EartHand Gleaners Society

art ~ ecology ~ people

  • Abeego Woven Food Wrap Research Guild

    8 sessions, Tuesdays 6-9pm
    October 17- December 12 ( note no class October 31st)
    The BeeSpace, 580 Powell Street
    $175
    Max 12

    REGISTER for the Abeego Woven Food Wrap Research Guild

    EartHand Gleaners is proud to partner with Abeego, makers of the original beeswax food wraps, and Hives for Humanity to offer this unique research weaving group. Participants will learn weaving skills using factory cuttings of Abeego strips while supporting local beekeeping and skills-training initiatives in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

    Here is how it works:

    Participants will explore plain weave, twining, diagonal plaiting and rope making using  these lovely waxed strips over 8 sessions. We will focus on food storage-related projects such as flat woven wraps, sandwich bags, “soft-shell take away’ boxes and counter-top citrus bowls. Each participant will make pieces to keep for personal use, have additional strips to take home and continue projects between sessions, and commit to donating one piece they are proud of as an auction item for a Hives for Humanity fundraiser to happen in early 2018.

    Abeego strips are an interesting and unique material to weave: they are soft and tacky, staying where you place them, making them ideal for learning new techniques. As a group we will explore design ideas for food storage and undoubtedly make some interesting discoveries along the way. Abeego has moved to a zero waste process, so these strips are in limited supply and  we may never be able to offer  this workshop again- register now, while supplies last!

     

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  • Fibre Blending Research Guild – FULL

    …from the wild and woolly to the tamed or grown

    6 sessions, Mondays 6:30-9pm
    October 16-November 20
    @ Maclean Park Fieldhouse, 710 Keefer St, Vancouver
    $125 Sorry, class filled!
    Max 10

    Looking at clothing labels often shows that our contemporary clothes are blends of various fibres. And, we have likely been wearing blended fibre combinations as long as we have been weaving cloth!
    This 6 session program allows the group to work collectively and independently exploring different blends and trying different spinning styles. The first 2 sessions focus on tool use, including wool carders and drop spindles, understanding staple lengths, opening  wool locks, and carding or combing fibres.  The  following 4 sessions provide time and materials to explore wild fibres such as  nettle, bog cotton, milkweed, fireweed, different wools, dog hair, angora, linen tow and cotton — some silk and other luxury surprise fibres may make an appearance.
    This class is a good start for beginners, but those with basic drop spindling understanding will  find this program of great use to build spinning dexterity and explore unique colour and fibre combinations for weaving (basketry or cloth), knitting and other textile projects. Those with their own wool or  linen from previous programs are welcome to bring fibres for personal use.

    All class materials and tool use included;
    Additional drop spindles will be available for purchase for use outside of class time

    Instructor: Sharon Kallis

  • Salmon Leather 2017

    Making leather from fish skins has been done in cultures all over the world, from Asia to Europe to Turtle Island; it was done commercially in Europe and North America during hard times in the early 20th Century, and is now practiced by small tanneries in Europe and Australia serving the artisanal and luxury goods markets.

    This fall have two different opportunities to learn about this intriguing material, led by instructor Rebecca Graham and hosted by our partner Skipper Otto’s Community Supported Fishery at Locker D, False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf, 1505 W 1st Avenue (just west of Granville Island along the seawall):

    1/ Community Learning Circle

    1 session, Thursday,  5:30-7pm
    Sept 28, False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf- Locker Bay D
    FREE, limited space

    REGISTER on Eventbrite for the Fish Leather Community Learning Circle

    This free ‘cooking-show’ style workshop will give you a feel for why fish leather is so amazing: you’ll get the chance to scrape a fresh skin, and work a pre-tanned skin til it’s soft and dry. All skins made at this workshop will be used in the Land & Sea show at the Roundhouse Community Centre in fall, 2018.  Instructor: Rebecca Graham

    Workshop is free, but pre-registration is required– if you sign up, please show up!

    2/ Salmon Leather Guild

    4 sessions, Thursdays, 5:30-7pm
    Oct 12, 19, 26, and Nov 2,
    False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf- Locker Bay D
    Max 15
    $110

    REGISTER for the Salmon Leather Guild

    This four-session workshop will take you in depth through the process of selecting, scraping, tanning, and finishing fish leather, then stitching your finished leather into a durable wallet or cell phone pocket.

    Co-hosted by Skipper Otto’s Community Supported Fishery.

