In this 3-session course, students will make their own pack basket out of Ash, Black Walnut, Poplar, or Cherry weavers, fitted with leather straps and a plywood lid! Students can design their own pack basket by mixing different wood colours if they wish.
Often called trapper or foraging baskets, pack baskets are durable storage devices that can be carried wherever you go or used for storage. They make a great alternative to a plastic backpack and, unlike a normal backpack, they are easier to load and unload. With the lid on, they can be used as a table and are strong enough to be used as a seat. Pack baskets do not slump when carried and, if you are carrying fragile or perishable food, they protect it with the hard shell. They weigh about 5 lbs unloaded. They can be used for anything a regular plastic backpack can be used for: walking in the woods, overnight trips, carrying the laundry, or grocery shopping. If oiled occasionally they will last indefinitely. Students can choose the height of their basket and the only man made chemical is a small amount of glue in the plywood lid.
All materials and tools will be provided. If you would like to take notes, bring a notebook and pen. Please bring lunch (there are also many eateries nearby) and water bottle.
Please note that Make a Wooden Long Bow, Making Leather Shoes, Make a Wooden Pack Basket and Make a Leather Backpack run concurrently, and you may sign up for only one of these courses.
