Hypertufa Workshop with Jim Bledsoe

Throop Learning Garden and Crunchy Crafters presents

Hypertufa Workshop

Please join us for an exhilarating morning
as we learn how to work with hypertufa.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/1/8/4/600_269217732.jpegHypertufa is a mixture of Portland cement,
vermiculite or perlite, and fiber that can be
molded to make containers, benches, birdbaths,
and sculptures.

It was developed in the 1930s to replicate the stone(tufa) troughs that were popular among English gardeners in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The lightweight stand-ins were not only easier to come by, but also easier to transport. Thanks to their porous nature, the pots were ideal for plants needing good drainage. Hypertufa containers are still practical in the garden and simple to create.

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About the instructor:

Jim Bledsoe is an eco-activist and one of the creative forces behind Bicycle Kitchen.

He has used his architectural and design skills to bring urban garden environments to life. He excels in using technology in innovative and alternative ways.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/4/3/6/600_269218422.jpeg

Total fee is $25 ($10 RSVP + $15 Class fee)

Time Bank members are encourage to attend, please use your Time Dollars (2 hours) for class fee and pay material only ($10)

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Prep for the CLASS!!

Please wear clothes that can get dirty and shoes that will protect your feet.

Bring a respirator and eye protection, if you have it. We will provide paper masks and

Nitrile gloves. We will be working in the shade, and have water readily available.

Please bring a potluck food item to share for lunch after the workshop.

Here are some things to consider for your hypertufa project:

1. We are asking that your project be no larger than 14” in diameter.

2. It must be transportable, so that you can take it home with you.

3. Some possible forms to use as molds are:

plastic bowls

plastic flowerpots

heavy cardboard tubes

interesting take-out containers

cake or jello molds

small Styrofoam ice chests

We will have an array of these items the day of the workshop.

We will provide enough hypertufa for a small project of your choice.

Your project will be rather heavy while the hypertufa is wet. You will need to transport

it without jostling or bumping it too much. For these reasons we are limiting projects to

smaller size.

We will demonstrate several larger scale projects, but can’t accommodate larger scale

personal projects in this workshop.