Examples of Fiber Arts & Plant Workshops with Field Trips,

Learn how to make your paint with plants from your environment in this fun hands-on class! Using natural materials to create artwork can be a great way to connect with your ecosystem. This class is designed to re-incorporate art supply making into an artmaking practice. Held at Alchemy Arts Center. Taught by Katey Riss

Come enjoy soft local grown island wools, learn to select fleece, then use a drop spindle to turn it into yarn that you can incorporate in your own weaving in the afternoon. Master Textile Artist Maria Nutt (spinning) is joined by MacKenzie Sims (weaving). Spinning 9-noon, Weaving 1-4. (One or both)

Come enjoy soft local grown island wools, learn to select fleece, then use a drop spindle to turn it into yarn that you can incorporate in your own weaving in the afternoon. Master Textile Artist Maria Nutt (spinning) is joined by MacKenzie Sims (weaving). Spinning 9-noon, Weaving 1-4. (One or both)

Create delightful felt animals with Carol A Anderson and learn needle felting techniques. Colorful wool roving is used to build your creatures. Morning session has time for a small creature, afternoon for a larger creature. 

Discover the magic of creating color with indigo plants. Learn about the history of indigo, a natural dye derived from plants in the indigofera family. We'll make an indigo vat together and use them to dye swatches, bandanas as well as anything students bring in that they'd like to dye blue. Taught by Katey Rissi.

Learn creative ways to repair and enliven your favorite old wool sweater or other wearable! Turn moth holes into hearts or flowers, or jazz up a plain sweater with an imaginative design! The sky's the limit with this fun and easy technique. All supplies are provided, just bring a woolen garment you want to decorate!

Learn about the magic of creating color with local plants. We will discuss local sources for natural dye both wild and cultivated. Lays a solid foundation to help you understand the fundamentals of how natural dyeing works, so you can continue a dye practice yourself. Held at Alchemy Arts Center, taught by Katey Rissi.

OAK KNOLL FARM  Students in any of our fiber classes are invited to enjoy an on-farm field trip to the Sheep and Wool farm operated by Sarah Pope, owner of San Juan Wool Works. Come meet the animals and have a special option to purchase their island grown yarn. 10-noon. No fee for those enrolled in Eye of the Whale.

KRYSTAL ACRES ALPACA   We suggest bringing along a picnic lunch and continuing to circle the island to the Krystal Acres Alapaca Farm. Their farm and store is open on Saturday 11-4 for drop-ins and is near the Seed Nursery farm visit, next on the schedule. No fee, by drop in, no RSVP needed.

The famed Thousand Flowers Farm on Waldron Island spawned a beloved flower farm business and a daughter who continues the tradition forward as a sought-after floral designer. Join Siri for an afternoon of flower arranging lessons, prepare bouquets for our Saturday evening dinner, and create a second to take home.  

Permaculture instructor and Seed Keeper Taja Wicks is hosting a learning circle at Saturn's Return Farm to learn about the importance of saving and protecting our mother seed sources. Workshop is 10-noon.  

Join us at the Salish Seeds Nursery to learn about native plants and land restoration efforts on the islands.  Site is at the Red Mill Farm, the largest working farm in the islands and is a San Juan Preservation Trust property. 

Meet up is 2-4pm.  Hosted by the San Juan County Land Bank.

No fee. RSVP please.