    This workshop series is a fundraiser in support of the Land & Sea Project Phase 2: all proceeds go towards bringing experts from Scotland and Alaska to Vancouver to lead advanced workshops in tanning and waterproof leather sewing in 2018…. Community Supported Learning! Instructor: Rebecca Graham

    REGISTER for the Salmon Leather Guild

    Find related Land & Sea activities at these upcoming events!

     

    Thank you to our Land & Sea Project Partners!

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  • Sheep Skin Tanning – FULL

    “Save the Hide for Something…”

    OUR Workshop is now FULL!

    2 Sessions, Saturday and Sunday,
    November 11 & 12, 10am-4pm
    Co-Hosted by Laurica Farm & Fraser Common Farm:
    25775 12 Avenue, Langley, British Columbia V4W 2J7

     

    Living within the circle of life means ensuring that that the things we don’t eat* — hide, bone, and more — are returned to the earth or transformed into things that contribute to our self-sufficiency.

    We invite you to join Meg Cur of Crow’s Nest Wildcraft for a two day workshop transforming local farmers’ sheep hides into washable sheep skins. The weekend will include hands-on demos of preparing fresh hides and discussion of recipes, stretching skins on racks, and completing the softening process to produce soft, washable sheepskins.

    Hide tanning involves continuous physical labour; some participants may choose to partner to work on one larger hide, and share it.
    Please be prepared with adequate rest, clothing, and food/water.

    Presented by EartHand Gleaners Society and co-hosted by Fraser Common Farm Co-op and Laurica Farm.

    Alternate Registration or bursary application, contact Rebecca, runnawick@gmail.com

     

     

    About our Partners:

    Laurica Farm embraces the principles of permaculture, rotational grazing and holistic land management. There is a variety of crops and a young orchard as well as pasture raised livestock onsite. Laurica Farm has been recognized by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce for its Environmental Leadership and co-hosted Feast of Fields in 2016. The farm is currently undergoing huge change as the family builds the first hempcrete house built to code in BC.

    A community farm that has been cooperatively owned and managed for nearly 40 years, Fraser Common Farm maintains a unique balance of food production, habitat conservation, communal & individual housing, and a sincere desire for long term sustainability.

    Meg Cur of Crow’s Nest Wildcraft was trained in smoke-tanning traditions of the Great Basin area.  She apprenticed with tanners for two years: during hunting season, they skinned deer, elk, and antelope for hunters, and after hunting season they tanned away the winter.  Meg also researched and explored her ancestral tanning traditions and now practices bark-tanning. Hide tanning revivalism goes hand-in-hand with education.  The concepts of permaculture, sustainability, and decolonization take on tangible dimensions in this practical art.  Meg has been a community educator for five years, teaching workshops on how to tan and how to apply the ethics of this skillset to other landbased ventures.

    *actually, the things we DO eat go back to the local soil, too —  Fraser Common Farm has an excellent humanure system! — and it’s part of the conversation for another day 😉

     

    Sheep photo: Cathy Finley, 2017

  • Everett Crowley Weavers Group

    2018 3 Sessions, Wednesday nights 6-9pm
    January 10, February 14, March 14
    Champlain Heights Community Centre Lounge
    $53.33

    Registration is through the City of Vancouver online registration portal, activity 146794, or by calling Champlain Heights Community Centre at 604-718-6575

    We are excited to announce EartHand’s partnership with Champlain Heights Community Centre and Vancouver Park Stewards in the Everett Crowley Weavers Group.

    The group will meet one Wednesday evening per month from 6pm-9pm in the upstairs lounge at Champlain Heights Community Centre, with walks to our stewardship area within Everett Crowley Park to pull invasive species for our weaving.

    This group is open to weavers of all skill levels; leader Rebecca Graham will cover/review basic techniques in these first fall sessions, with the vision that the group develops creative momentum that inspires ongoing weaving practice, with weavers advancing in skill and supported to embark on more ambitious projects with the range of invasive species available from stewardship activities in Everett Crowley Park.

     

  • FORAGE June: Blackberry

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    We get asked about this one a lot. It’s really thrilling to make stuff out of blackberry bark, because it’s so ubiquitous and so maligned. It makes beautiful braids, one of our favourite things, to be turned into coiled or plaited projects.

  • Summer 2017 Happenings Update!

    As we launch into July it seems a good time for a quick update on the many things we are up to this season- or planning for Autumn.

    First off-  we are so thrilled to announce we received our funding from BC Arts Council for the Land & Sea project! We will be collectively planning with our community partners and more details will be released in late August.

