Tiny Houses for Northwest New Mexico: A Collaboration between San Juan College and the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington to Demonstrate Sustainable Living

Affordable housing on the Navajo Nation is problematic. Most of the Navajo Housing Authority units were built in the 1960’s through 1980’s. Many of these older units have fallen into disrepair. At least 20,000 Navajo households are estimated to still be without electricity. Tiny houses are gaining popularity in both rural and urban settings as more people become interested in sustainable or “green” living practices. Tiny houses have many benefits including: 1) Reduced carbon footprint (reduced space means less energy consumption and less “stuff”); 2) A small floor plan enables affordably scaling up details like cabinetry and countertops that would otherwise be cost prohibitive in larger houses; 3) Less space equates to less mortgage.

In 2012, the NMSU ASC-Farmington, located on the Navajo Nation, recognized the need for year-round housing to accommodate visiting scientists, including graduate students. At the same time, the San Juan College (SJC) Buildings Program was seeking classroom building projects that could be accomplished in 4 semesters and demonstrate energy efficiency, affordability and sustainable living principals. Constructing a tiny house represented an opportunity for cross-institutional teaching and research collaboration. Students from the SJC Buildings Program became part of the learning experience in the construction of the house while SJC Horticulture students designed ornamental Xeriscape and edible garden outdoor spaces around the house.

During the fall 2012 semester, a gravel foundation was leveled on the SJC campus on which the one bedroom/one bathroom house was framed (14 ft. x 32 ft. or 448 sq. ft.). It took approximately two semesters for framing and roofing. Beginning in the fall 2013 semester, windows were installed, the house was plumbed, and detailing the interior began. This entailed installing flooring, cabinetry, lighting, sinks and a tub. By June 2014, the foundation (concrete piers) were poured at the NMSU-ASC Farmington site. The house was then craned onto a flat-bed tractor trailer and moved from SJC to the NMSU-ASC Farmington where it was then craned onto the foundation.

The house project demonstrates how community colleges and agricultural research stations can cooperate and several studies in sustainable living are now planned including monitoring household/landscape water and energy usage and determining perceptions and attitudes of tiny houses in northwest New Mexico. The house and landscape also serves as an important demonstration garden to the Navajo Nation.