Doing Habitat for Humanity in New Mexico
A Habitat for Humanity project in Northern New Mexico in many respects is dramatically different than projects in countries such as Nepal, Bolivia and Mongolia. However, there is a significant need for affordable, basic housing in the town of Taos.The New Mexico Housing Authority says that about 90 percent of the people who live and work in Taos cannot afford to purchase a home in the town. Consequently, Habitat has built several homes principally in towns in areas outside the town.
Arriving in the Land of Enchantment
In early October, our team met at the airport in Albuquerque and drove to Santa Fe where we stayed overnight before heading to Taos the next morning. Driving through Northern New Mexico at any time provides spectacular views, but the views are notably enhanced in October because of the Aspens and other deciduous trees turning color.
There are two main routes for driving between Santa Fe and Taos. One way is the High Road, which passes through mountainous areas and a number of small towns. The first town of note that we went through is Chimayo, a community known for is weaving, crafts and a famous church the Santuario de Chimayo. In addition to the beautiful church, there are a number of shop that sell religious paraphernalia, local foods and chili. We stopped here for a while and people had a good time exploring and taking many pictures.
Our next stop was Truchas, which is known for great mountain vistas, art and crafts. This frontier outpost is famous as it is where much of The Milagro Beanfield War movie was shot.
After Truchas, we drove on to Taos where we had lunch at the Purple Sage Cafe and then checked into our hotel for the week.
Our Project
The house we worked on is located in small town called Questa, about 30-35 minutes outside Taos. We were working on the latter stages of getting the house ready for occupancy. The house is a basic three bedroom bungalow in a neighborhood with similar houses. Our work included cutting and installing ceramic tiles in two bathrooms and on the kitchen counter/back splash; filling, repairing and sanding drywall throughout the house; painting; spraying stipple on ceilings; measuring, cutting and installing shelves in all closets; staining all interior doors; digging a trench and moving an inactive gas line; site clean-up; and some other "odds and ends." We also spent much of our last work day helping organize a wide variety of items at the Habitat ReStore. Here are a few pictures of our project.
Kicking Back in Northern New Mexico
Northern New Mexico is a great place to enjoy in a myriad of ways - culture, history, great scenery, good weather and more. Taos is a relatively small town, but still has lots to offer in the way of quality eateries, a spectacular setting with mountain vistas and a mix of interesting shops and galleries. For anyone bitten by the art bug, Taos is second only to Santa Fe in this part of the US. It has a relaxed feel to it and it was very enjoyable to just walk around the Plaza as well as other parts of the downtown.
After day one, we made a stop every morning to pick up a "good" coffee on our way to the work site. A reasonably large cup of coffee was ideal for the 25-30 minute drive to the project site in Questa. Most of the team would jump out and head to a local hotel cafe that served Starbucks. One other person and I would head to the World Cup, a local establishment that serves very good fair trade coffee and also had much shorter line-ups!
Much of the downtown of Taos (and Santa Fe) has a look and feel that reminds one of what it might have been back in the days of cowboys and pioneers. There also is a strong aboriginal influence in the physical appearance as well as in the art and culture of the area, which enhances so much of life in the area. There is much creativity that ranges from the park benches constructed of skis to murals and signs, with sprinkling of humor. Here are a few examples.
Heading Back to Albuquerque
From Taos, we headed south to Santa Fe where we stayed overnight, did some exploring and had a couple of good dinners. Having been in Santa Fe a couple of years ago, I had a few things that I wanted to do after I set loose the rest of the team in the downtown area. I drove to the two houses that another Habitat team had worked on two years earlier. While I did not stop and talk to anyone, it was good to see that people were living in the houses. Next stop was Santa Fe Brewing, where I purchased a couple of t-shirts. It's good beer and my first choice on both trips to New Mexico. Then, I made a stop at REI to take advantage of a credit. I did spend some time walking around in the downtown core and must that Santa Fe is a very appealing city for people of varied interests.
