Pottery: Eco-Dwellings for Backyard Animals
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| July 6 - 10, 2026 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
- TypeIn-Person
- Locationloyalist belleville
About Pottery: Eco-Dwellings for Backyard Animals
This course focuses on creating functional, eco-conscious and sculptural ceramic habitats designed to support local wildlife and pollinators. Participants will design, build, glaze and assemble a series of outdoor ceramic pieces for gardens and natural spaces, emphasizing thoughtful design, durability and environmental care. The course begins with building dwellings for reptiles and insects, including toad houses for protection, bee houses to encourage pollination and critter caves that provide shade and shelter for small creatures. Participants will also create feeders and waterers, such as bird feeders for small backyard birds and shallow-water baths for bees and birds. Surface decoration is explored using natural oxides, with instructions on applying washes to create subtle, earthy patinas. Students will also prepare paper tubes and house insulation and create “seed bombs” for pollinators using leftover recycled clay. In the final stage, pieces are assembled and finished using natural wire and glass beads. You will leave with a cohesive collection of five to seven ceramic works designed to support wildlife while adding beauty and intention to outdoor spaces.
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