By Portia Griefenberg
Antigone Allena has studied natural building for several years. Her journey began after becoming sick from living in a toxic home, which led her to explore other options. She did not want to live in a structure with off-gassing carpet and glue-in laminates (to name a few toxic materials commonly used in buildings.) After becoming inspired by Ianto Evans, who began the cob building renaissance in the Pacific Northwest, Antigone learned that there is another way to live without chemicals.
Community building with cob
Over the years, Antigone has studied with ten natural building practitioners to learn a variety of techniques. She practices an ancient communal way of building where people gather together to learn, share meals and create something useful and beautiful. She became inspired once she learned that one can use clay and soil directly from the land where they live. Depending on the area, individuals can also use cattails, straw, hemp, or other similar material. Over time, Antigone realized she can construct buildings that are simple, artistic, beautiful, and are completely non-toxic. Her passion is to learn as many techniques as she can, apply what resonates with her, and share that knowledge.
Antigone’s joy for sharing her love for cob is contagious
Antigone likes teaching cob/natural building workshops because she loves watching people forge lifelong friendships through simple work. Even though online and book resources are available, in Antigone’s experience, cob building translates best in a hands-on setting. Each person brings a unique flavor to the process and the group builds a beautiful structure as well as an enduring community.
Antigone believes that problem-solving in our environment to mitigate natural forces such as floods and fire is something we humans have always done. The gentle approach of natural building engages with the land to ask how it wants to flow by observing natural contours. Antigone witnesses that as groups come together, their inspiration and insight makes the project incredibly beautiful and sacred. We are not just building a wall, we are creating this piece of art that is part of the landscape and respects the Earth.
Antigone’s business partner, Erin Shepard, is an amazing artist and her strength is an eye for balance, colors, and textures. Together they form a collaborative team to lead workshops.
Working with natural materials inspires the artist within
Sometimes attendees arrive with a belief that they are not “an artist,” or are or are not “handy.” Erin and Antigone work together in a workshop to elicit a natural sense of creativity and play. The joy people encounter when working together with natural earthen elements and building with their own hands taps into a collective, creative wellspring.