Tiny is IN - Farnum Cellulose Insulators Create Tiny House with Hilltop Montessori Students
Channel: 545Live
Date: 2013-06-28

After months of work by the Farnum Cellulose Insulators crew to help 4-6 graders at Hilltop Montessori School learn about framing techniques and how to use hand tools safely as part of their Practical Life work, the Tiny House is complete and has a new owner. The house, built on a trailer and made using plans from Tumbleweeds Tiny Houses was raffled off at the Strolling of the Heifers as a fundraiser for the school and Morningside Shelter. That raffle, along with a summer getaway raffle, raised over $17,000. The raffle was so successful another Tiny House raffle is on the calendar.

 Valerie Costa of North Carolina was the lucky winner of this year's Tiny House. Valerie lived in Vermont for a couple years to study sustainable building and design, and has been interested in Tiny Houses ever since. "I'm still shocked I won this amazing house," said Valerie. "I have a small place of my own to call home now.  It may be tiny but the possibilities are large. I'm self-employed and move a lot so it's perfect. What a great idea for a school fundraiser!"

 The Tiny House is one well-insulated, energy efficient, sweet little home, office, studio or guest cottage on wheels. It is 6x12', with a sleeping loft, sink and counter, toilet and living space. Farnum Cellulose Insulators, whose owner, Chad Farnum, is a Hilltop Montessori School parent, imagined the whole project and was the lead sponsor. Leader Home Centers, Jancewicz and Son and Sherwin Williams also sponsored the house and donated materials.

 Considering one's role and responsibilities within the classroom community is an important part of a Montessori education. As students grow older, they also begin to consider their role and responsibilities within the community in which they live. Through curricular pieces connected to the Tiny House project, Upper El students learned more about the issues surrounding affordable housing and income security in Brattleboro and the surrounding communities, in addition to building techniques.