Ayurveda Holistic Community free interactive educational website
Q: One of the messages of our online Ayurveda community is to support the idea that Ayurveda is a life science - a way of life - whereas Ayurvedic medicine is a last resort if one forgoes their food-plan, lifestyle, dharma, social issues, environment, and spirit. So we are very pleased to see that you have created a real practical integration of Ayurvedic lifestyle and eco-consciousness with your Safecoat no-voc paints. What is AFM's social/eco/health vision?
JW: At AFM, protecting personal health has always been our first priority. That's why for over 25 years we've been providing the safest, highest quality and least toxic paints and building products available.
Q: I remember reading about your company years ago, I believe there were only one or two no-voc paint companies at that time. When did your AFM create its Safecoat no-voc paints-what was your motivation?
JW: Back in the early 80's we began formulating coatings for a small group of folks with what's known as environmental illness. These customers were suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) brought on by either a massive exposure to a toxic chemical or a more prolonged low level exposure. Being chemically sensitive basically means any exposure to a chemical could trigger a reaction whether it be in an architectural coatings or a cosmetic.
The reality is anyone can become chemically sensitive so these "canaries in the coal mine" were giving us a strong message. With no where to turn, we were a ray of hope. Since then we have helped thousands of people improve their indoor air quality and get back on the road to good health. In fact environmental physicians will recommend our products to anyone looking to remodel or rebuild.
Q: Where are you located? Who started the company? Is it a family business?
JW: We are a privately owned southern California company
Q: What does voc mean, and why it is not good to have in our paints?
JW: VOC means (volatile organic compounds). These are the "evaporative" compounds found in paints, stains, sealers, etc. These compounds contribute to smog production and poor indoor air quality. Repeated exposure can lead to health problems.
Q: What are some illnesses that have been found to be healed/prevented by using no-voc paints?
JW: There is no "list" of illnesses that are "healed" as MCS is unqiue to each individual. Our philosophy has been to support personal health and well being. It requires a comprehensive plan for diet, exercise, stress reduction and the use of health promoting technologies.
Q: Are all 'no voc's' paints equally environmentally friendly?
JW: Other companies have introduced "no odor" or 0 VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, but none have been formulated with a view toward human health and the elimination of toxicity. These "environmental" paints can have toxic ingredients exempt from government regulations. The fact that something has no VOC does not mean that it does not contain ingredients which are toxic (for example formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone or odor masking agents) or that it is free from offgassing. If it contains masking agents, then that’s just another unnecessary chemical that is hiding whatever effects may be occurring from whatever is coming off the paint. We frequently receive letters and calls from customers who have used some other company’s O VOC paint and still can’t tolerate being in the room, because there is something coming off it to which they are sensitive. On the other hand, 99.9% of those using Safecoat tolerate it without any adverse effects when properly applied and cured.
Q: What is the difference between 'no-voc's and 'low-voc's?'
JW: No voc means there are no regulated smog producing ingredients in the formula. As I mentioned earlier, current regulations allow ingredient exemptions which can have a harmful impact. Many consumers are confused by this as they equate safety with zero voc. Unfortuneately, a zero voc designation does not guarantee that.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for an Ayurvedic line of paint colors?
JW: We have been looking to expand our color offerings for sometime but we wanted to develop a system that supported our mission. As we delved into the different health promoting models, we recognized Ayurveda as the one most akin to our platform.
Q: What is your Ayurvedic background; where did you learn Ayurvedic principles?
JW: I have practiced yoga for over 10 years now and am married to a yoga teacher, so I have been immersed in yogic/Ayurvedic principles for quite awhile. We were also very fortunate to meet our color consultant and Ayurveda expert Michael Fallarino. During the mid 80s, while maintaining his practice as a builder, Michael completed his Master’s degree in psychology. He subsequently set out to learn East Indian medicine, completing a program in Ayurveda during the early 90s. He extended his studies by earning certification as a professional herbalist, and uses all his skills in a part-time private counseling practice.
Q: Do you all follow your Ayurvedic dosha food plans and lifestyles?
JW: Honestly, I consider myself a work in progress but yes we try to follow a yogic program.
Q: Do you offer other eco-safe products?
JW: We have over 40 building and maintenance products with our website www.safecoatpaint.com being the best place to check out the complete line.
