseed
11 years ago

What an awesome tale. The old adage fits: You've got to help a bunch of people get what they need in order to get what you want. When the crew got outside of themselves and went overseas to help others, their protagonists learned of this service and could not be seen as holding back the visionary success. Bravo!

Do you know of colloidal silver?

Dean
Dean
11 years ago

Enjoyed this doc. This doc provides hope in regards to ones spirit of endeavour. Mr Reynolds self belief, commitment, and determination won through regardless of the politics and what ifs . . . that were faced.

Jack McLeod
Jack McLeod
11 years ago

Michael Reynolds and his posse are an inspiration.

Bryce J. Cavenee
Bryce J. Cavenee
11 years ago

Bravo.

Sayo Ko
Sayo Ko
12 years ago

my dream house!

Angela Stringhini
Angela Stringhini
12 years ago

This documentary is inspirational, not only for Reynolds persona and vision of a more humanistic future; but for all his creative and hand work. As well as Reynolds are his followers and those make the leader.

I do hope people be inspired by this documentary, because in history what made our lives change for better are people like Reynolds and friends.

Thank you

Jay Bezus
Jay Bezus
12 years ago

Nevermind the stream of arguments on this comment string, this documentary is truly inspiring and if you think it might be cool, be ready to be blown away by sheer awesomeness

blahblahbob
blahblahbob
12 years ago

im glad to see they focused their energy on India, i think mike would have a much easier time selling this brand of housing in the slums of india or the favalas of brazil where there is less redtape bullshi# and a much worse problem with overcrowding and sanitation. he was screwed from the beginning in new mex. they have a long tradition of hating the desert rat hippies that go off the grid there. there is a great doc you can watch on snag called off the grid: life on the mesa that details the lives of some true crusty desert hippies.

blahblahbob
blahblahbob
12 years ago

when the revolution comes after the impending class war in America, once occupy turns to destroy and rebuild, which it soon will, bureaucrats and corporate lobbyists will be among the first to be liquidated.

blahblahbob
blahblahbob
12 years ago

that lady Zee from the judiciary review committee is a shining example of what a public servant is supposed to be, a diamond amongst dirt clods.

Karmiccontrail
Karmiccontrail
12 years ago

His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada preached simple living as part of the ultimate knowledge from Lord Sri Krishna .He also set up community farms to show how it should be done .
Not much mentioned in the doc about the food probably because your animals ate it all.
You would need to grow more food for the animals than for yourself .It takes 4 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of meat .It is not sustainable.It is not efficient use of food when you consider that 1 single grain can produce 1 ear of 20 grains ,and 20 grains can then grow 20 ears totaling 400 grains and so keep multiplying but if that single grain is eaten by an animal it produces a tiny amount of stool thats all and not even the kind that would be useful for milking the goat.
Your sub divisions will prove to be an example of this, to the world who are also making the same mistake.
Well done Michael Reynolds,I would love to do something like your doing except in away to please and serve Krishna and not just for gratification . .With out Krishna you will always be struggling and missing the ultimate goal of life .You say you are learning from your mistakes ,so please now learn from Srila Prabhupada .
I have seen Park benches and posts for signs that look as if they are made of recycled or melted plastic .Plastic planks .Could these be made and use to build instead of the timber ?

There are so many problems in the world and whilst we defy Krishna Our Karma will create more problems.
Learn from Gods supreme personality ,Lord Sri Krishna .
Meditate on that supreme person and chant ,
HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA , KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE ,
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA ,RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

Michael your are doing some good work .Krishna explains to Arjuna to fight and think of me .Do your duty and think of Krishna ,then your life will be perfect and not just " I'm free" as you put it . You are a great pioneering environmentalist how about sharing and teaching these better ways of doing things with as many people as possible .How did you get on with the wells and water butts ? Did you filter the water with home made carbon like charcoal and a cloth ?would that work?The whole world needs these answers .Even so called safe tap water has many unsafe ingredients ,I think commercial water filters do too and also the rain .
WELL I hope you do WELL
Hare Krsna.

