SPECIAL SEASONAL WORKSHOP
$60 for full participation | $15 for harvest-only
I’m so excited to offer this workshop as a HARVEST & CRAFT experience. There is something really special about gathering your own materials from fields and forests to craft!
We’ll start our workshop at a private home to gather freshly fallen Ponderosa pine needles. You’ll quickly collect enough for brooms and heaps more if you want to take some home! We’ll then head back to the classroom to create a standard single round and turkey-wing style hand brooms. We will use all natural fibers for tying and you will have lots of colors to choose from!
A bit more about harvesting pine needles. The end of summer is a great time to gather pine needles. Most pines will drop needles at the end of hot dry spells to prepare for winter and focus on making new needles. Many pines hold on to their needles for more than just one year.
In Western Washington we don’t have any native long needled pine trees BUT they do grow here. You are most likely to find Pacific Ponderosa, Jeffrey, Gray and Coulter pine trees with needles long enough to create pine needle baskets or these adorable brooms. I look for needles at least as long as my open hand - the longer the better. Not all needles on the tree are created equal so being selective as you gather is important.
How and when you gather your needles will impact the quality and durability of them for crafting - which makes our HARVEST & CRAFT session all the better - the perfect time of year and the perfect tree.
SPECIAL LOGISTICS
6:30 -7:30pm: Harvesting needles at a private home in NE Seattle
7:30pm -8:00pm: Travel to Field and Forest Crafts classroom in Shoreline
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Make brooms
The NE Seattle harvesting location address will be provided to registered students the week of the workshop. We will gather for about 45 minutes - first gathering enough needles for our workshop and then you can generously fill your craft stores!
We will then head back to the Field and Forest Classroom in Shoreline - a 10-15 min drive - to learn to make our brooms.
WEATHER CONCERNS: If there has been measurable rain (and the needles are sodden) or it is actively raining that evening, we may shorten or skip the harvest and use dry needles I have at the classroom.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Harvesting needles will require kneeling, sitting or bending over to the ground for a period of time. If this is something you are unable to do or would cause you distress - please let me know and we can arrange to have needles harvested for you. I don’t want this to be a reason you aren’t able to come play and learn. Please email me with any concerns.
TRAVEL LIMITATIONS: If traveling to and from the harvest location would be challenging for you, please let me know and I’ll likely be able to give you a ride. You will need to meet me at my classroom in Shoreline by 6:00pm the night of the class.
Minimum age: 12 with accompanying paid adult - please let me know if you are registering with a minor.
BONUS OPTION: There are 4 spots for HARVEST-ONLY registrations. You can come learn about pine needle harvesting and preparation and GATHER, GATHER, GATHER. This point point is $14.
Workshop or harvesting registration is NON-REFUNDABLE. However, if you want to sell or give your spot to a friend, I’m happy to welcome someone else in your place. Due to the nature of the projects and the small class sizes, I’m unable to support refunds or credits.
This workshop will be held at TWO locations. Harvest will be at a private residence in the Broadview neighborhood of NW Seattle and then we will travel to the Field and Forest Crafts classroom at 1608 NE 179th St in Shoreline, WA to make our brooms.