April 11, 2026 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Learn how to transform a nuisance into a source of beauty with a purpose! Discover the usefulness hidden in one of Appalachia’s most abundant wild plants—kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata). In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to transform this often misunderstood vine into something both functional and beautiful: a useful basket crafted with invasive materials by your own two hands.
Guided by experienced basketmaker and Earthskills instructor Carleigh Fairchild, participants will explore the full journey of wild weaving—from identifying and harvesting kudzu, to splitting, storing, and preparing the vines for weaving. You’ll learn foundational techniques for beginning, shaping, and finishing a basket, while gaining confidence in working with wild materials so you can take this craft out into the wilds with you!
This class welcomes all skill levels. While some previous basketry experience is helpful, curiosity and willingness to learn are what matter most. As we weave, we’ll reflect on the ways basketmaking can mirror our own inner rhythms, inviting patience, creativity and connection.
You’ll head home with:
More than a craft class, this is an invitation to reimagine your relationship with the land, to see beauty where others see problems, and to weave deeper connection into your daily life.
This class will be held indoors on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in Asheville, NC.
The minimum age is 18, although 12 and ups are welcome if they are making a basket with an adult. Moderate hand strength is recommended for this workshop.
Carleigh (she/her) has a deep love for the Earth. She gardens, keeps bees, wild harvests, processes animals, tans hides, weaves baskets, and finds joy in time spent around the fire.
As the founder of Human Nature Connection LLC, Carleigh feels called to help others remember that we can live in a collaborative and respectful relationship with the Earth. She joined the survival show ALONE to share that message with a wider audience and to explore the depth of her own connection to the land. Over 86 days in the wilds of Patagonia, she relied on her skills, intuition, and connection with the Earth—emerging with a deeper understanding of what it means to truly belong to the natural world.
Carleigh first learned survival and earth skills as a teenager through kids’ camps at the Tracker School, founded by Tom Brown Jr. Over the last 25 years, basket weaving has become one of the skills she’s most deeply developed. It is more than a craft—it’s a practice of connection, a quiet dialogue with the nervous system, and in a chaotic world, a path back to self and stillness.
Living and teaching in Western North Carolina, Carleigh offers both online and in-person classes, often working with families, friends, and community groups. She loves weaving not just materials, but relationships—believing that a basket is never just a basket, but a symbol of creating containers that connect us to ourselves, each other, and the Earth.
Carleigh is also a NIASZIIH bodywork healer and a teacher at WildernessFusion, with a practice based in Asheville, NC, where her work continues to weave together body, earth, and spirit.
You can learn more about her offerings at humannatureconnection.com.
In order to make our workshops more accessible, we offer two price options for each class, with an additional Equity Discount for qualifying individuals. Please consider these options and select your price at checkout.
Thank you for helping transform the world into a culture of abundance, resilience, and opportunity for all.
*Please check your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!
Registration closes at 8am on April 10th
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Lily is an artist, creator, and dreamer. Since a very young age, she has been immersed in the natural world and draws heavy inspiration from the wild. Though her medium changes frequently, Lily’s art and expression always incorporate an element of the organic and unpredictable. She got her associate in fine arts in 2023, and now volunteers at her school as a ceramic studio monitor. She hopes to open a studio of her own one day to have a place to teach and inspire others. In addition to doing commission work, Lily has been creating many graphics for The Firefly Gathering since 2019. Lily grew up in the Earthskills community from the time she was eight years old, so having the opportunity to grow and give back in so many ways has been incredibly fulfilling. No matter where she ends up, this group of people and ideas will always hold a special place in her heart.