Q: What other social/eco-principles does your company embrace (eg, carbon credit offsets, using recycled products, alternative energies, fair trade, triple bottom line [P3: people, planet, profit])?
JW: AFM is a people and planet oriented company.
Q: I believe AFM won some ecology awards?
JW: AFM has been recognized by the AMA with their Edison Environmental Award for our Safecoat building products. We have also been recognized locally for our environmental contributions.
Q: Do you feel creating AFM is living/fulfilling your dharma (life purpose)?
AFM: Without question.
Q: I have personally used your paints on several projects and the lack of aroma while painting made for a very enjoyable experience. What are your future plans?
JW: Of course, we are very excited about the introduction of our Ayurveda Essence color system. Equally exciting is our plan for rolling out a new line of wood stains and finishes as well a paint line.
Q: Do you plan to offer Safecoat paints in other European countries?
JW: Yes, we have a dealer in Germany as well as representation in China, Japan and Canada.
Q: I love that the word 'eco' is in your name, Safecoat; was that intentional or grace?
JW: That's a funny story. A year ago we contracted our agency partner, The Clean Agency, to re-design our logo. They came back with the "eco" in Safecoat in a second color. All these years we have been looking at that word and none of us had picked that out. So I guess the answer is graceful intention.
Q: Anything else you wish to share with our community?
JW: Look for safer, eco-friendly products, trust your intuitions and meditate on peace.
See the Safecoat pain Ayurveda colors at
http://www.afmsafecoat.com/ayurveda/index.html
To find eco-stores that carry AFM's Safecoat paint and many other sustainable/organic home building and cleaning products (eg, flooring, insulation, caulking, bedding, furniture, carpets, water/air filtration, bathroom, etc.) in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, and China visit:
http://www.afmsafecoat.com/locator.html
Anne Thibeau - Owner
Q: What is OFMP's social/eco/health vision?
AT: Our vision is simply to make the world aware of milk paint- a healthy alternative to the chemically based paints that are making people sick and polluting our earth. Milk paint was widely used in this country before the advent of modern (latex) paints, which were seen as a major convenience to a public that was tired of making paint from scratch. At the time, people were unaware of the health risks they were taking by using such chemicals found in these modern paints. We'd like to see people go back to using natural paint. It's more healthy for people and the planet.
Also, there are so many chemically sensitive people now- people who are very sick from the everyday toxins that they are exposed to. Many of them cannot tolerate other, modern, chemically-based paints. It makes us feel good to be able to help them.
Q: When and where in the world did milk base paints originate in history?
AT: I believe I have seen milk paints used in India – maybe it was called lime wash. There have been traces of milk paint found in King Tut's tomb and in early cave paintings in France. It is one of the most ancient forms of paint known, and because it is so durable and permanant that's why these examples still exist today.
A lime wash is not as permanent if it does not contain the milk protein (casein) used as a binder. The typical whitewash or limewash that Tom Sawyer used to paint the fence did not contain the binder- it was meant as a temporary, inexpensive way of brightening up a surface, but would have to be applied on a regular basis as it could wash off.
To illustrate an example of why the milk protein is such a strong binder, look at the residue left from a glass of milk left overnight on a bedside table. That is really hard to clean if left to harden. With milk paint the milk protein/lime emulsion gets harder and harder with time. It cures like concrete. So if you are restoring an old house or an old peice of furntiure and you get down to that one last layer of paint that just won't come off-that's milk paint.
Q: When, how, and where did you get started? What initially got you interested? Is this a family-owned company?
AT: This is a family owned company, started by my father Charles Thibeau, in 1974. He was making copies of museum pieces by hand- four poster beds, Windsor chairs etc., and many of the country furniture pieces he was reproducing had been originally painted with milk paint. He spent a year or so researching countless old milk paint formulas at the Boston Public Library and MIT library, and conducted a couple hundred experiments in the basement before coming up with the right formula that worked well for his furniture- using only ingredients that would have been used in the original formulas, and no preservatives- that is why he made it in powder form. You mix it fresh with water when you are ready to paint- no need for preservatives. There are tons of old milk paint formulas out there- some work better than others.
At the time, Yankee Magazine was doing a series of books on the forgotten arts. One such book was to contain a chapter on making paint from scratch. They'd heard that there was a furnituremaker down in Groton making his own milk paint. They interviewed him for the book, and after it was published our phone started ringing off the hook with people wanting to buy his milk paint. Thus, the Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company was born.
