For the Birds: A Healthy Home in New Mexico

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Feathering her nest

Bonnie’s determination to live in harmony with nature meant her home had to be low in carbon emissions. Solar collectors power her zoned radiant in-floor heat system, and a double-sided soapstone Tulikivi masonry heater, shared by the living and dining rooms, provides steady comfortable warmth with very little wood. Skylights above the living room admit natural light, which is then diffused through a composition of “eco-resin” panels held in place by a mandala of timber-frame joinery. A “sun bump”—a bay window that bumps out to within 18 inches of the roof overhang—in the south wall of the bedroom/office supplies passive solar heat all winter.

The home’s 4-foot roof overhangs and stone wainscoting at the base provide a “good hat and a good pair of boots,” protecting the clay/straw wall system for a long and healthy life. These roof overhangs, along with heavy roof insulation, cross-ventilation and massive walls, provide comfort without the need for mechanical cooling, even when summer daytime temperatures consistently reach the 80s and 90s.

The 12-inch-thick clay-straw wall system, covered with clay-based plaster inside and earth-rendered plaster outside, offers comfort and acoustic serenity.  Bonnie sees mountain views from the kitchen, master bedroom and her soaking tub. The masonry heater and soft natural light create a cozy interior, and a deep portal carved out under the roof wraps from kitchen to bedroom provides extended outdoor living while shading the western sun. “There is a peace that permeates these natural surroundings, and it carries through into my home in a seamless transition,” Bonnie says. “The parrots feel it. The dogs feel it. My visitors feel it, and I find it amazing.” 

Green "eco-mentors"

Through caring for her two Amazonian parrots, Bonnie McGowan experienced her own ecological awakening. When she read that parrots could die instantly if exposed to overheated nonstick cookware, out went the Teflon pots. Because her parrots require a strictly organic diet, necessitating frequent trips to the health-food store, she too began eating organic.

These initial steps brought her to examine her interaction with nature, and when it came time to create her own home, she knew it had to be the healthiest, most natural environment possible. She wanted her parrots to lead long, healthy lives—and she wanted to be there with them. 

Nests are best

We could all learn a thing or two from the way birds build their homes.

■ These builders sing while they work.
■ They build sturdy nests with the nontoxic materials at hand. 
■ They never build more than they need to keep their families sheltered. 
■ Each nest is a perfect climatic response. 
■ The nest owners know how to maintain and repair their structures. 
■ When the nest’s useful life is complete, it returns to nature, to become the fertile ground for the growth of the next building cycle. 

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