Querencia: The Cob Cottage
Just over the stream, across a swinging bridge is Querencia, my artist cottage… made from mud and straw and dreams. The tiny cob cottage is primarily a creativity studio- a place for painting, mosaics, collaging, writing and whatever else calls for expression.
What was once only a vision is now underway and building workshops began in May 2011. You can follow the process on our natural building page or our blogs: Taproot Farm Journal and From Deeper Water.
Building a straw bale and cob cottage.
Sigi Koko of Down To Earth Design is teaching us about natural building techniques and imaginative passive solar designs. She will help us lead weekend workshops where people can pitch in and learn hands-on about straw-bale/cob construction. It is a beautiful way to build- many hands, all learning and growing in the process together. Querencia will be an intelligent, eco-friendly building sculpted out of natural materials extracted from our own land.
Querencia is a wonderful Spanish word. It’s a little hard to translate- words like “home,” “nest” or “sanctuary” have resonances that can’t quite be trimmed to fit. My cottage will be snug, intimate, full of clear light and warm colors. It will inspire and hold all who visit. It will be honest and brave and beautiful… it will feel like home.
I believe everyone needs a place of their own- to breathe, ponder, and rediscover the sound of their own voice. Sometimes it begins simply as a bench in a garden, or a comfy reading chair. But, eventually, if we are true to our heart’s longings, we dream of a more substantial place- no clocks, no to-do list, no responsibilities and no distractions. A place that sets our spirit free. A place of restoration and imagination. A place to “fill our well”. Querencia is the manifestation of such a dream of mine. If we ask our heart the right questions, it will paint us a clear picture of our own querencia. Why don’t you ask yours? (Guided Imagery- the cottage).
~ Beth