After our second night in Santa Fe, we headed to Albuquerque via the Turquoise Trail, another National Scenic Byway. We made two stops, with the first being in the town of Madrid, a historic mining town (coal). After the coal ran out, it became a ghost town until the early 1970's when artists and craftspeople started moving into the area. Today, it has an eclectic mix of shops and people, and was the main location for much of the movie Wild Hogs starring John Travolta, Time Allen. Ray Liotta and Martin Lawrence.
Back in Albuquerque and Heading Home
After Sandia Crest, we made our way to Albuquerque to drop off the rental vehicles and check into our hotel. On the way, we stopped in the university district and had lunch at a restaurant located in a converted car dealership. It was another beautiful sunny day, so we were able to sit outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun. One of the most interesting things about lunch was the business across the street - a drive-through wedding chapel where couples can even renew their wedding vows!
At the hotel after dinner, we said goodbyes to teammates as most people were heading home the next day. It was a great group of people who worked hard, had fun and contributed to another positive Habitat and travel experience.
I decided to stay in Albuquerque for an extra day/night. I didn't do anything exciting - visited a couple of museums and spent some time on the old town plaza. Blessed with another beautiful day, it was fun and relaxing just to walk around. Scenes from a movie were being shot in/around the plaza which added a bit of interest. I hope to get back to New Mexico again and hopefully for another Habitat project. There are many appealing things about this part of the US - the culture, history, geography, scenery, food and weather.
Adios!!
A Habitat for Humanity project in Northern New Mexico in many respects is dramatically different than projects in countries such as Nepal, Bolivia and Mongolia. However, there is a significant need for affordable, basic housing in the town of Taos.The New Mexico Housing Authority says that about 90 percent of the people who live and work in Taos cannot afford to purchase a home in the town. Consequently, Habitat has built several homes principally in towns in areas outside the town.
Arriving in the Land of Enchantment
In early October, our team met at the airport in Albuquerque and drove to Santa Fe where we stayed overnight before heading to Taos the next morning. Driving through Northern New Mexico at any time provides spectacular views, but the views are notably enhanced in October because of the Aspens and other deciduous trees turning color.
There are two main routes for driving between Santa Fe and Taos. One way is the High Road, which passes through mountainous areas and a number of small towns. The first town of note that we went through is Chimayo, a community known for is weaving, crafts and a famous church the Santuario de Chimayo. In addition to the beautiful church, there are a number of shop that sell religious paraphernalia, local foods and chili. We stopped here for a while and people had a good time exploring and taking many pictures.
Our Project
The house we worked on is located in small town called Questa, about 30-35 minutes outside Taos. We were working on the latter stages of getting the house ready for occupancy. The house is a basic three bedroom bungalow in a neighborhood with similar houses. Our work included cutting and installing ceramic tiles in two bathrooms and on the kitchen counter/back splash; filling, repairing and sanding drywall throughout the house; painting; spraying stipple on ceilings; measuring, cutting and installing shelves in all closets; staining all interior doors; digging a trench and moving an inactive gas line; site clean-up; and some other "odds and ends." We also spent much of our last work day helping organize a wide variety of items at the Habitat ReStore. Here are a few pictures of our project.
Northern New Mexico is a great place to enjoy in a myriad of ways - culture, history, great scenery, good weather and more. Taos is a relatively small town, but still has lots to offer in the way of quality eateries, a spectacular setting with mountain vistas and a mix of interesting shops and galleries. For anyone bitten by the art bug, Taos is second only to Santa Fe in this part of the US. It has a relaxed feel to it and it was very enjoyable to just walk around the Plaza as well as other parts of the downtown.
After day one, we made a stop every morning to pick up a "good" coffee on our way to the work site. A reasonably large cup of coffee was ideal for the 25-30 minute drive to the project site in Questa. Most of the team would jump out and head to a local hotel cafe that served Starbucks. One other person and I would head to the World Cup, a local establishment that serves very good fair trade coffee and also had much shorter line-ups!
