Eco-Conscious Pottery

 

As the owner of a small-batch pottery studio, being sustainable means developing processes that conserve energy and resources and making mindful choices to lessen negative environmental impact. Here are few things I do to be more sustainable in my pottery studio:

 

Clay : I use commercial clay but also local clay. I forage and process the clay I have on my land and I reclaim every scrap of clay that isn’t fired.

 

Water conservation : I don’t have running water in my studio. Instead, I rely on a few buckets of well water.

 

Non-Toxic Materials : I am intentional about working with lead-free, and food-safe, natural materials.

 

Thoughtful Energy Consumption: I fire my electrical kiln only when at capacity and during off-peak hours.

The studio is off grid, relying solely on Solar panels.

Some glaze firings are made in a rocket Kiln!

(At a time when ceramic equipment is increasingly expensive and many of us are looking for ways to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, this kiln presents a welcome solution. The rocket kiln developed by ceramicist and permaculturist Lisa Orr is  an environmentally sound firing option for ceramicists everywhere!)

 

I also reuse paper bags and recyclable packaging materials