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Spend a relaxed 4 hours on a scenic Middleborough farm learning to weave a large Market Basket with local weaver Leanne Wilkie of Baskets of Love. All materials are included and the class is beginner friendly—leave with a sturdy, usable basket and new craft skills.
Spend a relaxed 4 hours on a scenic Middleborough farm learning to weave a large Market Basket with local weaver Leanne Wilkie of Baskets of Love. All materials are included and the class is beginner friendly—leave with a sturdy, usable basket and new craft skills.
Book with Soule Homestead Education Center
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Soule Homestead Education Center · Middleborough, Massachusetts
On a working farm in Middleborough, Massachusetts, an afternoon with local weaver Leanne Wilkie of Baskets of Love turns a pile of raw materials into a large Market Basket you’ll be proud to carry. The 4-hour workshop invites beginners and makers of all skill levels to learn multiple weaving techniques, knotting sequences, and finishing tips while seated at a communal table beneath open rafters or under blue New England sky. All materials are provided, and each participant leaves with a finished, sturdy basket and the confidence to try another at home.
The experience is straightforward: hands-on instruction, steady pacing, and personal attention as you shape rims, form bases, and set handles. The class focuses on practical construction more than ornament, so your finished Market Basket is intended for daily use—farmers’ market runs, storage, or gifting. Leanne Wilkie of Baskets of Love leads the session, demonstrating repetitive motions that become satisfying rhythm; she also offers optional packages of materials if you want to continue weaving after the class.
What makes this workshop special in the region is the combination of rural setting and living craft. Middleborough’s farm landscapes provide the backdrop—open fields, seasonal crops, and the slow rhythm of working land—so the workshop feels like part of the place rather than a classroom. The project itself highlights a traditional handcraft with practical roots in New England life: baskets were tools long before they were decorative objects. Beginners, teens (minimum age 12), and adults find the pace accessible; the farm setting keeps things relaxed and social.
Practical details are simple: the class runs about four hours, all tools and materials are included, and the meeting point is listed as TBD. Bring curiosity, comfortable clothes you don’t mind moving your arms in, and a willingness to learn repetitive handwork that quickly becomes meditative. If you’re a visitor to the area, this workshop pairs well with a day of exploring local farms or a short drive to nearby coastal towns.
For outdoor-minded travelers and makers who want a craft-centered souvenir—a sturdy, handmade Market Basket—this workshop blends useful skill-building with a tangible reminder of Massachusetts farm life. The combination of Leanne Wilkie’s instruction, a scenic farm setting in Middleborough, and a finished object you can use immediately makes this a memorable and practical stop on any New England itinerary. Workshops run small to preserve one-on-one coaching, and materials packages are available for purchase if you want to make extra baskets at home. The minimum age is 12, making this a good multigenerational activity. Reservations are recommended; check the referral link to secure a spot. Whether you’re local or passing through, this class leaves you with a skill and an object that carries stories of place.
The minimum age is 12; younger children are not permitted due to tool use and concentration required.
Yes—all materials and the necessary tools are included in the workshop fee.
The workshop is approximately four hours long and is paced for beginners.
The meeting point is listed as TBD; double-check booking details or the referral link for final check-in location.
Yes—optional materials packages are available for purchase if you want to make additional baskets at home.
Specific cancellation terms are not listed in the structured description; check the booking page or contact the operator for current policy.
Soule Homestead Education Center is an education-focused farm and program site in Middleborough, Massachusetts. The center provides hands-on learning opportunities that blend outdoor exploration, traditional crafts, seasonal celebrations, and community volunteer programs. Programs range from Soule Sprouts Summer Camp — a half-day summer program for children ages 4–7 featuring weekly themes like habitats, storytelling, crafts, games, and animal-focused activities — to on-site birthday parties hosted in an outdoor pavilion with access to a unique mud kitchen. Workshop offerings include adult and family classes such as flower bandana design, fairy door drop-in events with trail hikes and stories, children’s wreath making in the barn with fresh greens and cocoa, wine basket weaving taught by local instructor Leanne Wilkie, and a recurring Rug Braiding session held every third Saturday for new and returning students. A specialized program in forensic entomology, presented by Blake Dinius, explores insects’ roles in decomposition and criminal investigations and is intended for adult audiences only. Volunteer opportunities are available for community members and teens interested in event support, animal care, and site operations. Facilities used for programming include trails, a barn for indoor workshops, an outdoor pavilion, and activity spaces on the homestead. Soule Homestead Education Center focuses on practical, skill-based programming suited to families, hobbyists, students, and community volunteers.
Book with Soule Homestead Education Center