Admir Efendic
Admir Efendic
12 years ago

People talking about pop. control and how the global pop. should be kept under 500m... I have one question:

What makes you think you will be one of 500m, and not one of the 6.5bn extinct ones, if the government is to decide who lives and who doesnt.

Think about it.

Matt Kukowski
Matt Kukowski
12 years ago

One of the best fu*king documentary on this site.

rastapasta
rastapasta
12 years ago

hows does a person like me be able to contact micheal reynolds?
very interestring and would consider a trial bases time.

Jonathan Olson
Jonathan Olson
12 years ago

This was perfect to lighten my mood and take in a little more hope for humanity. What great idea's and personal conviction shown.

onethatwantsfreedom
onethatwantsfreedom
12 years ago

You can move in my country ... Due to bad(stupid, execrable) politics from 23mill people we are currently only 18mill(in ten years or so), and also scientists made a study and if this trend continues in 50 years there will be no more people here... except the politicians and ticoons that govern us and rip of all that they can. I think that overpopulation is a threat due to democracy( learn history the way i did and you can see it to, we had wars in the past because of overpopulation), also the control can be achieved in your country simply by medical sterilization after u reach 2-3 children, not like in mine where people are fleeing the country or reach the conclusion that they do not want to bring a child to life in THIS conditions. Here u can see 3D,HD, however you want to call it all the documentary`s shown on this site. Before we shot our "dictator" (engenired by foren country`s after what i learned) this contry was called the grainyard(I this is the term) of all Europe, we never imported food or prime materials, now I can`t find a veggie in the store made here, also the big producers of raw materials were sold or made unneficent by the state...Till this moment no countryman shot killed or bombed anyone or anything here, so I think that we didn`t shoot our dictator by our will because the conditions now are crappier that they were 20 years ago, the only thing that changed is freedom to travel and loooots and loooots of shit to buy with no f money . Sorry for my bad english, I learned from cartoons and movies. PEACE OUT

humanatee
humanatee
12 years ago

i found this to me one of the most inspiring documentaries i have EVER seen. i laughed out loud (sometimes just at the audacity of politicians) and i cried just from feeling how right approaches such as this are. i have no idea how yet, but sustainable off-grid living is something i have been thinking about for a looong time and this at least inspires me to think of a practical way to do it. in my opinion, if we have a future at all, it is ideas like this that will lead it! this sort of living might not be for everyone and that's fine, but at the very least, society and government need to allow those who want to put themselves out there and work to DO it - no strings attached or red tape to cut.

who_me_yeah_you
who_me_yeah_you
12 years ago

kevin yoder is obsessed by the wrong numbers. If the amount of nature ripped out, transported, processed and consumed/discarded in the west and increasingly in emerging "economies" (a misuse of a word if ever there was one) was reduced the population that is sustainable would increase by several multiples. Under the current "economies" no numbers are sustainable. We all know the result of the large numbers. Low numbers are unfeasible because they do not support economies of scale. The real solutions are inseparable from the real causes.

jeff aube
jeff aube
12 years ago

its not how many people earth can manage by how much land mass there is,its pollution,consumer demand,etc that we should be worried about(which there will be more of the bigger the population of earth is)I think thats the bigger picture.

Guest
Guest
12 years ago

I agree population is out of control and the more we have, the more they have etc. China has it right in regards to reproduction, I don't support China at all but population control, they got it right.
People everywhere else seem to be exploding with kids, are we really going to wait for government to step in and limit the number of children a person can have, or are people going to wake up?

70% of our big fish have been fished out in the past 50 years, animal suffering is worldwide (my thing is more to stop animal suffering) at the hands of humans.

