The ancient practice of weaving stalks of grain into intricate patterns comes from a time when people’s survival depended on the grain harvest. These designs vary from country to country, but a similar belief in the fertility of the earth underlies them all.

Woven from the last sheaf or best cut of the harvest, straw work/corn dollies was a decorative way to store a bundle of seed over the winter so that the Spirit of the Grain could survive and be plowed back into the soil in the Springtime. Harvest customs such as straw plaiting were thought to bring blessing and prosperity to the community and its land.

Learn about the history of wheat weaving and how to create your own “Welsh Fan” design out of spelt stalks harvested by the Mendocino Grain Project on Ridgewood Ranch.

Space is limited, pre-register early to save your spot.

About the Instructor: Anna Hope has lived in giant redwood trees, planted fruit trees with children at their schools all over California, converted diesel buses to run on vegetable oil, made herbal medicine, built natural homes, and organized zero waste at events. She is versed in both permaculture principles and diversity awareness. She strongly appreciates the wisdom of many tribal cultures but has chosen to delve into her Celtic tribal roots instead of appropriating other cultures, at the same time seeking justice for all.

She will be teaching this class with her mother, Laura West.