What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
*Strawbale exterior walls R-35 insulation and non-toxic), some adobe interior walls (excellent thermal mass and non-toxic)rn*All natural mud finishes inside and out (non-toxic)rn*Backed up against national forest - healthy surroundingsProperty Description
This lovely home is situated in an off-grid, alternative neighborhood 17 miles west of the town of Taos. It is a strawbale, passive solar home built with natural materials. Stunning views of Sangre de Cristo mountains and rim of the Rio Grande Gorge - views north to Colorado and south to Truchas Peaks near Santa Fe. \r\n\r\nHome is 1150 sq. ft., 1 bedroom loft, 1 office/guest loft, 1 bathroom home situated on a 1/2 acre of sagebrush land, perfect for a couple or single person who enjoys solitude and works from home. It features a passive solar design, trombe wall, and large amount of thermal mass. Radiant heat tubing in stained concrete slab floor and adobe brick-on-slab floor ready to be hooked up. Mud room has Energy Star front loading washer/dryer. Bathroom has adobe brick walls, custom double arched doors with stained glass windows, cast iron pedestal tub, cast iron wall hung sink, niches, 3 arched windows with deep flagstone window sills, slate tile and natural mud plaster. Flush toilet drains to legal septic system which flows into a blackwater transpiration/evaporation planter planted with willow, weeping willow, cotton wood sapling, healthy crop of cattails, new mexican olive trees, etc. Kitchen has custom concrete counter tops with embedded petrified ammonites, aspen latilla cabinets with hand forged hardware, Sunfrost AC fridge/freezer, stove top range hood with 4-speed fan and light, mix of open shelving, glass front cabinets and closed cabinets, and natural kaolin clay plaster with yellow mineral tinting. Living room features cathedral ceilings, a half octagonal adobe banco (radiant heat tubing within seat), 3 arched windows with deep flagstone sills, Kiva/Rumsford hybrid fireplace with external combustion vent and chimney top damper, efficient wood stove with glass door for back up heat, adobe brick floor over concrete slab, and French doors opening onto east facing recessed porch. Natural mud plaster shimmers with chopped straw and mica. Custom cantilevered ponderosa and steel spiral stairs lead to two separate lofts in west and east directions. Steel railings made by local artisan are wired with sconces that illuminate both loft and living room below. West loft is large with 2 closets and built in center dresser in arched alcove. East loft is small with huge picture windows overlooking mountains, gorge and mesa. \r\n\r\nHome is powered by a 1250 watt solar array with 4KW inverter and 12 6-volt battery bank. There is a 1650 gal cistern for rain water collection. Hot water and kitchen stove utilize propane (350 gallon tank on site). High speed internet (local) and excellent cell phone service (Verizon). House is wired for land line but the closest telephone line is still 4 miles away! This home also comes with a community well share (soon to be on line!) where potable water can be hauled from in dry times. Combination storage shed/work shop (288 sq. ft. total) and original strawbale casita (now only good for storage or really good friends to stay in) included. Prolific organic garden used for 3 years with many truckloads of organic compost and mountain soil mixed in. Plumbed and wired for additions in two directions. Freshly mudded exterior (3rd coat just applied in July 2007) but will need one more finish coat before winter.\r\n\r\nThis neighborhood is backed up to hundreds of square miles of National Forest (mixed sagebrush, juniper, pinion and grassland) on the eastern flank of the extinct volcano of Tres Orejas. Great for hiking, trail running and mountain biking from your back door. Sometimes even cross country skiing or snowshoeing in good winters! There is a Tibetan Buddhist community with weekly meditations directly across the street. This home was featured on the National Solar Energy Home Tour in 2003. It is also featured on the home page of www.handcraftedfinishes.com (the pic of the fireplace). Contact owners for even MORE details. This one of a kind, beautiful home is priced to sell. Don’t miss this opportunity!
Neighborhood Description
Funky. There are all forms of abodes from shacks to beautiful customs homes. Five miles of dirt road to access home - all are county owned and county maintained. Many Buddhists in neighborhood due to Buddhist community there. LONG, BIG views - very open country. Eclectic, alternative neighborhood 4 miles from nearest power pole. No land lines for phone, but excellent cell coverage (Verizon) and high speed wireless internet. All homes collect or haul water as water table is very deep (800 to 1200 ft.). 30 min drive to center of Taos. Backed up against hundreds of sq. miles of Carson National Forest - rich in wildlife. Very quiet! The ultimate spot for star gazing as there is no light pollution!!Market Area
Taos is a beautiful and unusual town - tri cultural (Native American, Hispanic and Anglo) and full of artists. This mix of inhabitants has created a rich, colorful town full of history and lore. The town of Taos sits at 7000\' at the southern extent of the Rocky Mountains. Taos Ski Valley, it\'s base at 9200\', has world renown skiing 20 mins. from town. New Mexico\'s highest peak, Wheeler Peak, stands over 13,000\' just to the north east of town. The Rio Grande flows southward through the famous Rio Grande Gorge (up to 800\' deep), 7 miles west of town, 2 miles east of this neighborhood, and boasts world class white water, fishing and recreation.School District
Taos County Municipal ScoolsCommunity
Location of Home or Land
Rural
Elevation of Home
Mountain
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Fireplace |
| Cooling System | Passive Cooling |
| Ventilation System | Whole House Fan |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Energy System | Photovoltaic (PV) |
| Water System | Rain Water Collection |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Construction Type | Adobe |
| Exterior Finish | Plaster - Earth Shingles - Wood |
| Interior Finish | Earthen Plaster |
| Interior Paint | Other |
| Floor Material | Concrete |
| Roof Material | Metal |
| Window Material | Metal Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Fiberglass |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | no |
| Garage Type | attached |
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