Pickings from Sanborn Mills Farm

Farm Pickings

News and Updates from Sanborn Mills Farm

— October 23, 2024 —

Time ripens the substance of a life as the seasons mellow and perfect its fruits. The best apples fall latest and keep longest.

~ Amos Bronson Alcott 

Upcoming Events at the Farm

Click on the title of the event for more information and to register.

October 25: Farm to Table Lunch

December 7: Winter Market

Winter Market, December 7

Come join us at the Farm on Saturday, Dec. 7, for our annual Winter Market. Faculty members and other artisans and craftspeople will display their work for sale and discuss their approaches to these unique items. We will also have our beautiful Farm-made holiday wreaths for sale (or pick-up if you have pre-ordered a wreath). Click here for more information.

What We’re Reading

Book of the Month

With winter marching steadily toward our doorsteps, it’s a good time to learn from renowned naturalist Bernd Heinrich how the world outside adjusts to and even needs the cold snowy months. From flying squirrels to grizzly bears, and from torpid turtles to insects with antifreeze, the animal kingdom relies on some staggering evolutionary innovations to survive winter. Unlike their human counterparts, who must alter the environment to accommodate physical limitations, animals are adaptable to an amazing range of conditions.Consider, for example, the wood frog, common in New England, which freezes solid in the ground during winter, only to emerge with the first warmth of spring all thawed out and full of vigor and song. (Medical researchers are seeking to unravel the mysteries of this remarkable transformation in the hope of developing better methods for transporting human organs and tissue.) Examining everything from food sources in the extremely barren winter land-scape to the chemical composition that allows certain creatures to survive, Winter World awakens the largely undiscovered mysteries by which nature sustains herself through winter’s harsh, cruel exigencies.

Upcoming Workshops of Interest

We are near the end of Sanborn Mills Farm’s 2024 Workshop Program, but there are still several excellent workshops on the schedule to choose from, going all the way into mid-November. Many of our workshops fill quickly, so if there’s a workshop or two that catches your interest, make a point to register soon. The full schedule of 2024 workshops is posted on our website here.

Here are three upcoming workshops that may be of particular interest to you. Click on the workshop title for more information and to register.

NOTE: The schedule of our 2025 workshops will be available on the Sanborn Mills Farm website beginning on Monday, December 2.

Beginning Spinning on a Spinning Wheel

November 2

Instructor: Cathy Crooker



Throughout human history we relied on the skills of a handful of talented spinners to make every thread for every piece of clothing, flour sack, and sail on every ship. Spinning fibers into thread or yarn is one of the oldest human skills. Today, we practice hand spinning for the joy it brings us through the creation of something beautiful and useful, through the fun of playing with various textures and colors, and for the relaxation of the rhythm when we sit at the wheel.



Enter the world of hand spinning and explore the joy of making your own yarn in this engaging, fast-paced class. You will be introduced to both wheel and drop-spindle spinning, giving you an overview of fiber prep tools, such as the drum carder, with plenty of hands-on practice and coaching. By the end of the day, you will go home with your first handspun yarn and be on your way to years of spinning enjoyment!

After registering please email marsha@sanbornmills.org to reserve a wheel or let us know that you are bringing your own.

Introduction to Modern Tapestry Weaving

November 9-10

Instructor: Bobbie Tilkens-Fisher

Tapestry weaving is not a new craft form by any means, but the endless variations one can employ while weaving can lead to exciting, modern takes on this traditional craft. In this workshop, participants will learn (or review) the basics: fibers, assembling a loom, warping, stitches and knots, shapes, space and finishing techniques. We will create woven wall hangings. As we weave, we will explore ways to combine, deconstruct, and distill those traditional basics down to the ones that bring you the most joy, resulting in your own unique and modern style. We will learn about the concept of flow and reject the notion of mistakes – all while exploring playfulness and the possibilities different fibers present. Everyone will leave with at least one finished woven wall hanging. Participants of all levels are welcome.

Custom Fit Woman’s Coat

November 14-17

Instructor: Joyce LeBlanc

In this workshop you will construct a woman’s wool coat that is fully lined. You will be taught how to custom fit the coat to you by making a muslin beforehand. A muslin in sewing terms is a prototype of a pattern that allows you to test the pattern and make adjustments needed to ensure a perfect fit. All supplies are provided (fabric, interfacing, thread, buttons, sewing machine needles) and will be given to you at the workshop. Participants are expected to have intermediate sewing skills. It is not necessary to know the skills and techniques that will be taught, but you must have used a sewing machine successfully to construct clothes or home decor items. (NOTE: This workshop is not for beginners.) If you have any questions as to whether or not you would be a good fit for the workshop, please don’t hesitate to contact Sanborn Mills Farm to put you in contact with the instructor. The color wool and Liberty of London lining will be chosen by each participant with the guidance of the instructor, who will then purchase the material and present it to you at the workshop. Joyce will work with each student at their own pace to master the techniques used in the construction of the coat so that they will go home with a beautiful custom fit classic coat to be enjoyed for years to come.

www.sanbornmills.org

Photo Credits

Top photo and Winter Market photo by Steve Bjerklie.

Cover photo of Winter World courtesy Ecco Press.

Workshop photos courtesy the instructors.

Sanborn Mills Farm | 7097 Sanborn Road | Loudon, NH 03307 US