THE MUD HOME
  • Home
  • Building
    • Earthbag >
      • Rubble Trench Foundations
      • Earthbag in Extreme Weather
      • Earthquakes and earthbag
    • Earth Plaster
    • Using Lime
    • Cob
    • Straw Bale
    • Wattle and Daub
    • Inspiration
    • Off-Grid Living >
      • Off-Grid Prep Course
    • Mud Building Blog
  • Books
    • Dirt Witch
    • Mud Ball
    • Mud Mountain The Book
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
  • About
    • Contact
    • Mud Home Facebook Group
  • COURSES
    • ATULYA's In Person Workshops 2025
    • Perfect Earth Plaster Online Course
    • Lime for Beginners Online Course
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
    • The Off-Grid Roadmap
    • Consultation
  • Blogs
    • Mud Home Turkey
    • Barn Life in Spain
  • My Projects
    • The Earthbag Home in Turkey
    • The Barn in Spain

The Desert Woman and the Three Moons

I love a good story. And this is a really good one. So get ready. If you are of the “I cant do this” disposition, I’m going to introduce you to someone who completely rips up conventional ideas of what is and isn’t possible with regards to age – with regards to a lot of things actually. Jehane Rucquoi is for me one of the most inspirational people I’ve met this year (and hey I’ve met a few!) At 84 she’s not only building earthbag houses, she’s founded and is constructing an entire natural building community. I’m watching it unfold in awe to be honest.
Picture
Coming together at 3 Moons
Jehane, The Desert and Nader Khalili
Jehane started out in Belgium, and like everyone who creates something amazing in their life, she’s had her fair share of twists and turns. She’s an artist, and was schooled in the US. At one point she studied colour in LA. It was here she met the famous Iranian architect who invented earthbag building, Nader Khalili. The technique inspired her to such an extent, she stayed at Cal-Earth and studied with Khalili himself for almost two years!

It was also at this time she fell in love with the desert. Then, she was struck by an idea, “like a bolt of lightening!” as she puts it, to create a sustainable building project working in harmony with the Earth. Thus the Three Moons Project was born.

There have been ups and downs of course. The first plot of land didn’t work out, and the project moved to another location. But Three Moons is now blossoming in the heart of the desert, with domes and bottle walls sprouting up in the dust.
Picture
What’s Three Moons About?
Jehane describes the Three Moons Project as a place to work with and adapt to the challenges of nature; the heat, the cold, the wind and of course water shortages. It’s a place of self-discovery too, as any sustainable off-grid building project tends to be. Life within The System of the modern world is comfortable but deadening, and an off-grid mud building project in the wild always wakes people up.

The Three Moons Project has been open to volunteers for a while now, and runs from March to June. But let me tell you, when Jehane is not building in her own place, she’s off learning a new alternative building technique. This winter I stared a little slack-jawed as she zoomed back from LA and immediately joined a hempcrete workshop in Belgium. And yes, I happily admit I felt rather unproductive:)
Picture
Picture
The unstoppable Jehane, 84 years young.
New Developments at Three Moons This Year
This year Jehane is opening Three Moons up wider. Now she is inviting others who would like to create a home at Three Moons to carve out their own corner on the site. Jehane is looking to form a small evolving community, so for those who’d like more details on that, do send her an email [email protected]
The community is going to suit folk who are comfortable living in simplicity off-grid in the desert, who are open to group creativity, to beauty and to all things Earth-loving.

Other Opportunities at Three Moons
I posted about this before, but seriously this is a VERY good opportunity if you want to learn earthbag building or taste the off-grid way of life. Jehane and the Three Moons Project offer workshops, apprenticeships, workaway opportunities and accept B and B guests. Jehane is very experienced, more than I am. She’s a dome builder, plasterer, and off-grid adventurer, and next year I too hope to be able to visit her project.

Bookings are now being taken for people wishing to visit this year, so don't hesitate to contact her:
EMAIL: [email protected]
If you'd like to know more about Three Moons, you can see it on:
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE 
THEIR WEBSITE
Contact Jehane on FB

Staying at 3 Moons
3 Moons is a very low impact, off grid world, powered with a small solar system, and using a rocket stove for cooking in the outside kitchen, and heating the shed.
Cars, vans and campers are welcome at 3 Moons. Do heed the climate; freezing nights in March and hot days in July! For those who stay and work, there are 2 small beds in the earthbag shed, and 2 queen size beds north and south of the   trailer, under the sun shed. Meals are basic,  often sun-oven cooked. Stores and eateries are 18 miles away.

Where is 3 Moons?
3 Moons Project is located in a remote desert area (dirt roads) within the Death Valley system.
in Charleston View, Ca. 22 miles east of Tecopa , 50 miles west of Las Vegas Nevada. Those who need to arrive by plane, can be picked up at the international airport
Disclaimer: All the content in The Mud Home website is provided for informational purposes only. The author undertakes no responsibility for any person or entity who chooses to use the information on this website. It is not intended to be a standard and should not substitute for the exercise of good engineering judgment by engineers. It is the user’s obligation to make sure that he/she uses the appropriate practices and consults the appropriate experts when building. It is the user's obligation to make sure they are following health and safety guidelines. The author is not responsible for any accidents, injuries or damages to persons or property incurred while using the information presented in this website.

Some blog articles refer to the use of lime. Please note, lime is caustic and can cause burns. Read The Mud Home guide to using lime safely here.

EARTHBAG BUILDING PDF
EARTH PLASTER GUIDE
BOOKS
Newsletter
About Atulya
Privacy Policy

SUPPORT

Picture
Picture
The Mud Home takes many hours a week to run, and costs a lot to sustain. If you find this site useful or inspiring, please consider supporting it so that it can continue.
Picture

Many thanks to all those who've already become Mud Sustainers.

The Mud Home  Copyright © 2013  Atulya Kerry Bingham
  • Home
  • Building
    • Earthbag >
      • Rubble Trench Foundations
      • Earthbag in Extreme Weather
      • Earthquakes and earthbag
    • Earth Plaster
    • Using Lime
    • Cob
    • Straw Bale
    • Wattle and Daub
    • Inspiration
    • Off-Grid Living >
      • Off-Grid Prep Course
    • Mud Building Blog
  • Books
    • Dirt Witch
    • Mud Ball
    • Mud Mountain The Book
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
  • About
    • Contact
    • Mud Home Facebook Group
  • COURSES
    • ATULYA's In Person Workshops 2025
    • Perfect Earth Plaster Online Course
    • Lime for Beginners Online Course
    • MUD BUILDING PDF PACKAGE
    • The Off-Grid Roadmap
    • Consultation
  • Blogs
    • Mud Home Turkey
    • Barn Life in Spain
  • My Projects
    • The Earthbag Home in Turkey
    • The Barn in Spain