If you’ve made it by my farmstand this season, you may have noticed some rustic looking baskets peaking out behind greens, signs, and other products that I use them to highlight. Some sit flat, some have leather handles, and others get stacked, propped and layered, but they are all handmade by me and they are available for sale!

About the Baskets:

All the baskets I make are from natural materials sourced on the farm. The primary material I use is English Ivy, a popular groundcover that has a tendency to out-compete other species, earning it the titles “invasive,” “nuisance,” and the gardener’s stink eye. I have several sites that I need to clear ivy from to plant more desirable (food) plants, and decided to experiment with weaving baskets for use at the farmer’s market and as an additional product to help fund my farming efforts. The ivy vines are surprisingly flexible when freshly harvested, and the resulting baskets may appear to have greenish strands woven in until the vines dry to a more natural brown color. For framing the baskets, I often use prunings from my table grapes, and canes from my thornless blackberries. I opt not to treat my finished baskets with anything, both to reduce production costs, and to maintain simplicity. As a result, your basket is biodegradable, and should be treated accordingly! My baskets frequently get wet from use at the market, but extended outdoor use or neglect will cue mother nature to start her work.

Basket Styles and Inspiration:

My baskets generally take the form of two styles, a flat tray-like shape with or without leather handles, or a more typical handled “berry” basket with a dish-shaped bottom. When I started weaving, I studied examples by Rewild Portland, an organization offering classes on weaving with Ivy that has been cleared from local parks and forests in Portland, Oregon. My flat baskets were inspired by the talented artist Matt Tommey, who offers guides on reproducing Appalachian Harvest Baskets.

Pricing:

“Berry” Baskets: $15-$25 (depending on size)

“Flat” Baskets: $20-$40 (depending on size and addition of leather handles)

How to Order:

Head on over to the Contact Us Page and get in touch! I can tell you what baskets I currently have in stock, or get a custom order going for you. Keep in mind that I let the material do 90% of the work, which means each basket will look different and may not sit perfectly level on a surface. Asking lots of questions will help ensure that you know what to expect, so don’t hesitate to be curious!