    The Weaving Wagon is now making appearances, and will be traveling to Richmond City Hall Wednesday July 5th from 12.30-2pm for a display of how we use various plants in our hand work and rope making  instruction, the end of July finds it at Civic Theatre for multiple dates, and then to Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver August 8 and 9th.

    Also, we are growing some roots in Kelowna this year! The 2016 blackberry/butterfly project in Richmond  has an offshoot project lead by  Jaymie Johnson, and will be using the local grasses and nettle for coil basketry installations made with community participation this summer culminating Labour Day weekend. Find out more here.

    Our next collaboration up-purposing invasive plants with Stanley Park Ecology Society was just announced a few posts ago, and begins this Friday evening knitting bionetting by the seashore ( say that 10 times fast…though technically we are by the lagoon)

    Our other ongoing seasonal programs  are ticking along  wonderfully, there is still room for the July 8th coiled basketry intro using local grasses, and  open studio sessions  are in full swing- keep an eye on our calendar for more  details!

    Wishing you the best of the long day season, including lots of time outdoors with your toes in the sand or soil and  fingers in some local fibres.

  • Up-purposing invasive plants in Stanley Park

    We are very happy to be continuing our relationship with Stanley Park Ecology Society in re-purposing invasive plants for various stewardship activities again this season!

    More Bio-netting from English Ivy, and continued work on the beautiful North Creek Trail.

    Dates to Know!

    Friday July 7 5.30 – 8.30pm

    Bio-netting being knit on the roof of the Nature House ( north foot of Alberni street)

    This is an event great for  drop in’s, but we are looking for a core group of people to commit to learning the spool-knitting technique and working for the evening with us to ensure we get enough knitted ivy netting. If that is you, please grab a ticket!

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    Friday August 18th from 5:30 – 8:30pm and Saturday 19th 10-2pm

    This is a 2 session workshop in partnership with Stanley Park Ecology Society

    Time will be spent making large rope with English Ivy and prepping other materials for weaving fences on Saturday. Bring a picnic dinner and lunch! Rain or Shine.

    Folks coming after work on Friday that might be late are ok to take a space, we will work close to the SPES pavilion on the Friday, and be at North Creek trail on Saturday. Free but limited space, please register here

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    Saturday October 21st 10am-2pm

    Bio-netting installation in Stanley Park- exact location TBA

    The netting  we knit up in July shall be dried out and ready to install with new  native plantings, come participate and learn about this totally local  rehabilitation project.

    Register here to participate

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  • Weaving Wagon in the News!

    A great introductory article about the Weaving Wagon in the Westender, June 2017. Thanks Amy Logan!

    http://www.westender.com/arts-culture/artists-weave-a-wagon-with-hyper-local-materials-1.20553425

  • Fish… Leather?…really?

    Good news! our first grant application for Land & Sea was successful — a big thank you to the City of Vancouver for funding the first stage of this project, which will allow Kamala Todd, Tracy Williams, Lori Snyder, Kelty Jean McKerracher, Sharon and me to explore working with nettle fibre and fish leather.

    And many of you are thinking: “…fish…. leather? …. (ew)”

    A fellow that I worked with a long time ago had a fish leather wallet and he raved about its durability. Sharon’s friend Peter Ananin from Scotland has a fish leather tannery as a social enterprise. Tracy Williams says that in the old days, people would make shoes out of fish leather and coat the soles in sand and pitch — and a friend of Sharon’s sent us a photo of a pair of traditional fish-leather snow boots she saw at a museum in Japan.

    Turns out that making leather out of fish skins is a very old, worldwide practice — and though it’s uncommon, it’s still going on today. Crazy what a search on Youtube will turn up — references to everything from post-WWII Europe to contemporary Kenya, and beyond.

    We used salmon skins from a commercial kitchen as a medium for practice at our Tanning Circle in February; and except for the fact that they were thin skins and we probably under-tanned them with the alum (I got the chance to speak with Meg Cur of Crows Nest Wildcraft about it), it was a really fascinating experience with compelling results. My subsequent tests (shown in the bottom two photos in the featured collage) have been even more intriguing: the same skins from February are about twice as thick and tough, now that they’ve had the chance to sit in a tannin bath for a few months.

    I look forward to experimenting with a variety of fish skins from Skipper Otto’s Community Supported Fishery, one of our partners on the Land & Sea project; and using the skins in a series of fish-leather-tanning workshops we’ll be rolling out in the fall/winter — keep your eyes open for that announcement.