In traditional native California society, basketry was a big part of life. Master weavers took weeks and months to finish baskets, both intricate and artful. If you count the cultivating, collecting and processing of materials, the process took years!

In our efforts to learn the processes entailed in the art of basket weaving, we will return to the slower paced, self-sustainable way of living. Each step in the process brings us in touch with the rhythms and habits of nature: we are taught a sense of place, we reconnect with the seasons, and we learn to listen to nature’s cues about the changing seasons.

When we learn about the plants we use for weaving, we develop connections to the earth one plant at a time. We learn about the basket plant's communities and what that particular community needs to thrive. To continue weaving, we are forced to be responsible for a small piece of the earth. The process of traditional basket weaving can be your path to reconnecting to the earth.

The Workshops

In traditional California basket weaving, young weavers learned primarily through observation—and all of our workshops have a demonstration portion. The classes also cover cultivation, harvesting, processing and regeneration of materials. Size and forms of our baskets will be scaled down to give participants a chance to finish their project. We want to expose participants to the complete process in a short amount of time without compromising the traditional earth-based process.

Upcoming Basketry Workshops

Pomo Berry Baskets
Date: April 3, 2011, 10am to 4pm
Location: Commonweal Garden
Instructor: Edward Willie

Tule Woven Water Bottle Carrier
Date: TBA
Location: Commonweal Garden
Instructor: Edward Willie