After reinforcing all the connections on the fence framework on one of the rainiest days in December, I’ve decided to be a fair weather weaver in 2015. So this is a great day to make progress, weaving in the Black bamboo and Western red cedar limbs at the bottom edge of the fence.
Weaving begins with cedar splints that my husband, and son have milled from reclaimed fence posts. Using this is material speeds up the weaving.
I had lots of encouragement and hands on help from IslandWood Garden educators Jen Prodzinski and Megan Carson.
While I was weaving, the Garden Educators and IslandWood Graduate students lead seven groups of students through intimate, participatory lessons from the landscape, from how soil is built, to how to bake pizza with fresh kale and herbs in the outdoor Cobb oven, to how to make a nutritious winter soup with leeks, potatoes, herbs, and let’s not forget the butter and cream!
Towards the end of the day, I could smell the aroma of garlic, potatoes, and herbs, blending in the air as a group of young people were preparing a soup outdoors with the expert guidance of an IslandWood chef. As the sun began to move behind the tall evergreens to the west, one of the students walked over and invited me to join them for a cup of the delicious soup. From the IslandWood garden, these students had harvested, washed, and prepared all the vegetables less than an hour before. It was a delightful experience for me to taste what they had crafted, and listen to them talk about how they might like to cook this soup for their families at home.
I’m happy with how the fence is turning out. It does provide structure and containment for the garden side, and some privacy for the resident IslandWood Host who lives in the building next to the garden.
Watching Eagle swoop down, the Raven talking in the trees, Hummingbird screeching it’s wings in a dive, all while weaving, is a good day.
