Cordage Workshop

This hands-on workshop teaches the ancestral skill of turning wild plant leaves & fibers into strong, functional cordage (rope/twine).  Participants will learn to identify, harvest & prepare local plants to create durable cordage for basketry, adornment, functional art, bushcraft, and more. The sky is the limit! The skill is for a lifetime! 

We will cover around a dozen native and introduced plants that can be used for cordage, including cattails, irises, basswood, dogbane, milkweed, nettle, and more. We’ll notice how the simple rhythmic process of twisting cordage can be a meditative & grounding practice that serves as a bridge from our ancient past to the living world.

Throughout the course, we’ll put into practice a conservation-foraging approach, grounding our harvest in ecological awareness, observation & stewardship. 

Instructed by: Sarah Foltz Jordan, conservation biologist & educator based in Duluth. On a recent trip to a nature reserve in Colombia, she was greatly inspired by the scarcity of plastic and the prevalence of things made from cattail – a new invasive in that region that is being managed through hand-harvest and highly creative and practical use.

Cost: $35. Space is limited, please register early to hold your spot.

Registration, here.