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Build Underhill

A sustainable, green-roof home is halfway to completion - and we can finish it with your help!

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Build Underhill

Build Underhill

Build Underhill

Build Underhill

Build Underhill

A sustainable, green-roof home is halfway to completion - and we can finish it with your help!

A sustainable, green-roof home is halfway to completion - and we can finish it with your help!

A sustainable, green-roof home is halfway to completion - and we can finish it with your help!

A sustainable, green-roof home is halfway to completion - and we can finish it with your help!

Jim Reilly
Jim Reilly
Jim Reilly
Jim Reilly
1 Campaign |
Rockaway, United States
$6,441 USD 46 backers
8% of $80,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

The Project:

Underhill is one of the first green-roof homes in New Jersey:  it will conserve energy, reduce stormwater runoff, and preserve habitat for plants and animals. Designed to support a full 12" of earth on its roof, it goes beyond simple green roofing to allow a full restoration of landscape over the top of it: shrubs, small trees, and other plants native to its woodland location.  Sitting deep in a hillside, it has relatively low exposed walls - and those are built of native stone that we gathered on-site. For more information visit BuildUnderhill.com.

Phase 1 of the project was built with our own hands, our own muscles and sweat, the help of friends, and $175,000 of our own money.  We're past the halfway point in construction.  Now begins Phase 2:  well, septic, roof completion, doors and windows, waterproofing, and habitat restoration.  Many of these elements are things we can't do ourselves (we don't know how to drill a 250' deep well!).  We need $80,000 for this phase, and that's the challenge:  because we're self-employed people building an innovative home, we can't get a bank loan to complete the project.  That's why we're turning to you.

The Impact

By joining the project, you become part of a bigger picture.  You're not only building a home that conserves energy, minimizes stormwater runoff, reduces the urban heat island effect, and maximizes habitat for plants & animals.  You're also making it a little easier for the next green builder.  Because next time, a bank can say, "Yes, we know this type of architecture.  There's a house like that nearby - yes, we'll finance your green-roof home."

A little more about us:

 I’m Jim Reilly, the owner and architect of Underhill.  I drew the plans, and I work as general contractor on the project, in addition to doing most of the day-to-day construction.  By profession, I’m an actor.  In 2010 I married Nancy Candea. 

Nancy is a yoga therapist and personal trainer.  She trains yoga teachers to work in prisons, shelters, senior centers, and veterans' hospitals, through the nonprofit she founded, Yoga Impact.  Nancy is the brains behind this indiegogo campaign, and she’s designed perks for you that will support your health and wellness.  The friends that have helped us so far are actors, a director, two accountants, an auto mechanic, a physical therapist, a sales rep, and a CEO.

Underhill is the biggest dream of my life, the dream to which all other plans and goals come second.  I have no greater dream than to build Underhill and serve the world by so doing.

Visit BuildUnderhill.com for architectural plans, photos, and an itemized cost breakdown of Phase 2.  I’ve also included some “war stories” about the surprises and challenges during construction.  Underhill will be our home, but this isn’t just our dream.  This is a house that will make the world better.

What We Need 

We need $80,000 to complete Phase 2 and enclose the house. (We have some great perks for you - see sidebar).  These funds will complete the structural roof, drill the well, install the septic system, place the soil and vegetation on the roof, finish the exterior grading, and put in the doors and windows.  Some of this work must be done by contractors (well, septic, earthmoving).  For much of it, though, your support goes only to materials, and the labor will ours: Jim’s, Nancy’s, and our friends & neighbors.  When Phase 2 completes, the house will be ready for interior finishing.  Visit BuildUnderhill.com’s “Cost Breakdown” page for the itemized budget.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you have building materials to donate, contact us at BuildUnderhill@gmail.com It may be just the thing we need!

And please let your friends know about our campaign - we have just 45 days to complete our campaign, so that we can launch Phase 2 construction on January 1, 2014.



