Saturday, April 5, 2025
The Hub City Farmer’s Market
Opening Day at the Hub City Farmer’s Market! Visit our vendor’s booth between the hours of 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Look for the bright yellow canopy! View our newest Kuboo baskets, pick up some bamboo charcoal for water purification and a flyer with a list of our upcoming classes! We will also offer bamboo charcoal for odor absorption (stinky pets?) and a “creation station” for visitors to make their own bamboo craft for a small $10 fee. Visitors will often have the opportunity to view a live bamboo splitting demonstration, as Aaron will often craft while at our booth. The Hub City Farmer’s Market is located at 498 Howard St. Spartanburg, SC 29303
Friday, April 11, 2025
Upstate Homeschool Expo
We are a proud presenter at this event! Visit our booth to watch a live bamboo splitting demonstration and to ask questions about bamboo and kudzu. View samples of how to utilize these very “giving” invasive species. Join us for an evening of connection & community! Gather resources, get answers and find your tribe! Co-ops, associations, sports, community groups, field trips arts and more can be found all in one place for the whole family. The Upstate Homeschool Expo will take place this year at the Star Center located at 9768 Warren H Abernathy Hwy, Spartanburg, SC 29301 from 4:30-8:30 PM.
Tuesday, April 14, 2025
Earthskills Rivercane Rendezvous
Bamboo Culture: In this class we will discuss all things bamboo. Bamboo anatomy and physiology, as well as the differences between running, clumping, native, and exotic/invasive bamboo will be discussed. Some history of bamboo in the Americas and Asia will be covered. Uses of bamboo for both crafting and building as well as conservation and uses as a living plant in the landscape will be discussed. We will cover how to grow, care for and control the spread of bamboo in the landscape. Cultural techniques for caring for harvested bamboo will be covered, as well as how to harvest and prepare bamboo for the table. I will give a demonstration on splitting bamboo with a bamboo splitting jig called a Kikuwari. And students will have the opportunity to try their hand at using the splitter. Students will have the opportunity to ask whatever questions they may have about all things bamboo. Students will come away with a broad understanding about the best cultural practices for both living and harvested bamboo. This course is recommended for ages 8+. Visit the Earthskills Rendezvous website at: https://www.primitiveskills.org/ Address: 444 Patterson Rd, Westminster, SC 29693 Note: Tickets must be purchased on the Earthskills website to attend this class.
Wednesday, April 15, 2025
Earthskills Rivercane Rendezvous
Bamboo Splitting: In this class students will learn the traditional Japanese methods for splitting bamboo for basketry using a bamboo splitting blade called a Takewaribocho. Two separate splitting techniques called Masa Wari, and Hira Wari will be taught. Students will have the opportunity to split both green and cured bamboo in this class. How to cure bamboo for basketry will be discussed. Students will have amply time under my supervision to learn the beginning stages of this skill. This is a traditional Japanese skill with over a thousand years of cultural development and history which I have learned via an internship with Keiji Oshima. This is an introductory class as the skill requires many hundreds of hours of practice to master.
Students need to be aware that their hands being cut by both the blade and the bamboo is likely. Gloves can be worn but it makes learning this skill much more difficult. Bamboo splinters are also likely (I will have a kit for dealing with splinters and cuts on hand). This traditional method of splitting bamboo is experienced as counter-intuitive by Americans as it is required to move the blade towards your hand as well as your hand towards the blade. This is how it is done traditionally! Ages 16+ only. Materials fee: $10
Visit the Earthskills Rendezvous website at: https://www.primitiveskills.org/ Address: 444 Patterson Rd, Westminster, SC 29693 Note: Tickets must be purchased on the Earthskills website to attend this class.
Thursday, April 16, 2025
Earthskills Rivercane Rendezvous
Kuboo Baskets: In this class students will learn how to best harvest and prepare kudzu for use in basketry. I will demonstrate how to split bamboo for basketry, but there will not be any opportunity for students to try their hand at splitting bamboo in this class. Students will learn how to strip kudzu hands on as I will be providing freshly harvested vines for students to practice on. I will provide all of the necessary materials. We will be weaving a basket out of kudzu and bamboo. Students can expect to come away from the class with a finished round basket that is approximately 9-12 inches in diameter with a depth of about 7-9 inches. They may attach a rustic handle if they desire one as that skill will be demonstrated as well. A finished basket is not guaranteed, but the students will have at minimum been shown the entire process and so will know how to finish the basket on their own. Students will have the opportunity to take whatever materials may be left after class in the event that becomes necessary due to time running out before they have completed their basket. Ages 12+.
Materials fee: $10. Visit the Earthskills Rendezvous website at: https://www.primitiveskills.org/ Address: 444 Patterson Rd, Westminster, SC 29693 Note: Tickets must be purchased on the Earthskills website to attend this class.
Friday, April 17, 2025
Earthskills Rivercane Rendezvous
Bamboo Q and A: Ask Aaron all the questions you like about bamboo, how it grows, and how to work with it. Visit the Earthskills Rendezvous website at: https://www.primitiveskills.org/ Address: 444 Patterson Rd, Westminster, SC 29693 Note: Tickets must be purchased on the Earthskills website to attend the festival.
Saturday, April 19, 2025
SPACE Earth Day Festival (Spartanburg Area Conservancy)
Join us from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Glendale Shoals Nature Preserve as we celebrate nature and local conservation! Spend the day outside with enjoying music, food, and something fun for everyone!
Address: 135 Glendale Ave., Glendale, SC 29346
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