Q: Are all milk paints 100% no-voc?
AT: Good question. If they follow the old formulas and use the same natural ingredients they are. But again, there are milk paints and there are milk paints. I can't vouch for any of the other companies that have sprouted up over the years making powdered paints like ours. Sometimes you see "milk paints" in a can. Thse are usually just "milk paint colors" or simulated milk paints, and are often an acrylic or latex paint, in reality.
Q: What is the difference between milk paints and other no-voc paints? Are they equally safe? Are they better applied to different surfaces? Is milk paint better for antiques only, or for modern furniture too?
AT: Other no-voc paints may be safe, but they are not always all natural. It's hard to say if they are equally as safe. Also, we developed our traditional formula for porous surfaces such as bare wood- it also works fine on other porous surfaces like traditional plaster and raw masonry.
We are excited to have finally come up with a new formulation- just as natural and free of voc's as our original formula- but tweaked so that it will adhere well to other, nonporous surfaces, like previously painted or primed walls. It's coming out in July, and we are calling it SafePaint-Organic Milk Paint for Walls.
Milk paint has a timeless look to it, I think- it is equally beautiful on antiques, reproductions, and modern furnishings and interiors. There are lots of examples in our website gallery.
Q: Where do you apply milk paints (walls, floors, furniture, exterior, bathrooms, etc?)
AT: Everywhere, especially now that we have a new formula that can be used on nonporous surfaces! I should mention that milk paint will water-spot white if not sealed, though, and that is a problem for exterior surfaces. Our new SafePaint seems to have much better water-resistance, though, so that is leading us down a path toward an exterior formula. Traditionally, linseed oil was added into the milk paint to help prevent water-spotting. It helped to a degree, but probably always remained a little gummy. Today people can apply tung oils or beeswax or other clear sealers over the milk paint to help protect the finish and promote washability.
Q: What other social/eco-principles does your company embrace? (eg, carbon credit offsets, using recycled products, alternative energies, fair trade, triple bottom line [P3: people, planet, profit])
AT: We have always been involved in the environment- my father was involved in the first Earth Day in Boston with his organization- in the late 60's/early 70's he started a non-profit foundation called the National Foundation for Environmental Control, who published the first directory of environmental resources. There are many such directories out there now, but at the time not too many people were aware of what was going on with our environment. Our milk paint is entirely made in the USA and is a totally biodegradeable product.
Q: Do you plan to offer Milk Paint in other countries?
AT: We do. Today we not only have about 400 dealers across the USA, but we also have distributors in Canada, Japan, Germany, the U.K., Belgium and Australia.
Q: Anything else you wish to share with our community?
AT: Just to please visit our website and let us know if we can answer any of your questions.
See colors, and a photo gallery of furniture designs:
US/International Old Fashioned Milk Paint dealers:
Interview with Carl Giskes, owner
Q: What is Tierrafino's social/eco/health vision?
CG: Tierrafino is a range of products which is not only a beautiful finish in your home or workplace, it has been developed in such a way that it contributes to health and environment. To achieve this, Tierrafino considers all aspects in the manufacturing chain, from quarry to end product. Tierrafino strives to do business through 'good faith and fair dealing'.
Q: When and where in the world did clay/stucco originate in history?
CG: On every continent in the world people have traditionally built their houses with clay/mud. For instance in The Netherlands, clay/mud building dates back to 3000 B.C. I have been involved in earth construction since 1981. The first plaster and color finish in one, using clay and sand was developed by me in 1988.
Q: When, how, and where did you get started? What initially got you interested? Is this a family-owned company? Where are you located?
CG: As a young man I worked on a modern construction site for one (1) day. I was given the instructions to carry rock wool insulation from A to B. After having done this I could not sleep all night from the itching of my skin caused by the rock wool. The day after I promised myself never to work with materials again that my body did not like. By then I was drafted to join the army in Germany, my country of birth, but I fled the country to save me from military service. It was then that I started my long travels through Africa.
After having spent 5 years travelling and working in Africa, I returned to Europe, I noticed that in Germany people did build with clay, as I saw in Africa, however in Germany they finished the beautiful brown mud surface with paints like latex, with this taking away all the beneficial properties that I enjoyed so much living in mud in Africa. It was then that I realized I could make a difference by developing a pure clay and sand plaster in beautiful earth colors, that is the colors that the clays and sands have when quarried, without needing to process them in any way besides excavation, grinding and sieving.
