Overnight Willow Basket Weaving Workshop (SEPT)

Grab your tents and your cozy socks and come camp out on the land for a weekend of willow basket weaving with Jes Clark and The Rusty Anvil!

Jes Clark (they/them) is the farmer and weaver at Willow Vale Farm in Stanfordville, NY. Jes weaves traditional and contemporary functional pieces and the basket forms created are a result of their conversation with each stick of willow. All of their willow is grown without pesticides using regenerative practices and with loving care.

Jes has been teaching weaving just since 2018 but has taught hundreds of students ranging from absolute beginners to experienced weavers looking to refine their craft. They have taught at the Stowe Basketry Festival, for the Northeast Basketmakers Guild, at the New York Botanical Garden just to name a few, and also privately in one-on-one tutorials.

In this 2-day workshop students will learn traditional weaving techniques in crafting a basket out of willow. The relationship between humans and willow goes back thousands of years and among the many roles of willow as medicine, building material, ecological partner, is its use as a strong basketry material across continents. We will be weaving beginners round baskets starting at the base and finishing with optional handles or shoulder straps. Weaving techniques incorporated are pairing, waling, randing and woven rod borders. These functional baskets are sturdy and  can be used for foraging, harvesting, or for holding precious items at home. No weaving experience is necessary, but strong hands are a must. All tools and materials will be provided.

We are so honored to host Jes on the land this summer to learn from them about developing a relationship with willow in this way! Thank you Jes for sharing your wisdom!

**a detailed packing list will be sent upon registration**

**This workshop is for those who idenfity as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color. Please respect the intention of this space & do not register if you do not identify as BIPOC.**

We gratefully accept any donations. If you would like to donate to support this workshop and others like it please visit this LINK