Meet the maker – Di Wood, Wild Harvest School

Wild Harvest School runs courses, workshops, retreats and walks all aimed at empowering you to provide for yourself in nature. They do natural crafting hen parties/birthdays/team days and have workshop providers all over the country. Wild Food Foraging, willow work, making your own toiletres, candles, rag rugs, instinctive archery, and more.

Country Living Fair caught up with owner, Di Wood to find out more.

How did it all start?

Di had an unusual upbringing and chose to raise her own three children alone off grid in a remote dale making most of what they needed.

The story behind the name…

Wild Harvest began by making hedgerow teas and cordials and beeswax candles selling them from the doorstep and locally, to teaching and running foraging walks on the wilds of the North Yorks moors.

Where are you based?

York but have tutors all over the country.

What inspires you?

Mother Nature and her resilience and balance. Kick ass women.

What is your creation process?

Just do it pragmatist.

What makes you, your brand or products unique?

Everything is natural and where possible native, no mechanisation is used and we empower you to make it, we don’t try to sell it to you.

What is your next project?

Books and online courses.

What are your plans for the next 12 months?

Empower more women around the UK to do and make more for themselves naturally through my books and courses.

What is your biggest achievement?

My three children raised alone with nothing whilst building an ethical business, black belt in tae kwon do at the same time.

What is your best-selling product/line?

Bite sized craft workshops for parties and tipi site glamping.

What do you love about Country Living Fairs?

The style, the quality, the sense of traditional Christmas, the value for money hands on workshops.

Your three top tips for crafters and makers…

You don’t need all the gear, if you do choose a different craft, be process not perfect product orientated, use only natural materials i.e. don’t let your crafting leave a bad eco footprint.

Any advice for fledgling businesses…

Follow online advice via free education based marketing videos/downloads to build your online presence. From your lounge you now have a global market – so think big!

Di joins Country Living for the Christmas Fairs in London and Harrogate and will be running multiple crafting sessions including:

• Bath Bomb Making
• Willow Star Weaving
• Leather Journal Making

Read more about the workshops on offer at the show here.