White Oak Basketry
White oak is the traditional material for basketry in the southern Appalachian region. Young white oak trees are split in half repeatedly until you get a single growth ring splint that is then shaved down and used for basket weaving. In recent years the number of white oak basket weavers has greatly declined and there are few people practicing and teaching the craft today. Micah has been weaving baskets for over 12 years and is seeking to bridge the gap in knowledge from previous generations and keep the tradition of white oak basketry alive.
He has also worked with a variety of other split wood weaving material from other regions including black ash and hazel. He has travelled to Ireland, England and Romania to study traditional split wood basketry. Over the years he has taught a wide variety of classes on sustainable farming and craft and has several white oak basket classes planned for this year.