Mountain Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit botanical garden and ecological research project located near the foot of the Black Mountains in Burnsville, NC. Aaron and I visited this majestic landscape in September. We arrived late on a Friday evening and had the absolute pleasure of being treated to homemade pizzas baked in a cob oven that was constructed on site. Our pizza toppings included fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden. We camped in our tent in the cool evening air and awoke completely refreshed and recharged to begin our basketry class the next morning. We were greeted with warm coffee, the scent of flowers and herbs and the sounds of happy ducks who greeted us by wiggling their bottoms. Frogs jumped into ponds, bees pollinated flowers and the mountain air was crisp and clean. Our host, Ryan, gave us a tour of the gardens, where we snacked on rare medicinal plants recently washed by the morning dew. Soon, guests walked up the hillside to join us for class in the wooden library.
One of our favorite things about teaching others how to weave a basket from bamboo and kudzu is the therapy and joy that happens once everyone is confident with the process. This was an especially caring and interesting group, consisting of teachers, dental hygienists, outdoor enthusiasts, former engineers and caregivers.
We hope that this video will help to share a glimpse of what we do and why we do it! We hope to see you in class soon with materials in hand to weave your own basket. Visit our store to purchase a ticket to an upcoming class here.
To learn more about Mountain Gardens, visit their website at: https://www.mountaingardensherbs.com/
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