Intro to Coppicing and Hazel Wood Wreaths

$26 Sat. Nov. 9, 10-11:30, Home Ec. Room Students will participate in a brief lecture and discussion of coppicing, the ancient practice of cutting trees and shrubs to the ground and allowing them to regrow. Following the discussion, they will learn how to make a wreath out of coppiced hybrid hazel stems. Students are welcome to bring additional materials such as evergreen boughs and ribbons to further decorate their wreaths. Some may prefer to bring gloves, and all are encouraged to bring their own pruning shears or be prepared to share with other students. Minimum 3 Maximum 12 students Instructor: Paul Mairet has co-owned and managed Nine Hazels Farm, a hybrid hazelnut farm and nursery in Lake City, MN for five seasons. For the last two years, he has been researching, practicing, and receiving training in coppicing and crafting with hazel and other trees and shrubs. His work and research with hybrid hazel wood is currently funded by a Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. This has allowed him to work and learn with several artisans who have experience crafting with European hazel and willow, two of the most common coppice craft plants. They have been leveraging ancient knowledge of these plants and new artistic ideas to see what can be done with wood from the hybrid hazel that is an emerging Midwest crop.