I just hope we leave some species alive when we wipe ourselves out, I don't see the kinds of change needed in order to save ourselves happening.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

"MAINTAIN humanity UNDER 500 million"
We have that capability with the help of the Garbage Warrior. I believe we could start building Earth ships by the masses. I`ve worked in facilities that built single wides, double wides, etc. Not much different, other than build them indoors is all. Now the onsite preparation may take a bit more surveillance, but the results would be like building on site. We could mass produce them see? I`m betting several could be built every week to start setting up the American people to lead us into the next revolution.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

And you know Michael, all of those 9/11 videos were exactly the reason it was done to begin with. The purpose was to stimulate the economy with a bunch of controversy, with nobody really getting into trouble. Bush and Rumsfeldt sleep well every night. And the threat below has escalated since.How much longer must humanity suffer before we look in the mirror and awaken to the fact of our explosion in population?

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

I`ve watched hours of your videos here and wow! I`ve just barely touched them! But I have to see one that addresses the greatest threat to humanity ever. And that`s "critical mass" as described below. Currently there are over 350,000 newborns born each DAY on the planet. And that number is increasing massively each day. Mother Earth is in the process of cleansing itself with all these natural disasters. That`s well over a million newborns every 3 days. The garbage warrior is being threatened by humanities ignorance. Education is what`s really needed, and that`s what I posted below, is the EDUCATION.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

OK now regardless of how inaccurate those dates may be below, we should all come together and follow Michaels lead. We should use his idea to bring down the population SAFELY. FREE adoption for a few generations should drastically reduce population enough to allow us to focus our efforts more towards science and technology.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

December 21, 2012
TOO much o a "coincidence" sorry.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

I saw this on a recent blog elsewhere and mouth dropped. It shows that we`ve been set up people. But with the garbage warriors help, we can reverse the direction. Anyhow, we`ve all heard the date December 21, 2012 being the so called "end of days"? OK then try adding these two dates up, and see what you get. The first one being the infamous 9/11, and the next one being the recent earthquake in Egypt. 09-11-01+03-10-11

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

Google yourself and see. 350,000 children are born each day, and only 150,000 people are dieing. That`s 200,000 net growth see? And the scary thing is the near future. Lets take it just one more step. If we double in half the time again, we`ld be at 13 billion by the year 2030. That`s simple math. But we have all these liars on tv saying we`ll reach 9 billion by 2050 as if to scare us. It`s WAY more than that!
We`re being set up psychologically that`s why.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

DOUBLE 3300 is 6600 million, or 6.6 billion. And if it would have taken HALF the time, then 75/2=37.5 added to 1975 is 2012.5. In other words we shouldn`t have reached 6.6 billion till next year. We`re well past that already. That`s known as "critical mass" for those familiar with those terms.
It`s like a snoball rolling down a snow covered mountain, as it rolls it grows bigger and rolls faster till it eventually becomes an avalanche. That avalanche is critical mass, and we`ve been in an avalanche since the seventies. Over 200,000 people NET growth per DAY is an AVALANCHE.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

We can estimate we reached that between 1950 and 1999, or 1975. Which was only 75 years from there, or half the time it took before. We DOUBLED in HALF the time it took to DOUBLE prior. That my friends is better known as "exponential growth". A term we`ve often heard the media say. BUT they don`t tell us what that leads to! That`s criminal negligence as far as I`m concerned.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

Starting in 1750, note the frequency the population DOUBLED. 1750 we had about 800 million people. Double that is 1600 million. We see we reached 1650 million people in 1900. So it only took us 150 years to DOUBLE from there. Now lets see how long it took to DOUBLE from there, 1650 x 2=3300

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

According to the numbers below, it should be noted that before 1750 we stayed a bit below 500 million for MILLIONS of years. And then in 1750 is when we started increasing mortality rate along with advancing in medecine, prolonging health. More people lived longer thus the sudden increase in population.

Kevin Yoder
Kevin Yoder
12 years ago

Lets look at those numbers carefully. It`s not the total amount now that`s the problem I agree. The planet can provide for what we have now with some better organization. It`s the RATE at which we`re increasing that nobody is accounting for. And I`ve been trying to show this to people for years. I don`t want to argue, cause once we see what`s really going on, we can resolve the matter better than we could possibly imagine. So all I`m asking is that you please just hear me out, and if I`m wrong, so be it, but I think it might come to a surprise.