Soon after returning from Boom, I took the opportunity to travel more of the west coast. After visiting my family in Southern California, I bussed to Santa Barbara and met up with Betty Seaman to interview her and take a closer look at the home that she has created.
Nine years ago, Betty Seaman sunk her every penny into a land that she found so beautiful, she cried the first time that she saw it. She and her husband named it Spirit Pine Sanctuary. The mountain property just outside of Los Olivos, CA, had no buildings. At first they housed themselves and their three kids in a tent. But wind and bugs had her searching for other alternatives, eventually leading to cob. An artist and craftsperson, (leather and bead work, illustration, painting), building was new to her, but creativity wasn’t. So after a six day workshop at Cob Cottage Company (where she now occasionally works as a guest instructor), she began to build her own house.
“My goal was that in five years, I would have enough structures to house my family, so however that looked. And it wasn’t that we each had to have our own home or anything, but that all of us would be able to be in a bed with a door that closed…I met that goal, with months to spare.”
The property has many buildings on it now. Both her mother and daughter participated in the design and creation of their own structures.
Along the way, SPS has provided many people with the opportunity to develop skill and the confidence in their own abilities. In particular, it seems to be an empowering place for women builders.
Serena Stark took on the project of her own cob home and is currently working on the finishing touches. Her story will hopefully be in the book as well.
Cob isn’t the only technique used either. Eva Miller spearheaded the construction of a studio built using pallets with light-straw-clay infill, which they call the “Fuddy.” There’s also a pallet barn., and pallet “chicken church”, as well as examples of bale cob.
One of the next buildings on Betty’s list is a home for herself. She’s toying with doing a partially underground dwelling, using earthbag construction.
Along the way, she’s found collaboration the key. Using workshops and work parties to get a jump-start on the work, she then finishes them out herself over the course of another year or so.
“I think the most important thing that I want people to get out of it is that it’s fun, and it’s easy, because so many people come into it, thinking that it’s hard and complicated.,” she says. “‘Yeah, it’s really beautiful, but it’s so hard. I just can’t see myself doing that.’ People say that constantly. So, if you come into it with that mentality, it will be, but if you come into it thinking that it’s not hard if it’s twelve people and you have twelve days, or your building is small, or you build it in sections, or, whatever, you can make it so easy and so fun in so many ways, and any little snags that come with having other people help you are really dwarfed in comparison with what you get out of it by working with a bunch of people. It’s so fun.”
My short time there was a chance to feel inspired by the many touches of beauty and self-reliance that the land has grown to hold, and to be touched by the welcoming spirit and grace of the place and Betty herself.
I love this entry. Beautifully written, beautiful pictures.
Thanks for posting this! Great!
Yay Betty! She’s the one who got me started. We’re doing interior plaster on our cob place now.
Place looks great.
Thank you for these words!!! It motivates me tremendously. I thin now my ‘cob-life’ begins at 60!!!!!
Hi, I am a friend of Serena’s. Can you please tell her to contact me? Ellis 850 485-1116
[…] Spirit Pine Sanctuary. […]
Tantay, this is wonderful to see! Thanks for sharing. I had the pleasure of spending time w/ Tautacho and friends and fam at the Santa Ynez rez, Redwind and Muhu Tasen way back in the day.
Hello. I just bought 3 acres with a Tico house near Dominical, Costa Rica and I want to build a 800 sq ft cob house on the hill at the top of the property. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to put on a cob building workshop this winter, inviting 8 to 10 people to come. I’m intrigued by the fact that you have done this before in Costa Rica. Can you get back to me on this please? My email is manager@crystalranch.net. If you are not available this year, can you recommend someone?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Lynn
So beautiful! If you have any projects in the future I would love to volunteer!
My daughter is playing there this weekend, as part of an accoustic duo called Moses Cadillac. . .looks like a wonderful place. . .give her my best/Bucky
I am a single 76 yr old woman who wants to build a passive solar set up for active solar if feasible straw bale cob earthship…front for plants am I making it too hard? I want about 1000sf to 1200sf so there’s enough room so my three kids can visit a master and a loft,2baths, kitchen mud open to living and dinning / nook I plan for it on the Northern California coast community of Shelter Cove in Whitethorn CA. Help!