Wild Earth Crafts Willow Backpack Workshop June 2025

What's included: Participants in this class will learn and apply the following techniques:

*making an oval slath

*tying in the slath

*crowning the slath

*pairing weavers

*upsetting the basket

*staking up the base

*slyping rods

*waling

*applying a false foot

*creating flow on the sides

*using a simple rand weave

*using a french rand weave

*pricking down the stakes

*making a three rod behind one border

*attaching straps

This class requires focused attention and will likely leave your hands feeling tired and sore by the end of the weekend. It will all be worth it when you go home with a beautiful new willow backpack basket and the knowledge of how to make more of them! There will be a maximum of eight participants for this workshop.

Cost: This workshop has sliding scale pricing which includes all materials: $400-$650, with scholarship spots available to people of the global majority (PGM). Please select a payment based on your financial resources. In other words, those with less financial resources should choose on the lower end of the pricing scale and those with greater financial resources should choose on the higher end of the pricing scale. See the Green Bottle Model for clarification and help self-selecting the appropriate payment. Additionally, paying on the higher end of the pricing scale helps support scholarship opportunities for folks from racialized communities who may not have access to abundant financial resources.

Accommodations: We have space on the land for some folks to camp if needed. Please let me know when you reach out to sign up if this is something you will need. Otherwise, please make your own accommodation arrangements in the Weaverville, NC area.

Age limit: Adults only.

Please note: this class will require average-moderate hand strength and may not be a good fit for those with hand sensitivities including hand injuries and arthritis. Please reach out to the instructor for more clarification about this if needed.

About Wild Earth Crafts: 🖤🤎🏳️‍⚧️🍉🪶Wild Earth Crafts supports DEI, LGBTQ+ rights, access for all bodies, a Free Palestine, Landback, decolonization and collective liberation 🖤🤎🏳️‍⚧️🍉🪶

About the Instructor: Frea Forager (pronounced FREE-yuh; she/they) helps people tap into the potent medicine of their own creativity and deepen their connection to the natural world through earth crafts. She is committed to fostering an equitable and liberatory approach to craft work. Her teaching thoughtfully explores how craft practices, education, and materials are connected to broader social issues such as historical and ongoing injustices, including land appropriation, indigenous displacement, and systemic inequality. She also shares ways she is actively engaging in efforts towards repair and positive change within the field. You can learn more about her and the work she does HERE.

Cancelation Policy: Refunds minus a $20 processing fee are available up to 30 days before the event. After that, a credit will be issued for a basket purchase or attendance at a future workshop.

***TO REGISTER***: email freawild@gmail(dot)com.

Willow Backpack Workshop

June 12th, 13th, and 14th, 2026

at our willow farm in Weaverville, NC