Pine-ing Away for a Basket

Tonight marked the official April meeting for the Dirty Rascal Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club. Club Leader Tanya Underwood kicked off the club meeting in. Official fashion by having Layla Locklear and Tristan Page lead the pledges. Then she got down to serious business by offering shout outs to those who participated in the 4-H Talent Showcase, and those going on to District Activity Day.
Club members took a moment to check out the progress of their herbs in the hydroponic garden. This year the Master Gardeners have chosen not to have a plant sale so the Junior Master Gardeners are exploring other options for herb distribution this year.
After the formal meeting Connie Locklear, Master Gardener and Layla's grandmother, showed us how to make pine needle baskets. She brought some long pine needles from a tree at her house and got everyone started with the project. All they needed were tobacco twine (used for tying up tobacco leaves for curing back in the day), a large eyed needle, and many long leaf pine needles. Mrs. Connie said the hardest part is starting, and she was right. It took two good fold overs and wrapping the folded needles tightly with the tobacco twine to hold the beginning in place. Then she showed us how to add a few needles at a time and start the turning process for the base of our baskets. The key is to make us you continue sly add needles and you pull the twine as tightly as possible as the needles start make a flat circle. It was really cool, and some thing fun to learn. She also showed us some baskets she has made. She said you could use green or brown needles when working.

When we ended the meeting several people took home their projects to continue at home. Tristan finished his, making it a coaster. It was a really neat project.
The next club meeting will be held May 14th at the 4-H Office. If you would like more information about this or other clubs please contact the 4-H Staff at (910) 671-3276.