Willow Workshops

Willow workshops on the actual uses, physical properties and field cultivation are available to individuals, small groups, organizations, secondary education and institutions. Specific products, application and skills can be outlined for a workshop such as baskets, traps, furniture, fencing, edging, plant supports, coffins, boats. Custom creations of both living and non-living willow as illustrated on www.livingwillowfarm.com are all potential workshops.

Potential Goals for Workshops

Understanding how to utilize the properties of willow to create a variety of wood products
Learning how to coppice willow for woodland management of wood materials used in products
Creating a marketable agroforestry resource and sustainable income for landowners & farmers

Willow Opportunities for seasonal employment on the willow farm are available.

Contact Us

Workshop Growing Garden Support, Pittsburgh

Working with PA Outdoor Corps to teach weaving outdoor garden support structures. Students were all hearing impaired, and the workshop was taught with demonstrations only. The students were able to focus on the feeling of the willow material and the weaving techniques.

Workshop Willow Boat-Coracle, RISD

Sharing with students at Rhode Island School of Design the unique properties of working with willow to create structural and artistic forms. Workshop held at the Blackstone River in Rhode Island where we wove a stream bank wattle to control soil erosion; and a coracle boat to be used on the river for navigation purposes

Workshop Streambank Erosion Living Wattle, RISD

Kashmir Workshop

Traditional willow artisan’s communities in Kashmir India were represented by 15 master artisans in a workshop sponsored by the World Bank. My involvement is to provide design specifications and technical support for new collections to be made and sold in Europe and America. Willow collections combine new techniques, woven color patterns and contemporary forms for the export marketplace.

Chicago Workshop

Creating large scale conical sculptures for the Chicago Biannual Architectural Exposition. Workshop on sculpture site to share with the local inner-city neighborhood the weaving of willow to create forms. Additional workshop with students at local high school provided a unique opportunity to work with their hands. Learning how to manipulate the willow rods to weave bird feeders cooperatively in pairs.

Jamaica - International Artisan Workshops

International Artisan Aid Assistance projects have provided me with a unique opportunity to work hand in hand with economically challenged rural artisans-farmers to make the things they need from local and natural resources.

Straw Coppice and Hat Making - Jamaica:

CUTTING, BRAIDING, DYEING, AND SEWING STRAW INTO FASHION HATS, BAGS, AND PERSONAL ACCESSORIES.

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Screw-Pine Woven Handbags - Oxford, Jamaica:

We worked with Oxford Women Group using screw pine palm woven in panels and stitched with fabric to make handbags.

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Guyana - International Artisan Workshops

Early in the summer of 2017, I was contacted by Aid to Artisans about a potential project to weave in Guyana. I had several discussions with the founder of the project, Alice Layton, who has helped to create an outpost research center in Yapakuri. The project centered on various craft skills of the Makushi people that are used for making necessary objects for farming, making food, and living. We developed traditional weaving-plaiting techniques to make woven decorative mats for inserting into kitchen cabinet frames made by Ikea. It was a wonderful project, and the Amerindians are beautiful, thoughtful, and industrious people.

Mokru plants are coppiced, processed, stripped, sized, and dyed. Layout boards are used to size panel weavings with authentic designs.

Haiti Consultancy:

As a consultant to small producers, cooperatives, and micro-enterprises in Haiti, I found ways to enhance the designs and techniques of traditional craftwork. It was amazing to be a part of such unique training modules to assist in design and technical skills.

Sisal Coppicing & Craft - Cote de fer, Haiti