Swept Away: A Broom Workshop

Date: Saturday, November 5

Time: 10 am to 3 pm

Fees: $40/$36 for HSV members; all materials included. No previous experience required. Participants must be at least 13 years old.

Get swept away by the history of brooms in this hands-on workshop that celebrates the legacy of Shaker broom-making and the final weeks of “Swept,” a broom-inspired art installation by Cate Richards.

Instructor Faith Deering will share  the rich history of broom-making in western Massachusetts, introduce you to the tools of the trade, and guide you as you make your very own hand-held whisk broom. During the workshop, you will also visit the Village’s Broom Shop in the historic Brethren’s Shop and explore Cate Richards’ work in “Swept.”

Instructor: Faith Deering was born to sweep--she loves everything about brooms! She starts her day with a thorough sweeping of the wooden floors in her home and finishes with a final sweep of the kitchen. During her years as a classroom teacher, environmental educator and museum entomologist, Faith continued to sweep!  Her love of brooms took a wonderful turn during her years at Historic Deerfield when she began growing broomcorn and learned how to make traditional Connecticut River Valley Round Brooms.  Today, she is delighted to share the art and skill of making a small, utilitarian whisk broom, the Faithful Broom.