About me
I walk the land here every day. Our land is hilly, and our little dog pulls me along like she is pulling a sled. Some days the earth gives way to my muck boots and other days it is hard under my feet. These differences, noted like all the other information I take in as I step lightly.
Early spring I am all eyes to the ground, watching for the hints of the early bitters coming in. They start one at a time, the dandelions, the bittercresses, the chickweeds. I take a little nibble and snap a twig of the spice bush coming in to inhale the aromatics deeply.
Another day I may wander up our precious Haycock mountain. Sit on the boulders until I feel the cold of the stones in my bones, before warming myself again by finishing my walk to the top of the mountain. There and at so many other places here I feel the deep echo of the footprints left by generations. My heart carries those stories.
In the creek beds I collect little pieces of iron rich stone that can be ground for pigment. In my workshop there is a rich pile of ochre, all oranges and reds that I’ll use for paint, for glaze for pottery, maybe.
My workbench is covered with tools handed down to me by my carpenter father, paintings on the walls crafted by my artist mother. My creativity inextricable from the lessons of my own teachers, the handwork of my own students.
My Professional Experience
I have had the privilege of with children of all ages for 24 years. With a focus/competency in language arts, handwork, yoga, farm to table, history of art, herbalism, foraging, design, ceramics, fine arts, carpentry and privative skills, I bring an robust competency to the work I do with children. With an intense passion for understanding the beautiful world we live in, and a love for sharing that with others, my holistic world view is at the center of my pedagogy.
Trained at Columbia University’s Readers/Writers project with Lucy Caulkins, Drexel University for language acquisition and curriculum design, and the University at Albany for Art history and Archaeology, I have piloted and helped upstart many environmental and experiential education programs as a curriculum instructor and master’s certified elementary educator including those at RVCS, The Musconetcong Watershed, Sam’s Kids, Meadowbrook Day camp, Delaware Valley University, Centenary University and many more.
I have worked for the last 14 years as a university professor while continuing to support families on their educational journey. We also have a family construction and design business where I support our clients with clients with color selection, design, decluttering, and reorganization of spaces to create maximum efficiency and calm and aesthetic environments.
