Kortright Handworks at La Basse Cour

A wonderful update from our dear friend Tabitha!

I have recently completed the coursework for the Master Gardener program through the Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Herkimer, Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware counties. Thank you Carla Hegeman Crim and everyone involved in developing and delivering this program. I am now an apprentice. While the training is broad and our volunteer hours can run the gamut from answering gardening questions to making displays and presentations to working with community gardens, we are encoura...ged to develop an area of interest upon which to focus that will serve the community. I have decided to work with native plants at the intersection of food, fiber, soil and ecosystem health, and human health. Big topic, I know. Important for biodiversity and for climate change. It fits well with what we have been doing on our farm, finding ways to live more in balance with nature. We have many resources to offer here, including our pastures and farm garden that can be brought in as living laboratories as well as our carriage house for workshops and presentations. Not to mention Larry is a soil scientist and an agronomist . To get myself started, I am inventorying the native plants in our pastures, our wetland, and our woodland. This is helping me get a better understanding of the grazing potential for our fiber animals in terms of their total nutrition and what they return to the soil. It also helps me better understand the support that native plants provide to native bees, butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects in this rather small farm-ecosystem we call La Basse Cour. As I wrap my mind around this initiative, I hope to host field days on our farm for those who are interested in learning as well. It will surely be an ongoing work in progress, and most definitely a labor of love. Stay tuned!

Traditional Japanese Natural Dyeing - vibrant colors, centuries of practice

Covid-compliant 29th Annual Washington County Fiber Tour takes place April 24 and 25. Rain or shine, visitors should dress for the weather, wear masks and socia...l distance. Visit www.washingtoncountyfibertour.org for details about the participating farms and mill, and specific activities being offered. See more

https://stephaniemortonhandweaver.com/

It's been a while since our last newsletter. Hope you enjoy it!

Check it out! Shave 'Em to Save "Em is about getting to know - really know - heritage breeds - buy taking on the challenge of buying fleece from a breeder of heritage sheep breeds and taking that (or those!) fleece to a completed project! All the while you will learn about the breeder and the breed and how to work up the fleece, supporting the conservation of the breeds and the livelihood of their farmers. Such a wonderful idea!

Hi - I'm a sewing teacher who holds weekend sewing retreats in the summer in Harpersfield, as well as multiple online sewing classes each week. I've recently be...come a full time resident of the area. I'm excited to be offering free sewing lessons at the Mill Pond Inn market this Sunday! Stop by and say hi and I'll teach you how to make scrunchie or a headband.

Shave 'em to Save 'em, The Livestock Conservancy's effort to raise awareness about endangered heritage sheep breeds and encourage fiber artists to support the farmers who continue the breeds. Thanks for sharing Carolyn!

https://mailchi.mp//tac-response-measures-to-covid-1995749 Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn is hiring a studio manager and instructors.

Great News! Ce Ce's Wool is expanding! https://mailchi.mp//new-space-and-new-products-for-ceces-w

Thank you Tabitha Gilmore-Barnes for sharing this informative article about buying fleeces and selling on-line, in these days of Covid 19, and in the future too.

You are always in our hearts Tabitha Gilmore-Barnes! Stay well

Here's the link to the facemask that Judith Cheng created from art work she has done on our farm. Our beloved Paulie, Murph, George and three of our angora goats, the intrepid Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnon are pictured on the mask. Stay safe, be comfortable (they are made with a lovely fabric with an opening to add a filter if you like), and support your local artist with each purchase.

Dear Facebook Friends and Family, The "Verso-Recto" book being compiled by the 15-18 Catskilled Crafters (a/k/a The Ties That Bind) has 15 themes. In my last p...ost, last week, I showed the first three themes: Animals, Passages, Birds of the Catskills. This post shows these themes: Snow or Snowflakes, Family Secrets, and Mirrors. All these double page spread small tapestries (10"high x 22" wide) are (c) Tabitha Gilmore-Barnes Studio. For details explaining my interpretation of these themes will be found on my website: https://tabithagilmore-barnesstudio.com. P.S.: Check out the skier! Thank you, TABITHA GILMORE-BARNES STUDIO, "BRING HOME THE COLORS OF THE CATSKILLS" (tm) https://tabithagilmore-barnesstudio.com

Finding repetition and pattern in craft and in nature.