In hopes of adding to the appreciation of plants in their role of everyday life, we wanted to show how the use of bark, considered as refuse by the woods trade, can contribute to the cultural integrity of the Appalachian region.

Harvested in rural Randolph County, West Virginia, fire cherry and striped maple bark are made into beautiful baskets. We demonstrated methods of peeling bark from freshly-cut trees and showed how to construct utilitarian baskets. We used local materials for the entire construction. Reflecting on our mountainous region located in the Potomac Highlands of the Appalachian Mountains, we were able to share stories about the culture of our home.