Basketry , Wickerwork and Vannerie

I wondered if there was anyone else on the forum interested in making stuff out of willow, hazel and other woodland material .
I just attended a workshop here in France where they take such things very seriously here - http://www.saulesetcie-49.com/.
I think this will make a good skill set for many permies as its very versatile and you can harvest and grow your own material and I had not realised the range of stuff you can make .
Furniture
baskets ( of cource ) for example http://www.anjoumetiersdart.fr/ficheadherent/vannerie-dosier/
Garden equipment
Fish traps ( wish I lived closer to the river it must be more efficient than using a rod and line ) also traps for crayfish etc

I dont think I could make a living at it but as a sideline in a slack time of year maybe in the future
Anyone else out there ?

David

Hi David,

I think it is a very useful skill to have. If you have the time and the interest, go for it. My nearest neighbour (2kms down the track) has been making basket work for quite a few years. He does manage to make a living out of it by going to markets and organic fairs. He now also teaches one evening a week at a local school and in the summer, teaches mentally challenged children - for free. He grows his own willow and often barters in exchange for what he needs. We got a couple of lovely baskets as a gift after helping him with his roof - unexpected, but very nice. It is a beautiful skill and if my old arthritic hands would permit it, I'd love to do it. I just content myself with watching him, it's fascinating!

Our friend Owen Rein makes both chairs and white oak split baskets. He weaves the chair seats from hickory bark or white oak splits. He's great at using the whole tree...down to firewood and kindling from the smaller bits.
https://permies.com/t/36402/woodworking/Master-craftsman-Owen-Rein ....and, yes, he's making a living at it

Great skills to learn....even something as simple as a bark basket is useful on a homestead.

There are other basket makers in this state, some are still using traditional white oak split and wild harvested vines...others have resorted to buying their materials, such as cane and 'flat reed' (another import).

I love the idea of learning to use what ever basket material is available in your immediate area.

I want to learn basketry with native materials, but have not gotten beyond harvesting and drying some cattail leaves.

Tyler Ludens wrote:I want to learn basketry with native materials, but have not gotten beyond harvesting and drying some cattail leaves.

I did some things a long time ago with cattail leaves, iris and gladiola leaves...as I remember all were cut green and 'retted' (?) on the ground in the dew for a few days . In the end I made a very small basket that is long gone.
I think cattails leaves make nice chair seats.