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Choose your Perk

Hammer Raisers

$15 USD
NEW! We can swing the hammers and run the saws because you provide the tools. Enjoy PEARL SUGAR BELGIAN WAFFLES as our way of saying thanks! Imported. Three waffles, individually wrapped. Delivered to you or someone on your list, within the continental US. $5.97 value even without the shipping - but you get the shipping, too. Donated by our newest sponsor, Wholly Wholesome.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
1 claimed

Well Drillers

$25 USD
Your $25 buys one foot of well drilling for household water and for the geothermal heat pump. YOU GET 5 workout/yoga videos: 1) Take A Deep Breath and Corridor of Strength, 2) Upper Body Strengtheners, 3) Lower Body Workout, 4) Back Strengtheners and Sun Salutations. 5) Overall Body Strengthen and Stretch. Each are about 20 minutes long. Do them separately or mix and match. Soon we'll release Set Two, featuring Jim's workout in the woods and Nancy's yoga on the Bosu. Thank you!
Estimated Shipping
November 2013
7 claimed

Well-Drillers EXPANDED

$25 USD
Your $25 buys one foot of well drilling for household water and for the geothermal heat pump. YOU GET over 2 hours of workout/yoga videos: 1) Take A Deep Breath and Corridor of Strength, 2) Upper Body Strengtheners, 3) Lower Body Workout, 4) Back Strengtheners and Sun Salutations. 5) Overall Body Strengthen and Stretch. 6) Chair yoga. Do them separately or mix and match. Soon we'll release Set Two, featuring Jim's workout in the woods and Nancy's yoga on the Bosu. Thank you!
Estimated Shipping
November 2013
3 claimed

Rock'n Rollers

$50 USD
Builds ten square feet of stone wall ( buys sand, cement, & crushed stone - the big stones and the labor are free of charge!). YOU GET a Chair Yoga DVD (one hour long). We will also donate three Chair Yoga DVDs to under-served populations. You also get 5 Workout/Yoga Video downloads (see Well Drillers above), along with the second set of 5 that feature Jim's Workout in the Woods and Nancy's Yoga on the Bosu. We appreciate your help!
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
4 claimed

Landscape Desigers

$100 USD
Hires an excavator + operator for one hour. YOU GET our Underhill gift pack: 1 tin of Underhill tea, 1 Underhill Bamboo Blossom Kit for starting your basil, parsley and sunflower plants, 10 handmade greeting cards featuring Nancy's photos (see our website for pictures), and a chair yoga dvd. Consider sending this package as a gift! We will also donate three Chair Yoga DVDs to under-served populations.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
2 out of 50 of claimed

Earth-Movers

$100 USD
Hires an excavator + operator for one hour. YOU GET a 1-hour consultation (by phone or in person) with Jim on green roof/self-built construction. We really appreciate it!
2 out of 20 of claimed

Bringers of Light

$500 USD
Buys an Andersen double-hung window with low-E glass (average size for the house) plus caulking & fasteners. YOU GET gourmet vegan catering for 10: homemade healthy food and waiter service brought to your home. Many different “themes” available! Dates available 1/1/14-12/31/14. This perk is only available in NYC, northern NJ, and central NJ. Your gift is invaluable to the project.
0 out of 20 of claimed

Warm Welcomers

$1,000 USD
Buys the front door assembly, a garage door or 100 square feet of roof decking. YOU GET a weekend spa retreat - a fully hosted stay at Underhill for two nights. Six meals + snacks/hikes/personal training/yoga/airport pickup. Available beginning July 2016. Come live the dream you’ve helped to build! Visit buildunderhill@gmail.com for details. Security deposit required. Your generosity is legendary.
Estimated Shipping
July 2016
1 out of 10 of claimed

Land Healers

$5,000 USD
Pays for the excavator, operator, & truck that will do final contouring around the home, or raise the earth that will blanket the roof. YOU GET a 1-week retreat at Underhill - we vacate, the place is yours for 7 days. Underhill adjoins 3600 acres of protected land. Got an event you want to see? 40 minutes from MetLife Stadium. Stay at Underhill. Sleeps up to 8. Available July 2016 to December 2017. Visit buildunderhill@gmail.com for details. Deposit required. You're making the dream a real
Estimated Shipping
July 2016
0 out of 4 of claimed

Founders

$15,000 USD
Completely finishes a system: well, living room roof, garage roof, earth restoration. You get a 2-week catered chill-out for up to 8 people. We vacate - you stay - we wait on you hand & foot. Delicious healthy meals. Exercise, yoga...or not. Your choice. PLUS naming rights to the front terrace, the roof garden, or the yoga studio. Your name set in stone - literally. Available July 2016 to December 2017. Accept our heartfelt thanks.
Estimated Shipping
July 2016
0 out of 3 of claimed
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