Much of the downtown of Taos (and Santa Fe) has a look and feel that reminds one of what it might have been back in the days of cowboys and pioneers. There also is a strong aboriginal influence in the physical appearance as well as in the art and culture of the area, which enhances so much of life in the area. There is much creativity that ranges from the park benches constructed of skis to murals and signs, with sprinkling of humor. Here are a few examples.
Taos Pueblo and the Rio Grande Gorge
There are two major attractions that are well worth visiting. Taos Pueblo is a site that has been occupied for nearly 1000 years and the main buildings were constructed between 1000 and 1450 AD. About 150 people currently live on the site, many of who support the tourism/visitor side of the pueblo or are employed locally. Check their website for more information. http://www.taospueblo.com/
Another attraction is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - the 10th highest bridge in the US at 172 metres (565 feet) above the Rio Grande River. The bridge is on a well traveled highway, but is accessible for viewing from the visitors' centre. If you don't mind heights and the vibration from trucks when crossing the bridge, you can also walk across the bridge. It has been used for scenes in a number of movies including Natural Born Killers, Twins, Wild Hogs and Terminator Salvation.
Earthship Biotecture
Also near Taos is a truly unique building initiative call Earthship Biotecture, which is described as the epitome in sustainable design and construction. Natural and recycled materials are used in the construction of buildings designed to have minimal environmental impact and energy consumption. "Earthships" can be found in many parts of North America and beyond, e.g. New Zealand and Guatemala. http://earthship.com/
Heading Back to Albuquerque
From Taos, we headed south to Santa Fe where we stayed overnight, did some exploring and had a couple of good dinners. Having been in Santa Fe a couple of years ago, I had a few things that I wanted to do after I set loose the rest of the team in the downtown area. I drove to the two houses that another Habitat team had worked on two years earlier. While I did not stop and talk to anyone, it was good to see that people were living in the houses. Next stop was Santa Fe Brewing, where I purchased a couple of t-shirts. It's good beer and my first choice on both trips to New Mexico. Then, I made a stop at REI to take advantage of a credit. I did spend some time walking around in the downtown core and must that Santa Fe is a very appealing city for people of varied interests.
After our second night in Santa Fe, we headed to Albuquerque via the Turquoise Trail, another National Scenic Byway. We made two stops, with the first being in the town of Madrid, a historic mining town (coal). After the coal ran out, it became a ghost town until the early 1970's when artists and craftspeople started moving into the area. Today, it has an eclectic mix of shops and people, and was the main location for much of the movie Wild Hogs starring John Travolta, Time Allen. Ray Liotta and Martin Lawrence.
The next stop entailed a 22 km (14 mile) side trip and driving a steep and winding road to Sandia Crest, which sits at an elevation of a bit under 3,300 metres (10,700 feet). The drive goes through heavily forested areas with a mix of evergreens and deciduous trees, with the aspen providing brilliant flashes of yellow. Once at the top, there are great views of the surrounding areas below and the city of Albuqueque.
After Sandia Crest, we made our way to Albuquerque to drop off the rental vehicles and check into our hotel. On the way, we stopped in the university district and had lunch at a restaurant located in a converted car dealership. It was another beautiful sunny day, so we were able to sit outside and enjoy the warmth of the sun. One of the most interesting things about lunch was the business across the street - a drive-through wedding chapel where couples can even renew their wedding vows!
I decided to stay in Albuquerque for an extra day/night. I didn't do anything exciting - visited a couple of museums and spent some time on the old town plaza. Blessed with another beautiful day, it was fun and relaxing just to walk around. Scenes from a movie were being shot in/around the plaza which added a bit of interest. I hope to get back to New Mexico again and hopefully for another Habitat project. There are many appealing things about this part of the US - the culture, history, geography, scenery, food and weather.
