Renee Benoit
Occupation: Real Estate Agent, Homesteader, Artist, Writer
Place of Residence: Madera, California
Background:
Iowa/Illinois born and raised, resident of California since 1977
Renée is a life-long do-it-yourselfer, artist and real estate agent. She was raised in the Midwest by her extended farmer family and home arts parents. Her dad maintained an acre and a half garden, and her mom put up all the produce for their family larder. Renée learned everything from them and as an adult took their teachings further by exploring more self-reliant skills. Her favorite books are the Foxfire series by Eliot Wigginton. Renée’s work has appeared in Mother Earth News, Grit, and Capper’s Farmer.
Even though Renée loves almost all homemade things she is particularly passionate about fiber arts. She started at an early age sewing all her own clothes and later when she and her husband lived on a large cattle ranch in Northern California, she learned from an elderly neighbor the art of old-fashioned rag rug crocheting. Like her father before her she maintains a large vegetable garden and follows the work of John Jeavons. She lives with her partner and two adopted dogs, three cats, a flock of hens, and two horses in the central valley of California and from there they enjoy escaping to the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains and Pacific coastline.
Follow Renée on Facebook, on her website, or reach out directly at renee_lascaux@yahoo.com
Current Projects: Pruning rose bushes and fruit trees, preparing soil for spring garden, starting seeds for spring garden