A pile of harvested green stalks lies on a cloth in the foreground, with a person in tan pants kneeling in the blurred green grass of the background.

West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

### Context Profile for West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   The West Kootenay Fibreshed Society is dedicated to fostering a sustainable and community-driven approach to textile production. Their mission is to connect local fibre artists and promote the use of regionally sourced materials, emphasizing ecological practices and cultural traditions in textile arts. They aim to revitalize local textile traditions while supporting environmental stewardship and community engagement.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Workshops**: The organization hosts hands-on workshops such as "Sting to String: Nettles for Textile Mentorship," where participants learn to process and spin nettles into textiles. These workshops include storytelling, ecological knowledge, and skill-building sessions.
   - **Community Programs**: They focus on mentorship opportunities for fibre artists, encouraging skill-sharing and collaboration within the community.
   - **Events**: The society organizes events that connect participants with local resources and cultural practices related to fibre arts.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   The tone of voice used by the West Kootenay Fibreshed Society is friendly, inspiring, and community-oriented. The language is accessible and encourages participation, emphasizing the joy of learning and sharing skills. The content reflects a passion for the arts and a commitment to sustainability, often using inclusive language that invites engagement.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   The website does not prominently feature emojis in its communications. However, if used in email campaigns or social media, they would likely align with the friendly and community-focused tone, potentially including nature-related emojis or those representing creativity (e.g., 🌱, 🎨).

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details are not provided on the website, but the organization operates within the West Kootenay region, emphasizing local engagement.
   - **Scale**: The organization has conducted 5 total forms and 11 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement with its community.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics are not detailed, the organization highlights the importance of community engagement and skill-sharing, implying a focus on qualitative impact.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Information regarding volunteer opportunities is not explicitly stated, but the nature of their activities suggests that community involvement is encouraged.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - Use a friendly and inclusive tone that encourages participation and community engagement.
   - Highlight the ecological and cultural significance of textile arts.
   - Emphasize hands-on learning experiences and the joy of skill-sharing.
   - Keep language accessible and avoid overly technical jargon, making it easy for newcomers to engage with the content.
   - Use storytelling elements to connect with the audience, sharing personal experiences or anecdotes related to textile arts and community.
   - When applicable, include calls to action that invite donations or support to sustain their programs.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for creating personalized and effective content for the West Kootenay Fibreshed Society, ensuring alignment with their mission, tone, and community-focused initiatives.

LXCL:Who it’s for: Folks from marginalized communities – LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC participants, low‑income individuals and people with accessibility needs. Why “Root”: This tier is about creating access for people to find roots in our local fibre community – a place to connect, learn, and grow without financial barriers.

ROOT

LXCL:Who it’s for: General public – anyone looking to learn new skills and support our local fibre ecosystem. Why “Stem”: The stem carries resources from the roots up to the rest of the plant – just like standard fees keep our workshops growing and flowing.

STEM

LXCL:Who it’s for: Allies and supporters who want to “pay it forward” and help subsidize spots for others. Why “Flower”: Flowers are the blossoms that share beauty (and seeds!) – just like your extra contribution helps future workshops bloom.

FLOWER

Join the West Kootenay Fibreshed for a hands-on nettle processing workshop in Hills, BC. This introductory workshop will explore nettle as a local plant fibre through fresh cordage making and dry fibre processing. Participants will work with fresh nettles to make simple cordage and with pre-retted nettles to begin separating and softening fibre from the stem. Together, we will look at how nettle changes through different stages of preparation, including fresh, dried, and retted material. Participants will learn how to handle nettle safely, how to begin processing the fibre, and how retting and preparation affect the final material. This workshop is designed for beginners, fibre artists, gardeners, foragers, plant lovers, and curious community members who want to better understand where plant fibre begins. No previous experience is needed. Producer members receive 10% the registration fee.&nbsp; Participants will learn:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How nettle can be used as a plant fibre</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The difference between fresh and pre-retted nettle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to make simple cordage from fresh nettle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to begin processing dry, pre-retted nettle stems</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to separate fibre from the woody core</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to continue exploring nettle fibre processing at home</li></ul>Participants will leave with:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A basic understanding of nettle fibre processing</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A piece of handmade nettle cordage</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hands-on experience processing pre-retted nettle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The confidence to continue experimenting with nettle fibre independently</li></ul>*Note: The workshop will take place on personal property. The exact address will be shared with registered participants. Participants should bring:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Water bottle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Weather-appropriate clothing</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Closed-toe shoes</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gloves</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Snacks, if needed</li></ul>All materials and tools are provided. Accessibility note:This workshop takes place outdoors on personal property. The site may include uneven ground, changing weather, limited seating, and basic rural site conditions. Please contact us before registering if you have accessibility questions or if there is anything we can do to support your participation.

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for Nettle Processing 101! We will see you on September 12th from 1:00-4:00pm.The address of the workshop is at a personal residence in Hills, BC - <a fr-original-style="" href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/MUreMmvMe89L7wSw9" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">122 Baldwin Rd.</a> Please bring:- gloves- weather appropriate clothing If you have any questions, please don&#39;t hesitate to reach out. Danielle Soucieinfo@westkootenayfibreshed.com

Join the West Kootenay Fibreshed for a hands-on nettle processing workshop in Hills, BC. This introductory workshop will explore nettle as a local plant fibre through fresh cordage making and dry fibre processing. Participants will work with fresh nettles to make simple cordage and with pre-retted nettles to begin separating and softening fibre from the stem. Together, we will look at how nettle changes through different stages of preparation, including fresh, dried, and retted material. Participants will learn how to handle nettle safely, how to begin processing the fibre, and how retting and preparation affect the final material. This workshop is designed for beginners, fibre artists, gardeners, foragers, plant lovers, and curious community members who want to better understand where plant fibre begins. No previous experience is needed. Producer members receive 10% the registration fee.  Participants will learn:<ul><li>How nettle can be used as a plant fibre</li><li>The difference between fresh and pre-retted nettle</li><li>How to make simple cordage from fresh nettle</li><li>How to begin processing dry, pre-retted nettle stems</li><li>How to separate fibre from the woody core</li><li>How to continue exploring nettle fibre processing at home</li></ul>Participants will leave with:<ul><li>A basic understanding of nettle fibre processing</li><li>A piece of handmade nettle cordage</li><li>Hands-on experience processing pre-retted nettle</li><li>The confidence to continue experimenting with nettle fibre independently</li></ul>*Note: The workshop will take place on personal property. The exact address will be shared with registered participants. Participants should bring:<ul><li>Water bottle</li><li>Weather-appropriate clothing</li><li>Closed-toe shoes</li><li>Gloves</li><li>Snacks, if needed</li></ul>All materials and tools are provided. Accessibility note:This workshop takes place outdoors on personal property. The site may include uneven ground, changing weather, limited seating, and basic rural site conditions. Please contact us before registering if you have accessibility questions or if there is anything we can do to support your participation.

West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

Nettle Processing 101

Hills

ROOT

$30

STEM

$40

FLOWER

$45