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Scavenger Hunt: J. Harry Rich State Forest

J. Harry Rich State Forest

 This is a longer walk, but easy. Wide flat trails. Beautiful views. Quiet. Now is the time to walk this trail as the clethra comes into bloom

Some of Groton’s prettiest land
Is river frontage that is not bland
Beyond this unassuming gate
Are walking trails of highest rate.

Harry Rich, a tree farm he grew
A forestry professor who
Saved riparian land for you.

Before Rich got his claim
Petapawag was its name 
An active trading post of fame.

Early Selectman John Tinker
A man of honor, no stinker*
Created our own town Groton
Where life is far from rotten
Known as the Nashaway trader
He was also a righteous crusader

Follow the sandy trail, you kno
w,
How many fancy ferns do grow?
Lady, bracken, and sensitive,
Many more types do thrive and live,
Check the list, it’s transformative!

Through the ferns, by the river’s bank
The first coin is not so swank
Stop and smell the sweet clethra
Bushes of which there’s a pleth’ra 

The next coin is on half a pine
Bittersweet an invasive vine
Twists around the dead half staff
For its missing its top half

The third coin dangles from a tree
Over the river happily
Next to a stump chewed by Bucky
You’ll find the medallion if you’re lucky

The burned tree long deceased
Like a compass it points due east
To the tree where the fourth coin hides
Behind the old stump it resides.
It also marks the unfortunate spot
Where a planned fire burned red hot
Training for fire fighting crews
Deep in the woods with gorgeous views

Leave the winding river behind
The double trunk tree to find
A norway spruce climbs for the sun
Find the fifth coin and end the fun.




!

 

 

Make a Planter

Do you have a plant that you love and want to create a planter that will show off just how unique or pretty it is?

Join us Sunday afternoons in April for this beginner class to make a planter.  The planter with feature a textured outside and attached saucer for drainage. You can add holes to make it a hanging planter, or just leave it to sit beautifully on your table or windowsill. The planter will be a maximum of 7 inches tall by 5 inches wide – you can make it smaller, if needed. We’ll use different items to add texture to the outside for visual interest – or you can leave it plain and just let the glaze do its magic. The planter will be made using slabs of clay and molds, but finished on the wheel.  The class will be limited to 6 students and will involve sharing of the wheels.

The class will meet two days. The first day we will make the planter. You will then come back the following week to glaze the planter. The days will be Sunday, April 23 and 30 from1to 3 pm. The first class will likely take the full 2 hours, the second class will probably be just one hour.

Your planter will be ready for pick up within 3 weeks following the last class.  

Please familiarize yourself with my rules of the studio before committing to this class. 

To reserve your seat, click here.

 

Make a Planter

Do you have a plant that you love and want to create a planter that will show off just how unique or pretty it is?

Join us Thursday afternoons in February for this beginner class to make a planter.  The planter with feature a textured outside and attached saucer for drainage. You can add holes to make it a hanging planter, or just leave it to sit beautifully on your table or windowsill. The planter will be a maximum of 7 inches tall by 5 inches wide – you can make it smaller, if needed. We’ll use different items to add texture to the outside for visual interest – or you can leave it plain and just let the glaze, whatever colors you choose,  do its magic. The planter will be made using slabs of clay and molds, but finished on the wheel.  The class will be limited to 6 students and will involve sharing of the wheels.

The class will meet two days. The first day we will make the planter. You will then come back the following week to glaze the planter. The days will be Feb 16 and 23 from 4 to 6 pm. The first class will likely take the full 2 hours, the second class will probably be just one hour.

Your planter will be ready for pick up within 3 weeks following the last class.  

To reserve your seat, click here

PLease familiarize yourself with my rules of the studio before committing to this class. 

One Day Intro to Throwing – Mid March

Have you wanted to learn to throw on the potter’s wheel, but you are not sure you want to commit to a longer class? This is for you! This is a two day workshop, one day you will play on the wheel, and the next class, a week later, you will come back and glaze your pot. 

In this workshop, you will have unlimited amount of clay to try your hand on the wheel. From all the pots you make in this 2 hour class, you can choose one to keep, that you will glaze the following week. If you want to keep all the pots you make, or some of them, I charge an additional $4 per pot which covers the cost of my trimming your bowls, glaze, electricity, and overhead… The first class will take 2 hours, the second class will take about an hour (depending on how many pots you keep). 

Grab your family or friends, and make an afternoon of it! The class is limited to just 4 students.

Pots made in previous “One Day Intro to Throwing” classes:

This workshop will take place on Wednesday evenings March 22  and 29,  from 6-8 pm. 

To reserve your seat, click here

Please see my mask and studio rules.

One Day Intro to Throwing – Early March

Have you wanted to learn to throw on the potter’s wheel, but you are not sure you want to commit to a longer class? This is for you! This is a two day workshop, one day you will play on the wheel, and the next class, a week later, you will come back and glaze your pot. 

In this workshop, you will have unlimited amount of clay to try your hand on the wheel. From all the pots you make in this 2 hour class, you can choose one to keep, that you will glaze the following week. If you want to keep all the pots you make, or some of them, I charge an additional $4 per pot which covers the cost of my trimming your bowls, glaze, electricity, and overhead… The first class will take 2 hours, the second class will take about an hour (depending on how many pots you keep). 

Grab your family or friends, and make an afternoon of it! The class is limited to just 4 students.

Pots made in previous “One Day Intro to Throwing” classes:

This workshop will take place on Wednesday evenings,  March 8 and 15,  from 6-8 pm. 

