Upcoming programs are a part of our workshops offered for EartHand Gleaners Society members. Membership is free for Indigenous community members and otherwise starts at just $15 for the year and includes all kinds of other maker opportunities.
Find out more and get your membership here.
A note about our sliding scale program pricing:
The mid-range offered covers the program and material fees with a small stipend to EartHand Gleaners for our annual operating costs.
The low range offered covers instructor and material costs but does not support operating costs.
The high range offered covers all program and material fees, a stipend towards our operating costs and additional assistance that helps offset loss of funds through low range ticket purchases.
We encourage you to choose which level of ticket you can afford.
We continue to be a volunteer led, artist-run organization, and we pay instructors a course fee that honours their knowledge and time.
2026 Membership Drop In Times
At our Trillium Learning Gardens and Outdoor Studio: Corner of Malkin and Thornton St
Saturdays: 11am-2pm
April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug 8,
Sundays: 2-5pm
April 26, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30,
Fridays: 4-7pm
April 17, May 1, 22, June 5, 19, July 3, 17, 31, Aug 14, 21
August dates tbc in summer and September dates to be announced
Spring and Summer Membership Programs
Dye Garden Grow-Along
This program is designed for cooperative, hands-on learning throughout the growing season. In addition to monthly, focused group sessions, participants are invited to learn from the land itself by tending the dye gardens during the weekly stewardship sessions at EartHand’s two learning gardens.
Focused Garden Teaching Sessions:
- Sunday, March 15 (Trillium)1-4: compost build day & garden intro
- Tuesdays, April 14 6-8pm, June 2 6:30-8:30, and August tbd at Trillium, [time]
- Wednesdays, May 6 6-8pm, July tbd, September tbd at MOP, [time]
Sunday Studio Sessions:
- June 7 and Sept 27, 11am-4pm
Instructors: Carla Frenkel and Rita Kompst
Sliding Scale: $285, $250, $215
Come grow and experiment together!
The season begins with creating compost piles, starting seeds and planning our dye garden. Partaking in stewardship evenings at the Trillium and Means of Production (MOP) dye gardens, participants will dive into land-based learning. We will grow both EartHand Gleaners favourites (i.e.. coreopsis, marigold, indigo) and become familiar with some new plant friends (ie. safflower, alkanet, amaranth). The cost of the program reflects sweat equity in garden tending. Through the dye day sessions, we will create personal library samples that will include Gotland X Barnston Island fleece locks, and yarn samples from both Briggs and Little and Cascade for noting differences in dye responsiveness (and contribute to the EartHand Gleaners library). We will also experiment with dye uptake on various plant fibres. Participants are invited to bring a mordanted item to dye for each dye day (could be fleece, yarn, or fabric). In addition to the dates listed above, participants are asked to join a stewardship night either at Trillium or MOP once a month (April- September, 5 total). Participants are welcome to grow along in their own gardens; we will swap and save seeds.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Flax to Linen Grow-Along
6 Sundays- time 10am-2pm
March 22, May 3, May 31, June 21, July 26, August 23
Instructor: Heather Dodge
Sliding scale:
$545, $ 515, $480
Six monthly sessions will take the 2026 Flax Cohort from planting flax seeds to spinning linen thread. Using 2025 heirloom flax grown at Kwantlen University as “learning flax”, participants will practice growing, tending, harvesting, retting, breaking, hackling, and spinning. This is an excellent opportunity to move through the seasons with our flax plants at Trillium, and gain familiarity with the full steps of processing straw to linen thread for weaving or knitting. Some experience in spinning is an asset but not a prerequisite; those new to spinning will have a steeper learning curve for spinning flax line. Anyone wishing to plant their own crops will be directed to local flax seed resources.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Melon Basket Frames
April 18 10.30am-4.30 pm
Instructors: CZarina Lobo & Sharon Kallis
Sliding scale: $180, $155, $130
A follow up program to the popular Seasonal Gleaners Basket program in 2025, this year we are providing a one day chance to get your willow frames built and learn how to add ribs… we are setting folx up for summer weaving independence!
CZarina and Sharon will take the group through all the first steps to a melon basket frame ready for summer weaving as the garden season unfolds. Participants are encouraged to bring their basket in progress back to Members Drop-in sessions for continued weaving and to participate in summer stewardship events for impromptu access to the seasonal garden abundance.
