Natural Cordage Workshop

In this hands-on field workshop, you'll harvest plant materials and learn the simple yet powerful techniques used to turn them into strong and beautiful cord. As your hands work the fibers, you’ll begin to see familiar plants in a new light, discovering the creative possibilities hidden in stems, bark, and vines.

• Plant Fiber Harvesting: Learn how to responsibly harvest plant fibers as you gather materials directly from the landscape, including blackberry vine, willow bark, and other on-site fibers for cordage.
• Cordage-Making Techniques: Try several different traditional twisting and weaving methods that transform loose plant fibers into strong, functional cord.
• Creative & Practical Uses: Explore how cordage can be used in art, frugal gardening, survival skills, and traditional craft practices.

Jamie Kisela (she/her) grew up in Snohomish, WA. She was inspired by her own Montessori and non-traditional education background to pursue working with young people, but fell in love with environmental science during her time at Everett Community College’s Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) program. She spent her college and early career learning how to combine these two interests and fell into the Environmental Education field.

Jamie earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Washington, and a M.A.Ed in Urban Environmental Education from Antioch University Seattle. She has 10 years of experience working with youth across a variety of program formats in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Most recently, she worked at an outdoor self-directed learning center, and as the education director for a small rainforest conservation nonprofit in St. Louis, MO. Jamie has experience in program design and facilitation with Montessori, traditional schools and NGSS, self-directed learning centers, and outdoor informal education programs. She is excited to return to her home and family in Western Washington and to spend her days outdoors at Oxbow. Across all roles, she works to center youth voices and autonomy, consent, and community.

In her free time, Jamie is a collector of hobbies. She enjoys hiking, biking, paddle-boarding wood carving and woodworking, candle making, crochet and knitting, linocut print making, painting, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

We’re excited to offer this workshop at just $5, thanks to generous funding from 4Culture’s Doors Open grant! This experience is valued at $30, but the grant helps us make it accessible to more of our community.

We’re deeply grateful for this support, which allows us to connect more people with outdoor learning experiences.

All participants must register in advance—spaces are limited!

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Host or Publisher Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center