farm events 

You’re invited to a midwinter immersion in the art of willow basketry February 22-23 with farmer and traditional basketmaker Anni Zylstra. Students will spend the weekend at beautiful Verdant Hollow Farm in Buchanan Michigan in an intimate group setting learning hundreds-of-years-old techniques in introductory level willow basketry. Students will get to know the wondrous medium of willow – an incredibly durable, regenerative material that can be easily grown at home or sustainably wild harvested, and then made into beautiful heirloom quality artwork.  Whether you’re interested in a functional new hobby that will fill your home with baskets, or simply enjoy a fun wintertime handwork retreat, you will depart with a beautiful completed basket and the skills and inspiration to continue weaving (and probably, a new friend or two!).

In the course, students will use a combination of wild-coppiced and homegrown materials to make a traditional stake and strand round-base basket from northern Europe. We will discuss the basics of growing, harvesting, sorting, and preparing willow for basketry, and practice techniques such as twining, waling, packing, randing, staking up, bordering, and footing.  Each student will leave with a round-bowl basket and reference materials to support a continued practice at home.

There are a number of options for both commuting and residential students for the weekend, including farm stays and delicious, healthy meals provided by our hosts. Read on for tuition and lodging details! 

About the Venue

Verdant Hollow Farms is an Animal Welfare Approved and certified organic farm in Buchanan, Michigan.  Established in 2016, our main focus is the restoration of the 225 acre ecosystem of pasture, hardwood forest, and garden space using regenerative farming methods and land management.  This methodology ensures the welfare of our animals, restores the land, and provides our community with an edible bounty of pasture raised proteins, farmstead cheese, medical herbs, flowers, and produce.  Through workshops, goat hikes, and farm stays we invite visitors to the farm in the hopes to educate, rejuvenate, and inspire.

Tuition Options

All tuition options include the following:

• 2 full days of class time

• All basketry materials

• Reference materials for continued learning

• Membership of our student basketry forum

• Access to the Verdant Hollow hiking trails, wood burning greenhouse sauna, and the opportunity to snuggle some goats/tour the farm. 

• 5 delicious farm meals prepared by farmer/chef Molly, including Friday pizza, Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch, with an all-group potluck Saturday night.

Basic Tuition: $600 

Basic tuition is for local or commuting students only and does not include on-site lodging.

Black Barn: $700

This tier includes a bunkhouse style accommodation in the black barn house at Verdant Hollow. The black barn house has 3 twin beds, and is available for up to 3 students. 

Private Lodging:  $750

This tuition + lodging option includes a private Queen bedroom in the black barn house. This can be for one person, or for you and a friend, in which it would a total of $1400 for both participants to share this room. 

More about the Black Barn:

Located in the heart of the farm’s hollow, overlooking our spring fed pond and garden, the mid 1800's barn was converted to a home by renowned architect Stanley Tigerman in 1973 offering up the opportunity to retreat and relax in a bucolic setting.  Staying in the black barn offers a truly unique experience with its quirky 70’s vibe and open concept layout. Check out the airbnb link for a full description of the house and all it has to offer.

Accessibility and Group Culture

This course is for ages 16 and up. While we want this medium to be accessible and welcoming to all, weaving the baskets and learning about material preparation requires a degree of able-bodiedness that is sadly exclusive to some. Working with willow requires a surprising degree of physical strength, and is often exclusive to community members with certain disabilities, movement disorders, and most children and elderly. Many able-bodied people leave a full weekend of weaving with some amount of physical pain. Those who are able to attend should plan to take good care of their bodies and bring whatever supports - physical, herbal, medical, etc. You need to keep yourself healthy and feeling good while partaking in prolonged strenuous activity. ​

Anni is queer/trans-affirming instructor who intentionally strives to make a space that is welcoming to all who wish to learn these crafts. We ask all participating students to agree to be kind and respectful to one another, to the indigenous land we gather upon, to the plants we work with, and generally cultivate an attitude of welcome and reverence as we enjoy a weekend of weaving and learning in a group of strangers.

Words from Past Students

"This class is incredible. Wherever you are on your willow journey you will walk away with so many new skills / teachings all wrapped up into a new beautiful basket. It is so wonderful to be immersed in a craft with others for the duration of a weekend!"

​"10/10 experience overall. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It was a sweet group of people in a gorgeous space, and Anni is an excellent, thoughtful teacher. The learning and work were rigorous enough to be engaging and satisfying without being too much, and the atmosphere was always so pleasant and welcoming."

​“I can't recommend a willow basket class with Anni enough - their dedication to both the quality and accessibility of their craft, their delightful teaching style, the cozy and curious learning environment they cultivate."