Expect a full day for weaving, bring a lunch, snacks and dress for the weather. All tools provided, but bring your favorite awl and knife if you have them.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Lichen Dyes
April 26 1-4pm, September 13 1-4pm
Instructor: Rita Kompst
$195, $165, $135
Let’s do a deep dive into lichen dying! Lichens must be foraged ethically and sustainably from fallen branches/trees. Join us as we explore the boiling water method and the fermentation method of dyeing with lichens. This will be a multi-part class where each participant will have a turn taking care of the lichen jars. We will get the fermentation going in the first class and then dye in the second class later in the year. Option to join our pouch weaving class later in the year.
Participants in both programs will have additional personal lichen dyed sample wool skeins for continued personal weaving.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Hat Weavers Long Weekend Retreat
May 15 (evening), 16 &17 (daytime)
Friday night 6.30-8.30pm
Sat and Sun 10.30am-4.30 pm
Sliding scale $315, 280, $240
Instructor: Sharon Kallis
Spend the May long weekend weaving some shade for the hot weekends ahead.
This weekend is best suited to those with basic twining and cordage skills; beginners are welcome but may find they need to finish their hats at future membership sessions.
Using rolled bath towels for hatforms, we will weave flat oval form tops, build up the side walls of hats and continue through to simple brims of 2 to 3 inches for a ‘wide fedora’ type hat. Final shaping defines your brim curves and shape to complete your hat.
Materials to be used include cattail, daylily, phormium tenax, willow bark and other delights from the garden.
The Friday potluck and introduction allows us to meet each other, settle in to our work space, share a meal while orienting to the weekend plan and becoming familiar with our materials.
Participants bring their own towel, and personal lunches for Saturday and Sunday.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Garden to Garment: Barnston Island Wool Felted Vests
5 Saturdays 10am to 4pm
May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug 29, Sept 26
Instructor:Amy Walker
$725, $670, $615
Includes the gorgeous blue/grey Gotland-cross fleeces of Magpie and Twyla, and other ‘Barnston locks’ naturally dyed in previous EartHand Gleaners programs.
Over five sessions, participants will design and make their own hand-felted vest from locally-sourced Barnston Island wool.
In the first session we’ll review design options (one-piece, multi-piece) and make samples of wet-felted wool.
In subsequent sessions, participants bring their completed designs/patterns & we start wet felting the pattern pieces that will make up their vest.
Optional – dye bath for those who want to dye fibres – or a selection of already-dyed fibres that can be added.
TIme includes stitching the pieces together, adding pockets, surface decoration with needle felting.
Using 2 mid-grey fleeces and beautiful dyed locks from previous garden dye sessions
Each participant will have about 500 g of cleaned wool fibre for their vest.
Final session includes continued stitching and final details and a photo shoot of everyone’s vests.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Nettles- 50 stalk project
4 Saturdays 10.30am-4.30pm
May 30, June 20, July 18, August 15
$450, $425, $400
Instructor: Sharon Kallis
Early in her research into working with nettles, Sharon discovered that the fifty stalks of nettles she usually harvested and processed in a work session matched the amount noted by Franz Boas harvested and processed in a session by members of the Kwakiutl nation. Although various methods are possible for how to process and strip fibres, the commonality of gathering and processing 50 has inspired the notion of this project. The first session will focus on striping fibres- everyone assisting to make bundles of raw fibres and discussing individual existing skills and techniques we already carry that we might bring to the making of our 50 nettle object. Iron and tannin dye pots on our third session will give some colour variation for highlighting braid and weave patterns as the group begins the journey of exploring methods of tablet weaving and braiding to reveal what 50 stalks of nettle can become.
Expect to spend some time processing stalks and making cordage or spinning over the summer to reach a point of satisfaction for braiding and weaving by program end.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Spring Greens: Dyed Fleece Share
Saturday June 6 11am-4pm
Instructor: CZarina Lobo
Sliding scale of $160, $135, $110
Includes a share of Pease Blossom and Rosemary’s fleece for dying.
A focus on spring greens, especially tansy pre-flower, offering a lovely range from soft cool yellows through to vibrant greens. Iron modifiers and dying portions of both a white and a grey fleece will give a full range of green heathered tones.
