Friends of Soledad Canyon Earth Builders,
Back in the late 80’s, as we began our business of building rammed earth homes, we regularly hosted Demonstration Days. 
We’d take out a week’s worth of advertising in the Las Cruces Sun News and invite everyone to watch us build the walls of a home we had under construction. We would demonstrate the process of ramming the earth walls. Attendance was good, the word spread.
As the years passed we no longer held those types of demonstrations. Instead we began completing the rammed earth home and putting it in the Showcase of Homes. From 1993 to last year we had a home in Showcase. As it turns out this year the home we are building is not ready to be shown. So what better than to go back to our roots, so to speak. We will be in the Showcase of Homes building the rammed earth walls. It is a chance to really “expose” what we do. It will give everyone a chance to see what it means to construct a home with 18″ earth walls. You will be able to see and feel the strength of these mass walls. As well, you can take a look at the beginning of the basement and the layout of this Uniquely New Mexican home.
The home we are building is located in Picacho Mountain: 1332 Saltillo Place
Directions:
Head west on Picacho to Picacho Hills Dr. Turn right, go 1.1 miles.
Veer left on Barcelona Ridge Road and go 1 mile.
Turn right on Anthem Road and go .4 miles.
Turn left on Calle Estancias and go .2 miles to Saltillo Place.
Showcase Hours:
April 29, 4pm-7pm April 30, 10am-7pm May 1, 12pm-5pm
May 6, 4pm-7pm May 7, 10am-7pm May 8, 12pm-5pm
We hope to see many of you there-both those who have never seen the process, and those of you who have. We look forward to catching up.
As of today, we are within a week of completing a 750 sq. ft. rammed earth addition to a home on the west mesa of Las Cruces. It is amazing what 750 sq. feet adds to the living space of a home– a bedroom, an office and a nice size bathroom. The tile work in the bathroom is exquisite! Our thanks to Cornerstone Tile, Carlos and his crew for creating such beauty. We will include photos when we have completed the job.
As usual, I must add a personal note. I want to acknowledge two people who have been an inspiration to me all my life—my Uncle Frank & Auntie Jeannette. In a few days they will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. Sixty five years! They won’t see this because it is an E-Newsletter. But the point in saluting them through this format is simple…..consider those in your life who do simple things in their lives that are really significant. Making a lifelong commitment to another person takes so much inner strength, courage, love, and sacrifice. May you have people in your life that touch you as my Uncle & Auntie have touched me.
Max, Melissa & I hope to see many of you during Showcase 2011. Invite your friends and family to come see a rammed earth home being built.
The cactus are blooming all over town!
As always, I welcome your comments, shout-outs, and questions.
Pat Bellestri-Martinez