homegrown willow, woven
Stanfordville, NY / Lenapehoking / Mahicannituck
Stanfordville, NY / Lenapehoking / Mahicannituck
Jesica Clark (they/them) is Willow Vale Farm. After 13 years of farming, in 2015 I finally got a farm to call my own. Located on 5 acres of undulating, rocky, Dutchess-Cardigan soil, at Willow Vale I grow and weave with willow, raise vegetables and fruits for our home, and listen to too many podcasts. I am available for teaching classes, private commissioned work, and wholesale orders.
Growing
I grow willow on the farm as a windbreak, a soil-erosion-preventer and as an agricultural product. Seriously, this is one of the most versatile and useful plants around. I mainly grow Salix purpurea because it is hardy and mostly pest resistant, but lately I have been gathering local wild willows to grow out and select for weaving. I currently do not offer dried willow or live cuttings for sale, but I can direct you to some places that do.
Weaving
All baskets, and garden supports are woven with a combination of mostly home-grown and some bought-in willow, as well as locally harvested birch and hazel in partnership with the NY DEC. Find me on Instagram to keep up with my latest weaving projects. If you are interested in learning how to grow or weave with willow, see Workshops. If you’re interested in purchasing a basket, see Weavings. And if you have a question about my baskets, see the FAQs or contact me.
All class group class registrations are directly through the hosts. Please go to their website to sign up for the class. Sometimes workshops sell out before I have time to make an event for them on my page. I recommend looking at the host site first for registration/notification for classes!!!!
SOLD OUT February 13 Small Stanislav Asymmetrical @ Fall Kill Creative Works, Poughkeepsie NY
SOLD OUT March 21 & 22 TBD @ Harlem Valley Homestead, Wingdale NY
SOLD OUT March 26 & 27 Garden Structures @ Russel Janis, Sharon CT
March 28 Willow Leaf-shaped trays (2 short classes) @ Newark Museum of Art, Newark, NJ
April 4&5 Lidded Baskets @ The Branch Ranch, Warworth, Ontario Canada
April 6 & 7 Shoppers with Partitions @ Wind and the Willow, Grafton,Ontario Canada
April 9 & 10 Beginners Round @ Seed, Soil, + Spirit School, Guelph, ON Canada
May 2 & 3 Deep Round Gathering Baskets @ Fall Kill Creative Works, Poughkeepsie NY
SOLD OUT May 14 & 15 Round Harvest Baskets @ Sanborn Mills Farm, Loudon NH
SOLD OUT June 5 - 7 Round Baskets @ Penn-Jersey Basketry Guild Annual Meeting
SOLD OUT June 13 & 14 Intro to Round Willow Baskets @ Waterford Craft School, Waterford VA
SOLD OUT July 18 & 19 - BIPOC Basketry Campout @ Black & Wild, NY
SOLD OUT July 31 - August 2 Side Weaves Intensive @ Sanborn Mills Farm, Loudon NH
September 11 - 13 Rounded Bushel Baskets @ Marlene Pouliot, Windsor CT
October 19 - 23 Five Day Intensive @ Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville VA
November 21 & 22 How to Harvest Willow @ Sanborn Mills Farm, Loudon NH
December 5 & 6 Lyngsgaard Asymmetrical Baskets @ Fall Kill Creative Works, Poughkeepsie NY
Now Booking for 2026! Private tuition is open to one or two individuals at a time and must be scheduled in advance. $225/day + materials for one student, $300/day + materials for two students. Private classes for 3 for may be scheduled on a case by case basis. Classes take place on our farm in The Shed (weaving studio).
Learn the ins and outs of basketry here at our farm. Folks seeking private tuition will work directly with me to weave any basket of their choosing, within their (and my!) skill level. Most baskets will take at least two days to learn, larger or more complicated baskets may even take three. Garden supports and small simple baskets like berry baskets and trays will take one day. The farm is lovely almost any time of the year and you’ll meet our chickens, dog and cats. Do remember that willow can be challenging to weave and that these tutorials will be taking place on a working farm. Schedule your class here!
Organized through Harlem Valley Homestead. More info and registration here. $435 class fee. Lunch provided.
In this weekend workshop, students will work to weave beautiful handled baskets, perfect for gathering spring produce. Students will learn to construct a traditional basket with a circular base, rounded or sharp angled upsets, a choice of side weave and a choice of handle(s). Participants can expect to finish the class with a beautiful and sturdy woven willow basket.
This course is available to all participants, no prior basket or weaving experience necessary. Willow can be a challenge to work with, and physically engaging, this class may be difficult for a person with hand issues. The class runs from 9am-5pm each day with an hour lunch break.
Workshop fee includes all materials($50 material fee) and lunch from the farm both days.
Learn more and register here.
**Please note: this class is geared towards BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color) participation. Our host, Black&Wild is a platform that connects people of color to the outdoors through mindful wilderness trips and ancestral skills workshops. Please respect the intention of this space & only register if you identify as BIPOC.
Organized through Black&Wild. More info here and registration here. Sliding scale fee - $150-500. This class includes overnight camping outdoors
In this weekend camping and weaving workshop, students will learn traditional weaving techniques in crafting a basket. The relationship between humans and willow goes back thousands of years and among the many roles of willow as medicine, building material, ecological partner, is its use as a strong basketry material across continents. We will be weaving baskets starting at the base and finishing with optional handles or shoulder straps. Weaving techniques incorporated are pairing, waling, randing and woven rod borders. These functional baskets are sturdy and can be used for foraging, harvesting, or for holding precious items at home. No weaving experience is necessary, but strong hands are a must. All tools and materials will be provided. Learn more here and register here.
Organized through Windsor Farm Works. Register by emailing Marlene Pouliot at windsorfarmworks@gmail.com . $260 teaching + materials fee, $120 studio fee which includes lunches. More info here.
In this three day workshop, intermediate level willow weavers will practice making a larger base strong enough to help for a large round-upsett basket. We will also concentrate on form and control over your shaping. Fun side weaves can be incorporated to make a personalized and beautiful basket. As time allows, students can practice cranked side handles, a real-deal technique! To make the most of this class, participants should feel fully comfortable making a simple round basket on their own, including making a round base and weaves such as pairing or reverse pairing, three and four rod wale, and randing, and at least some familiarity around weaving a paired border. All materials and tools provided. Studio fee includes lunch. Learn more here.
The Smithy Market, New Preston, CT
Glynwood Farm Store, Cold Spring, NY
100 Main, Falls Village, CT
or contact me directly for custom baskets
You may also occasionally find my work at a few other shops in the Hudson Valley and surrounding area.
After a long think, I’ve decided to no longer do crafts shows/artisan markets at this time. Please see the list of stockists above or contact me directly for a custom order below! Currently my online shop is closed, but I may open again as I make stock.
I am currently taking custom orders at a 10-12 week lead time. Please contact me to discuss order details.
I take on all kinds of projects, big and small, for loved ones or for the public.
Some basket examples for inspiration:
Start a custom order. Find out about my willow varieties. Ask a smart question. Ask a dumb question.
Whatever it is, you can use the contact form below.
You can also call or text: 845-380-9183.