Hello, I am Janine. I am a natural building practitioner, educator and consultant. I began my career in natural building when I trained with Cob Cottage in 1996.
Since then, I have taught over 65 workshops in Canada and the United States. I teach various natural building modalities such as: cob, straw bale, light straw clay, poured adobe floors. I specialize in natural clay paints (Alis) and plasters.
My passion for building with natural materials bloomed out of my love for the earth, in conjunction with my concern for diminishing ecological resources and toxic buildings. As a result of this, I have devoted the last 14 years to immersing myself in the world of natural materials and the knowledge of how we can shape dwellings that are healthy, healing, inspiring, and beautiful. I love to share this knowledge with others and I am told this is evident in my enthusiastic teaching style.
I have been a presenter at various Natural Building Colloquia. I have taught the hands-on natural building component of Dominican University, and New College of California's EcoDwelling programs. I also teach Woodworking for Women at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. I am the natural materials cyber panelist at www.greenhomebuilding.com. I live in Northern California.
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Clay, bones and stones was born out of a desire to “give back to the earth”. These are the words I heard myself say in 1995 when a stranger asked me “If you died tomorrow, what would you regret never having done in your life?" This moment changed the direction of my life forever.
The mission of clay, bones and stones is to educate and offer human beings various methods in which to build, create and play on this brilliant planet in a healthy and loving way. The more viable ecologically conscious options we have when creating dwelling, the more tools we will have to transform the state of our dwindling natural resources, lower our greenhouse gas emissions, and help us reconnect with the earth.
My choice to work with natural materials has provided me and countless others with a healthy working and living environment. To be able to create shelter, wall finishes, floors, and garden art out of local, non-toxic, organic materials is an exciting endeavour particularly when applied in a modern context.
My hope and inspiration for clay, bones and stones is to spread beauty wherever I go whether it be a skillfully applied wall finish or an inspiring conversation.
Biographies on their way....
Elias Gaitan
Janet Waring
Kimberly Maya Urrea
I love teaching, this is my passion. I have been teaching workshops since 1996. I have taught over 90 workshops within Canada and United States.
I taught the hands-on building component for New College of California's EcoDwelling program and have taught for Domincan University's EcoDwelling program as well.
In addition, to teaching natural building workshops independently, and as part of larger programs, including Permaculture Design courses, I teach 'Woodshop for Women'.
Please call me if you have an educational need. I am available for teaching workshops, and giving slide show presentations on a variety of natural building techniques.
I offer consultation services in person or via telephone. Please contact me to set up an appointment. Jump to the 'contact' page for ways to reach me.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Janine
