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.

This mentorship is free thanks to the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA)—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and managed by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council

Free Registration

This weekend intensive will take fibre artists right from the nettle patch through to strong spun line over two days. Understanding how each nettle patch, soil, and seasonal variation presents unique characteristics in fibre quality and processing, <a fr-original-style="" href="http://sharonkallis.wordpress.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Sharon Kallis</a> will guide participants through hands-on work with both freshly harvested green nettles and retted nettles gathered at different points the previous year. Nettles are a culture connector with deep textile traditions across many Northern hemisphere cultures. Expect storytelling, fibre history, and ecological knowledge alongside practical, skill-building sessions. This mentorship is designed for experienced fibre artists with some drop spindle or spinning wheel experience who are interested in expanding their skills into working with bast fibres and learning to process and spin nettle for textiles. You don&rsquo;t need to have worked with bast fibres before &mdash; many of the concepts from spinning wool will transfer, and the workshop will offer supportive instruction in the nuances of nettle processing and spinning.<h4 fr-original-style="white-space:pre-wrap;" style="white-space: pre-wrap; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">What You&rsquo;ll Experience</h4><ul data-rte-list="default" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hands-on processing of fresh green nettles and previously retted fibre</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guidance on identifying seasonal harvesting cues and best practices for supporting a nettle patch</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">In-depth discussion of fibre preparation stages specific to bast fibres</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Spinning bast fibres by drop spindle or wheel, with time to explore cordage making</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Cultural storytelling around nettles as a textile plant</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connection and knowledge-sharing with fellow fibre artists</li></ul>Participants will leave with:<ul data-rte-list="default" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A mini skein of spun nettle (for those with spinning experience)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A sample of nettle cordage</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A bundle of prepared nettle fibre to continue working with at home</li></ul>A Note of the Location - The Old Tulip Farm: Jenn Berg will host us at her farm where she has a nettle patch we will&nbsp;tend to are learn with.Camping available on-site. Participants are welcome to camp for the weekend &mdash; bring your own camping gear. This is a rustic farm setting with outhouse-only facilities. Space for tents, vans and RV&rsquo;s. Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast provided.&nbsp;Bring your own lunches. Cost: Free! for <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/west-kootenay-fibreshed-society-memberships--2025" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">West Kootenay Fibreshed Members</a> thanks to the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA)&mdash;funded by Columbia Basin Trust and managed by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council*Support This Work* This mentorship is offered free to participants thanks to grant funding from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA). If you&rsquo;re in a position to do so, additional donations are gratefully welcomed to help us build organizational capacity and continue offering accessible, community-rooted fibre arts programming like this. Your support helps sustain skills-sharing, mentorship, and land-based textile traditions in the West Kootenay Bioregion.

