Hello! My name is Aly Mahe, and I am so excited to be a part of the Earth School team. A farm girl through and through, I have always felt the most authentic version of me while being outdoors. Growing up in rural Appalachia taught me many things, but mainly it taught me how important it is to surround yourself with nature. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the years and years of gardening work I did with my mom on the farm or the peaceful moments spent lounging by the creek listening to the water flow and the cicadas hum.

Since moving from my hometown of Dandridge, TN, I have dedicated my time to learning my craft and going to school. After graduating from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Media in 2022, I began making and selling my art online and at markets and conventions in the area. It was here I began experimenting with my art and seeing what other mediums I am capable of. I found my love for needle felting, clay, and painting secondhand clothing. While I have truly loved expanding my art skills and meeting people who are like-minded, over the years I have rediscovered the importance of Mother Nature and how she was missing from my life. Living away from the country has been challenging at times, as I miss the golden fields and the seasonal harvests and exploring the farm. I combat this feeling by going on long drives through the countryside, hiking with my husband, spending my evenings creating art and enjoying the sounds of nature on my back porch, and now by working here! I believe by teaching amongst nature, kids can learn in an engaging and exciting setting while being their true authentic selves. I have dreamt of incorporating both my passion for the arts and Appalachia in my teachings, and I am so excited to be able to do just that at the Earth School!