In the Appalachian region, Tulip Poplar bark is the most commonly used material to create containers for berries and other wild foraged plants. In this class, we will be crafting a functional, beautiful basket. Each student will learn how to harvest the bark by getting hands-on experience peeling it from the tree. They will learn how to assemble the materials and fashion them into a wonderful basket or mask that you will take home. The class will cover what other tree bark can be used, the best season to harvest the bark, as well as sustainable harvesting practices.

 Josh Barnwell has been a lifelong student of traditional and endangered skills, starting with learning the plants and wildlife from the woods around his home and growing from there. With over 20 years of experience under his belt, he leads classes with enthusiasm and the philosophy that by learning these skills to directly meet our needs from the natural world and attaining a connection to and appreciation of that world, we connect and align ourselves to what it truly is to be a human living on this planet.

 Josh lives in Tennessee with his 4 children and teaches for various gatherings, camps, and nature programs around the southeast and beyond. When he is not leading a workshop or teaching for a gathering he is participating in the highly seasonal, cyclical crafts that make up the wheel of his year.

 you can find out more about Josh through his website bewelloutdoors.com

Program Details:

Date/Time: Please arrive at 9:30 am on Saturday, May 17 .Departure is 4:00 pm on the 17th.

Cost: $225 includes a delicious, nutritious lunch in our outdoor kitchen.

Cancellations: non-refundable deposit (1/2 of total) is retained for all cancellations. For cancellations made within one week of the event, there will be no refund.

Road Conditions: 1.5 miles off-road gravel - watch the video (link is external)

Location: 8 miles east of Boone, NC - Base Camp at Turtle Island Preserve is just 2 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway - Bamboo Gap Exit