To reserve your seat – click here 

Please see my mask and studio rules.

Learn to Throw – March/April 2023

Learn to throw on a potter’s wheel. Group lessons limited to 4 students. This class is specifically for adults.  Price is for 8 two hour classes and includes materials. The class will cover centering, throwing techniques, trimming and glazing . Techniques to decorate a pot, including adding clay, carving, sgraffito, and use of underglazes and washes will be covered.

This is primarily focusing on beginner techniques. Click here for a course outline .     8 week class outline.   If you have taken this class before, I have suggested a modified version of this class for you. Sign up for this class, and we can work on the projects detailed in this post. This Adult class will take place Monday evenings starting March 6, 13, 20, and 27 and April 3, 10, 17, and 24  from 6 – 8 pm. It will run 8 weeks. 

No refunds allowed. Throwing on the wheel requires a certain amount of strength, it also requires that your hands will get dirty. If you are not sure you have the strength to do it, or will appreciate the wonderful tactile nature of the art, I would suggest an intro to throwing class first. 

To reserve your seat, click here.

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the studio rules prior to signing up. 

 

Intro to Ceramics – Sundays in March

This is a 4 week class, specifically for adults,  in which you will be introduced to the basics of throwing and ceramics. You will be introduced to techniques to throw a pot on the wheel, as well as hand building with slabs. This is a great class to build a strong foundation in pottery giving you skills in hand building and pottery and how to combine the two skills for success – even at a beginner’s level!  The class will meet Sunday afternoons,  1 – 3 pm, March 5, 12, 19, and 26. The class is limited to 4 adult people.  The outline of the class is as follows:

  • Week 1:

      • You will throw 5 balls of clay, of which you will keep 3 that you like. Focus is on centering
      • You will make 1 slab plate 
      • Review of different ways to finish or decorate your pots.
      •  
    • Week 2:

                • You will trim the pots you made from the previous week. How to trim a pot
                • We will make a slab bowl and use texture to decorate
                • You will throw 4 balls of clay, time permitting, of which you can keep 2 of your finished pots. Focus is on shaping.
                • Review pots that you have made. Discuss ways that they could be finished /decorated/glazed.

              Week 3:

                    • You will learn about different techniques to finish your pots. The plate you made in the previous week will be finished with a  method called sgraffito.

                  Week 4:

                    • You will glaze all your pots previously made.

          Your pots will be available for pick up within 3 weeks of your last class.

        •  

          To reserve your seat – click here.

        • Please review my studio rules prior to signing up for a class or workshop.

Open Studio – Jan 5

This will be a test for the month of January to see if there is any interest in an open studio during the day on Thursdays. The time will be from 10:30 am – 1 pm. 

Feeling creative!? Join us Thursdays from 10:30 – 1 pm to make your own creations. I will be available to provide technical assistance for you to achieve your clay ideas. Pretty much no limit on what you can make. 

This will be a test run for the month of January, where clay and materials are  included in the price.  If you make something at home, or take something home to work on, you will be charged an additional fee for glazes and/or  firing.  If you have never done an open studio before, it is good to come to the workshop with the intention of making 3 things (3 plates, mugs, bowls…) You may not make all 3, but you will get a good start on them. I will help you with technical advice for construction of your design.  If you plan to work on the wheel, you need to plan on at least 2 more open studios, one more to trim your pots, and a final one to glaze. 

Prerequisite: 2 previous classes or workshops with me, or a completed 4 week or more class. Limit of 4 people per class. 

This workshop is best for students who can work independently, and are comfortable with the rules of the studio.

Click here to reserve a seat.

 

Open Studio – Jan 8

Feeling creative!? Join us Sunday Afternoons from 4:30 – 7 pm to make your own creations. I will be available to provide technical assistance for you to achieve your clay ideas. Pretty much no limit on what you can make. I plan to offer this option for open studio through most of the winter, that is, through January – February. 

This will be a test run for the month of January, where clay and materials are  included in the price.  If you make something at home, or take something home to work on, you will be charged an additional fee for glazes and/or  firing.  If you have never done an open studio before, it is good to come to the workshop with the intention of making 3 things (3 plates, mugs, bowls…) You may not make all 3, but you will get a good start on them. I will help you with technical advice for construction of your design.  If you plan to work on the wheel, you need to plan on at least 2 more open studios, one more to trim your pots, and a final one to glaze. 

Prerequisite: 2 previous classes or workshops with me, or a completed 4 week or more class. Limit of 4 people per class. 

This workshop is best for students who can work independently, and are comfortable with the rules of the studio.

To reserve your seat – click here

 

Open Studio – Jan 1

Feeling creative!? Join us Sunday Afternoons from 4:30 – 7 pm to make your own creations. I will be available to provide technical assistance for you to achieve your clay ideas. Pretty much no limit on what you can make. I plan to offer this option for open studio through most of the winter, that is, through January – February. 

This will be a test run for the month of January, where clay and materials are  included in the price.  If you make something at home, or take something home to work on, you will be charged an additional fee for glazes and/or  firing.  If you have never done an open studio before, it is good to come to the workshop with the intention of making 3 things (3 plates, mugs, bowls…) You may not make all 3, but you will get a good start on them. I will help you with technical advice for construction of your design.  If you plan to work on the wheel, you need to plan on at least 2 more open studios, one more to trim your pots, and a final one to glaze. 

Prerequisite: 2 previous classes or workshops with me, or a completed 4 week or more class. Limit of 4 people per class. 

This workshop is best for students who can work independently, and are comfortable with the rules of the studio.

To reserve your seat – click here