Building Underground: One Woodworker's Earth-Sheltered Dream

We’ve all heard it – that voice in the back of your head, or worse, from someone else, telling you something can’t be done. Brad, the woodworker and engineer featured in this Faircompanies video, just laughed at that voice and got to work. He wanted an underground home, and he wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer.

Brad’s story isn’t about fancy joinery or exotic hardwoods. It’s about problem-solving, resourcefulness, and the satisfaction of building something substantial with your own two hands. This isn’t furniture making; this is carpentry on a whole different scale. He's a Rogue Carpenter in the truest sense, using lumber and ingenuity to build something truly remarkable.

Engineering an Earth-Sheltered Fortress

Inspired by blast-protection structures he’d worked on previously, Brad envisioned a dome built directly into a steep hillside – a 23% grade that most would consider unusable. The result? A 2,000-square-foot, earth-sheltered home that's remarkably energy efficient. He and his wife, Julia, tackled about 90% of the work themselves, a testament to their dedication and a good dose of “dome-raising” parties with friends – a spirit we see often in the Rogue Carpenter community. Think of it as a Field Trip to a truly unique HolyPlace.

The engineering is what’s truly impressive. Brad likened the structure to an “upside-down concrete swimming pool,” a 40-foot wide, 20-foot high, 32-foot deep dome. The challenges weren’t just in the design but also in the execution. Blasting through a massive rock sheet required hiring professionals, but the rest – including tying a staggering 65,000 pieces of rebar – was all hands on deck.

Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency

The benefits of Brad’s design are clear: incredible insulation, passive heating and cooling, and wildfire protection. His 10.2 kW solar array consistently generates enough power, and the home's airtight construction means they barely touch their backup resources. He’s even used a fraction of his firewood over two decades and hasn’t needed to refill his propane tank. That’s the kind of self-sufficiency many of us strive for in our own woodworking projects and homesteading endeavors.

And let’s not forget the living roof – 17 fig trees, vegetables, and other plantings that regulate temperature, absorb rainfall, and seamlessly blend the home into the landscape. It’s a beautiful example of how carpentry and permaculture can work together to create a truly sustainable living space.

Lessons for the Rogue Carpenter

Brad’s story isn't just about building an underground home; it’s a lesson in perseverance and creative problem-solving. It’s a reminder that even seemingly impossible dreams can be realized with a little ingenuity and a lot of hard work. For those of us in the Rogue Carpenter movement, it highlights the power of using our skills to build not just structures, but sustainable, resilient, and inspiring spaces.

If you’re looking for inspiration and a community of like-minded builders, consider finding a Carpenter Angel near you, enrolling in a wood shop class, or even listing a custom commission. And if you’re a Rogue Schooler, imagine the possibilities of introducing this kind of project-based learning to your students!