Blue Dot Farm is a sustainable business dedicated to equitable practices - both for the environment and the farm workers who tend the land.  In replacing their farmworker housing, they wanted to developed a flexible prototype that is sustainable, efficient, and comfortable. It is designed for agricultural communities and made with agricultural materials: primarily straw and sheep’s wool, in addition to salvaged wood siding and trim, and remnant earth masonry units.

High clerestory windows bring in winter sun and provide ventilation. The deep porch and substantial roof overhangs provide shade and outdoor living. Strawbale insulated walls with a plaster coating provides thermal mass to slowly absorb heat from the day and release it during the night. These passive strategies result in the residence only requiring a small electric heat pump to provide additional heat in the cold months.

While the prototype is configured with 4 bedrooms, a variety of other configurations as possible, such as larger bunkrooms or opting for a larger living space, and the hybrid wood frame/bale systems allows a variety of siding options.