As the gardens wake up this Spring, so does our outdoor immersive programming!
Read on for the learning opportunities just about to start; we have a few spots left in each program.
Seasonal Gleaners Basketry Starts on April 5th
April 5, May 10, June 7, July 12, Aug 23,
11-4pm,
Sliding scale $675, $625, $575
Registration link
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/seasonal-gleaners-basketry
Instructors: CZarina Lobo, Sandra Vander Schaaf, Carla Frenkel, Amy Walker, Sharon Kallis
This feature program runs outside of our membership series of Patchwork Programming, and is an excellent starter commitment for folx interested in joining in to learn new skills, meet many of the artists that work with EartHand as well as some of our favourite plants that grow in the learning gardens. Week one (with CZarina) will be the building of a hoop-style willow basket frame and each monthly session is a chance to focus on a different plant coming into season in the gardens for weaving in the form. Plants to be used over the season include willow, english ivy, willow bark, blackberry and daylily and more. Techniques include forming willow hoops, Ojo de Dios bracing, twining, short rows, braiding 2 ply cordage, vine and branch splitting. Note, we have a special day planned for apple gleaning at MOP Sept 27 with our baskets, so add that date to your calendar!
Flax to Linen 2025 Grow Along starts on April 6th
6 Sundays, 11am-3pm: April 6, May 11, June 8, Jul 6, Aug 17, Sept 28
Led by Sharon Kallis, Sliding scale: $545, $ 515, $480
Registration link: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/flax-grow-along–2025
Includes all supplies except seeds for any personal planting.
6 Monthly sessions take the group through sowing, weeding, harvesting, retting and all the steps leading to spun linen. Participants will leave with a full understanding of the complete process from seed to spun line ready for weaving, processed and spun seed variety samples and some stricks for continued personal spinning. Using heirloom variety flax straw grown at Kwantlen University in 2023 as “learning flax” participants have the opportunity to practice breaking straw, hackling, and spinning stricks to linen thread. A small demonstration plot at Trillium gardens will also be grown, tended, harvested and retted by the flax cohort so all the steps from seed to thread are experienced. Register or read more at the full description here.
And, four exciting programs for members in April. Annual memberships start at $15, and come with lots of community perks! Get your membership here, and an invitation to register for the programs below will be sent to you right away.
Curious to know more about membership perks? More info here!
Introduction to Flint Knapping
Sunday April 12 1-4pm
Sliding Scale $125, $100 and $75 includes materials
Instructor: Harley Slade
Ground yourself in the local history of materials and methods of this and other regions.
Learn to strike flakes from a rock! Learn to pressure flake.
Local master knapper, Harley Slade guides a workshop introducing students to the various skills required to shape suitable rocks such as obsidian, chert, glass and ceramic into useful cutting tools, arrowheads, knives, spear points and chisels.
Get your membership here to receive a registration link
This three hour comprehensive course can serve both the novice and adept practitioner.
Botanical Spring Printing
Saturday April 12th 11-4.30pm
Led by Sharon Kallis
Sliding scale of $150, $125, $100
Get your membership here to receive a registration link
This celebratory day of printing on linens will focus on highlighting the high-tannin leaves of spring and offers a chance to explore the chemical and colour results from the exciting relationship between tannin and iron.
Linen square swatches suitable for quilting, small textile projects and patching will be provided and participants are invited to bring one small cellulose fibre garment –clean and scoured, tank tops, t-shirts or light weight linen shirts ready for a quick iron mordant before bundling.
Expect strong black/dark tone botanical image transfers and generally muted prints.
Participants are encouraged to attend stewardship sessions and the Friday socials leading up to the program to help in the gathering and preparation for the session.
Bark Basketry Spring Intensive
Date: April 26 and 27 Sa. 10am-4pm, Su. 11am-4pm
Instructor: Sandra Vander Schaaf
Sliding scale $ 280, $250, $220
Get your membership here to receive a registration link
This weekend program is a wonderful opportunity to spend time working with the beautiful willow bark coming from the urban learning gardens under EartHand’s care. Hosted during the spring bark harvesting window, participants will be able to strip some bark from our local willow, and explore techniques from plain weaving, twining and more with simple finishing edges. Expect other locally bountiful plant fibres to make some guest appearances too! Participants can expect to leave with a small completed basket (or two)
Please note this workshop is outdoors and undercover as required. Please be prepared to dress warmly for the weather, bring a cup for tea and your personal lunch and snacks.
Members are encouraged to attend the Friday night socials in the weeks leading up to the workshop for assisting in bark stripping, and the stewardship nights for branch harvesting.
Material gathering and processing dates: Tuesday April 15, 22
EartHand Gleaners Society 