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Flower Arrangements from the Field and Garden with Helen Westergren
Helen Westergren (she/her) is the Head Gardener at Sanborn Mills Farm, where she oversees the ornamental gardens, maintains the Natural Dye Garden, and designs floral installations for farm events. She completed her horticulture training at East Coast gardens including Stonecrop, Chanticleer, and the John C. Campbell Folk School. Before turning her focus fully to gardens, Helen designed floral arrangements for restaurants and homes across Manhattan.
Helen will lead a one-day immersion at Sanborn Mills Farm that steeps students in the rich history of wild, seasonal, and naturalistic floral design while working with flowers grown and foraged right here on the property. In the morning you will walk the gardens and grounds, learning how to grow and harvest cut flowers, identifying plants best suited for cutting, and observing their natural habits and shapes. In the afternoon you will translate that inspiration into design, exploring basic principles, color theory, vase mechanics, and techniques that maximize vase life while capturing the essence of each bloom.
This class welcomes all levels with no prior experience required. You will leave with a finished vase arrangement and a hand-tied bouquet of your own design, plus the practical skills to create a range of centerpieces and a newly sharpened eye for what makes a flower truly vase-worthy. The day offers a rare chance to slow down, connect with the land, and bring home both beauty and lasting knowledge.
Flower Arrangements from the Field and Garden | August 14
Harvesting Color with Sara Goodman
This three-day workshop centers on building a personal color library of approximately fifty 5-inch sample swatches across five fibers: cotton, linen, wool, silk dupion, and silk organza. Sara Goodman will guide students through preparing cloth with proper scouring and mordanting for both cellulose and protein fibers, then head into the Sanborn Mills dye garden to harvest flowers, leaves, nuts, bark, wildflowers, and roots. You will photograph, identify, and prepare these materials for dye baths, exploring modifications with pH changes, iron after-baths, and indigo over-dyeing. An indigo vat will be available, and students are welcome to bring materials from their own gardens or one to two natural-fiber garments to overdye.
Sara Goodman is the lead dye studio instructor at Sanborn Mills Farm and was instrumental in creating its state-of-the-art teaching facility. A textile artist who works exclusively with natural dyes, she maintains a studio on Squam Lake and has taught at Arrowmont, Maiwa School of Textiles, and the Pacific Northwest Art School. Her work has been featured in major exhibitions and publications, and she is a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen.
Students will leave with an extensive, well-documented color library and the confidence to continue harvesting and dyeing with natural materials. Materials fee is included in the workshop cost.
Harvesting Color | August 21–23
Plaited Turkey Wing Whisk Broom with Larry Antonuk
Larry Antonuk will lead a one-day workshop focused on creating decorative handles for the traditional turkey wing whisk broom. You will learn basic construction techniques for several whisk broom styles, then use split broomcorn stalk and dyed basket reed to build decorative handles through both straight plaiting and twilling. Twilling opens the door to richer patterns and weaving sequences.
This class suits total beginners while giving more advanced makers (in broommaking, basketry, or related crafts) the chance to complete additional projects. Moderate hand and forearm strength plus some hand-eye-foot coordination will make the day more comfortable and productive. You will leave with finished brooms and the skills to recreate class designs or invent new ones.
Larry’s path to broom making began in 2010 at the Enfield Shaker Museum. After studying with Master Broom Maker Susan Brown, he became a frequent demonstrator at Enfield and now sells his work at Shaker museums across New England. He is a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen and regularly demonstrates at the Sunapee Fair.
Plaited Turkey Wing Whisk Broom | August 22
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Foundations of Greenwood Chair Making
Aug 12 – Aug 16
Charlie Ryland
This course will introduce students to the basic tools and techniques of green woodworking through the construction of an Appalachian style ladderback chair. Parts will be split from a log and shaped using hand tools and shave horses. Curved rear posts will be steam bent, and students will create long lasting mortise and tenon joints both by hand and with simple power tools. The course is open to students of all levels and will provide a great foundation for anyone interested in working with hand tools or building furniture without a full machine shop. Students will have time to assemble a classic two slat ladderback chair based on the iconic design of the Poynor family.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY: 1 SPOT REMAINS
Handcrafted Garden/Tool Shed – $500
Approximately (52″ deep × 52″ wide × 104″ tall, excluding roof overhang)
Looking for practical storage that matches the spirit of Sanborn Mills? This solidly built rustic wooden shed from our Fundamental Carpentry Skills: The Tool Shed workshop is perfect for tools, gardening supplies, or small workshop projects.
Features include:
- Ample interior space with shelving
- Corrugated metal roof for durability
- Open design ready for your customization
Ideal for backyard gardeners, woodworkers, and homesteaders. Pickup in Loudon, NH.
Reply to this email or reach out if interested! Proceeds support Sanborn Mills Farm programming and classes.
Sanborn Mills Farm | 7097 Sanborn Road | Loudon, NH 03307 US