Washing and mordanting fleeces and some harvesting for the dye session will be attended to during member socials leaving the studio day for focusing on the plant processing, dye pots and post dye modifications.
Two Barnston Island fleeces that are a gotland/romneyX or gotland/BFL that will blend together well in a finished project will be split between the three single dye sessions we are offering. Based on raw wool weight, we anticipate approximately 100 gms of dyed wool going home each day with each participant.
Participants are strongly encouraged to attend either stewardship sessions or the Friday socials in the few weeks leading up to the studio day.
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Plant Fibre Introductions
Monday nights 6-8.30pm
June 8 dogbane and milkweed
Sliding scale: $55, $75, $95
July 6 nettle
Sliding scale: $55, $75, $95
July 27 fireweed
Sliding scale: $55, $75, $95
Instructor: Sharon Kallis
For beginners and beyond: each session highlights a different plant growing in the gardens with beautiful fibre to offer the patient human ready to step into relationship with wild fibre plants. These sessions take place in our outdoor studio under cover as required. Each session includes visiting the plant in the gardens and discussing the seasonal calendar for the particular plant and hands on time processing stalks saved from the previous year. Participants can expect to build up a small personal stash of fibres for future use; some fibres will be donated to the garden dye program for building out the Fibre and Dye library.
To register for these programs please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
Willow Bark Basketry Weekend
Saturday & Sunday, July 4 & 5 10am-4pm
Sliding scale $280, $250, $220
Instructor: Sandra Vander Schaaf
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 at the end of the spring bark harvesting window, participants will be able to strip some bark from our local willow, and explore basketry techniques from plain weaving, twining and more, with simple brim finishing. 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 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
To register for this program please add your name to the members program form sent to all members
A Sneak Peak at workshops from July to October – for your calendar and budget planning-
more information to follow and registration opening in April!
Upcycled linens: Botanical dyed fabric for quilts and future projects
Sat/Sun July 11 and 12 Instructor CZarina Lobo
Summer Sun Dye Jars: Dyed Fleece Share
Sunday July 26 11am-4pm Instructor: Carla Frenkel
Sliding scale of $160, $135, $110
Includes a share of Pease Blossom and Rosemary’s fleece for dying.
Autumn Botanical Prints
Sunday September 12 11-4pm Instructor: CZarina Lobo
Sliding scale $160, $130, $100
This popular autumn dye session will focus on printing on post consumer linen and cotton using tannin and alum as a mordant for bright and bold colours and prints that celebrate autumnal abundance such as coreopsis, marigolds, fallen leaves and other seasonal offerings.
Lichen Dyed Woven Pockets
Saturday& Sunday, September 19/20 10am-4pm Instructor: Rita Kompst
Sliding scale without lichen program $300, 260, $220
Sliding scale if taking lichen program: $275, $235, $180
Autumnal Reds: Dyed Fleece Share
Sunday, October 3rd 11am-4pm Instructors: Sharon Kallis & Rita Kompst
Sliding scale of $160, $135, $110
Includes a share of Pease Blossom and Rosemary’s fleece for dying
Piloting Co-Learning PODS:
We are exploring ways to bridge the space between learning more formally in our workshops and the impromptu sharing that happens over drop in sessions. The creation of these focused co-learning pods is intended to be a low barrier cost option with a nominal fee to a member of the EartHand community as the group facilitator.
Expect supportive co-working circles for continued motivation, community accountability to get a project through to completion and occasional technical support.
This is not a beginners course, but a place for folx with some experience in the area already ‘in’ a project looking for a focused supportive group to stay on track towards project completion with those UFO’s, or wishing to further hone one’s skill within a community of fellow makers.
Co-Learning Pods will have a Slack conversation space to stay connected between gathering times.
sliding scale $90, $60, $30 for the season,
group sizes have been set with a maximum in the range from 8-15 for this pilot year
Co-Learning Pods confirmed so far include:
Basketry- hosted by Samantha Banks
Pigment Gleaners- hosted by Phin
Stitching projects- hosted by Zane
More information coming soon, registration for Co-Learning Pods and other workshops begins in April.
EartHand Gleaners Society 