The bioshelter is part of an ambitious project to bring cleanly generated energy and locally grown food to Homewood — and to regions around the world — and it is taking off.

The 49th Estate is our answer to MTV's "Cribs," a weekly tour of Alaska homes and interviews with their owners. Curt and Cindee Karns live in Alaska's only bioshelter.

The bioshelter was one of a few, but there was a catch. Since the home doesn't have a traditional water or sewer system, it was difficult to find financing for it.

The bioshelter originated five years ago as a challenge thought up by a group of WPI students who wanted to find out if a year-round, non-fuel-dependent food growing facility could be built in ...

Randy Cox, left, stands with student Christian Stebe in Sacred Heart Catholic School's bioshelter. Students, including Stebe, helped build the shelter and have worked in the shelter and the garden ...

Chuck McDougal is a man who has always lived on the edge. First, he was raised on his parents' "hobby farm" on the edge of Flint, Michigan, where his father ...