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for our upcoming Nettle Fibre Mentorship Workshop! We&rsquo;re so excited you&rsquo;ll be joining us for this special weekend of hands-on learning, plant stories, and fibre traditions. Here&rsquo;s what you need to know:Date &amp; Time:&nbsp;Saturday, July 26 | 10:00am - 5:00pm -- Sunday, July 27 | 10:30am - 4:30pm&nbsp;Location: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=50.3486684,-117.0143925&entry=gps&lucs=,94267460,94275415,94275306,94224825,94227247,94227248,94231188,47071704,47069508,94218641,94203019,47084304&g_ep=CAISEjI1LjIyLjAuNzYzNTE5NzAyMBgAINeCAypsLDk0MjY3NDYwLDk0Mjc1NDE1LDk0Mjc1MzA2LDk0MjI0ODI1LDk0MjI3MjQ3LDk0MjI3MjQ4LDk0MjMxMTg4LDQ3MDcxNzA0LDQ3MDY5NTA4LDk0MjE4NjQxLDk0MjAzMDE5LDQ3MDg0MzA0QgJDQQ%3D%3D&skid=75c8f035-e3ef-470c-979d-1ae9b0efb57c&g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Old Tulip Farm, North of Howser</a>*Photo directions will be sent to you in an email a few days prior to the start of the Mentorship. There is no service in the Lardeau Valley so please have the photo directions downloaded to your device or write them out prior to leaving service. We will mark the mouth of the driveway so it is easily identifiable when you arrive.* What to Bring:<ul data-end="861" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Face mask (to help with the dust in the nettle patch)</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Linen handcloth/tea towel</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Apron</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Gloves - gardening and a leather glove</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Dress for the nettle patch</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tools for nettle processing &mdash; we encourage you to bring along your own tools or improvised items to explore how everyday objects from home can be adapted for processing nettles. (See the photo at the bottom of this list for reference.) Some basic tools will also be provided.</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Footwear for harvesting (closed toe)&nbsp;</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Notebook and pen</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lunches for Saturday and Sunday</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Water bottle</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sun hat</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sunscreen</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Drop spindle and/or spinning wheel if you have one. We will have a couple of spinning wheels and drop spindles for use if you do not have one.</li><li data-end="655" data-start="606" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tweezers</li></ul><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1750794932/wysiwyg/ky8daotzlld0iausyfbp.jpg" style="width: 269px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 269px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"> An additional note from Sharon:Our weekend together will be a hand-labour intensive time, let&#39;s do all the things we can to keep our hands in good shape!If possible, bring an old leather glove- a great use for any solo gloves you have about - I like to work with fibres post-sting bare handed, but do find my thumbs are very happy if I can put a leather thumb cap from an old pair of gloves while carding. I do get the odd sliver when I spend hours hand processing. Feel free to bring your own tweezers and needle, or know I will have mine packed along with isopropyl alcohol. Camping Details:You&rsquo;re welcome to camp on-site for the weekend. Bring your own camping gear &mdash; please note it&rsquo;s a rustic farm setting with outhouse-only facilities. There is space for tents, campers, vans and RV&#39;s. Hospitality Details:We will be eating communal dinner on Saturday night and breakfast on Sunday morning. The information you provided in your registration will help us determine the menu. More information on the menu will be provided in an email a few days before the start date. What&rsquo;s Included:<ul data-end="1244" data-start="1058" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="1126" data-start="1058" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hands-on instruction in harvesting, retting, and spinning nettle</li><li data-end="1157" data-start="1127" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">All nettle fibre materials</li><li data-end="1190" data-start="1158" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Use of basic tools, as needed</li><li data-end="1244" data-start="1191" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Shared stories, lessons, and community connection</li></ul>This mentorship is free for West Kootenay Fibreshed members thanks to a grant from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA). If you have any questions before the workshop, feel free to reach out to us at <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:info@westkootenayfibreshed.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">info@westkootenayfibreshed.com</a>. We can&rsquo;t wait to share this weekend with you! Warmly, West Kootenay Fibreshed<a fr-original-style="" href="//www.westkootenayfibreshed.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.westkootenayfibreshed.com</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1751065671/wysiwyg/apitkcotxkmls92dr1d3.png" style="width: 79px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 79px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1751065626/wysiwyg/we1y6kuudmz4doyptkx4.png" style="width: 104px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 104px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1751065737/wysiwyg/bompeazaskzxxcc6ztua.jpg" style="width: 134px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 134px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

This weekend intensive will take fibre artists right from the nettle patch through to strong spun line over two days. Understanding how each nettle patch, soil, and seasonal variation presents unique characteristics in fibre quality and processing, <a href="http://sharonkallis.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Sharon Kallis</a> will guide participants through hands-on work with both freshly harvested green nettles and retted nettles gathered at different points the previous year. Nettles are a culture connector with deep textile traditions across many Northern hemisphere cultures. Expect storytelling, fibre history, and ecological knowledge alongside practical, skill-building sessions. This mentorship is designed for experienced fibre artists with some drop spindle or spinning wheel experience who are interested in expanding their skills into working with bast fibres and learning to process and spin nettle for textiles. You don’t need to have worked with bast fibres before — many of the concepts from spinning wool will transfer, and the workshop will offer supportive instruction in the nuances of nettle processing and spinning.What You’ll Experience<ul><li>Hands-on processing of fresh green nettles and previously retted fibre</li><li>Guidance on identifying seasonal harvesting cues and best practices for supporting a nettle patch</li><li>In-depth discussion of fibre preparation stages specific to bast fibres</li><li>Spinning bast fibres by drop spindle or wheel, with time to explore cordage making</li><li>Cultural storytelling around nettles as a textile plant</li><li>Connection and knowledge-sharing with fellow fibre artists</li></ul>Participants will leave with:<ul><li>A mini skein of spun nettle (for those with spinning experience)</li><li>A sample of nettle cordage</li><li>A bundle of prepared nettle fibre to continue working with at home</li></ul>A Note of the Location - The Old Tulip Farm: Jenn Berg will host us at her farm where she has a nettle patch we will tend to are learn with.Camping available on-site. Participants are welcome to camp for the weekend — bring your own camping gear. This is a rustic farm setting with outhouse-only facilities. Space for tents, vans and RV’s. Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast provided. Bring your own lunches. Cost: Free! for <a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/west-kootenay-fibreshed-society-memberships--2025" target="_blank">West Kootenay Fibreshed Members</a> thanks to the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA)—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and managed by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council*Support This Work* This mentorship is offered free to participants thanks to grant funding from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA). If you’re in a position to do so, additional donations are gratefully welcomed to help us build organizational capacity and continue offering accessible, community-rooted fibre arts programming like this. Your support helps sustain skills-sharing, mentorship, and land-based textile traditions in the West Kootenay Bioregion.

West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

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Sting to String: Nettles for Textile Mentorship

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Free Registration

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