These 3 manufacturing processes use relatively very little energy comparing to heating and/or bleaching/cleaning of raw materials. At first I mixed on a small scale the material for the jobs I took on as a builder and plasterer. In the following years I stopped application, due to rising demand for my material, since then I focused solely on the manufacturing and the education of plasterers and private people.
Tierrafino is family owned. We are located in Amsterdam, with a plant outside the city. We sell to 40 countries world wide.
Q: What is the difference between clay paint/plaster, stone plaster, and stucco?
CG:
-
Clay paint is a thick liquid interior paint based on clay and sand with starch and cellulose as a binder. Applied with brush or roller, 1mm thick.
-
Clay plaster is sand and clay only, applied with a trowel, 2-3mm thick.
-
Stone is a lime plaster, applied with a trowel, 4-6 mm thick.
-
Lustro clay stucco is a shiny clay stucco, applied with a trowel/brush/roller and polished with a plastic trowel, 1 mm thick.
Q: How easy is it for a novice to apply?
CG:
-
I-paint = Do it yourself
- T-paint = Do it yourself
-
Lustro = Professional/ Do it yourself
- Finish clay plaster = Professional/ Do it yourself
- Stone = professional only.
Q: How long does it take to cover a wall with clay compared to no-voc paint or milk paint?
CG:
-
I-paint = equal amount of time.
- T-paint = a little longer.
- Lustro = a little longer.
- Finish = like all plastering, longer.
- Stone = at least 5 times the time it takes for a regular paint.
Q: How does the costs compare to no-voc paint or milk paint?
CG: a bit more expensive. Working with clays and sands require more research and transport than working with iron oxide pigments.
Q: How long does it last before a new application is required?
CG: Basically, one never needs to replace the clay on the wall, it has been formed over millions of years in nature, once excavated, manufactured and applied, the clay and sand does not lose any of its natural composition or qualities, therefor it will hold its color and quality forever. Minerals like clay and sand are light proof, UV-resistant.
Q: What kind of cleaning/maintenance is required?
CG: Clay plaster needs not to be repaired immediately when damaged, because there will be no white plaster showing through the damage. Since it is color through and through, the damage will have the same color as the surface. However, when repairing, one finds out that it is very easy to repair by rewetting the damage and filling it in with the same color-, if possible left over, clay plaster.
Q: Does it bring any added earthy/nature feeling indoors?
CG: Besides the natural look of our products, clay products are anti-static, anti-fungi, and contain a lot of silicium, which humans find very comfortable to live in. Clay neutralizes electro-magnetic waves in the air, with the only practical negative effect that a mobile phone may be more difficult to use indoors. However the relief of magnetic fields which are so abundant in the air we live in has a positive effect on human health.
Q: Is it used outside too or only inside?
CG: Clay can be used in the exterior only where:
1. rain will not erode it from the walls.
2. people are prepared to maintain it by yearly/2-yearly repairs.
Tierrafino Stone Tadelakt lime is suitable to be applied in the exterior.
Q: Can you hang pictures, pins, etc. into the wall?
It depends on the substrate and the build up of the wall. When built through and through with clay/mud, there is no problem with any type of wall decoration.
Q: Can you use clay and stucco on bathroom walls or will the dampness ruin it?
CG: Only direct water contact (fluid) will give problems to a clay finish of any kind. However it is very suitable for moist areas in the house where there is no direct contact with water, clay will absorb abundant moisture and release it again when the air is drier.
Q: Have you won any eco-awards you'd like to share?
Last year we have won an innovation award from one of the best newspapers in The Netherlands (NRC-Handelsblad). This was due to the beautiful surfaces, easy application and the fact that they are ecological. Besides that, Tierrafino and myself are well known for being the first to create natural and ecological and fine looking finishes for the interior and exterior.
Q: Anything else you wish to share with our community?
Tierrafino strives to open local production facilities in all countries where we have established a selling market. Meaning to use local quarried materials in order to limit the use of energy with transport, as well as to support the people in those locations by providing labour in a human friendly material.
Tierrafino strives to create an atmosphere in which people can relax and enjoy their life through friendly materials and doing friendly business.
Website: http://www.tierrafino.com
International Sales:
http://www.tierrafino.com/clay_suppliers USA, England, Ireland, Switzerland, France, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Cyprus, Amsterdam