FREDERIC – Usually on the sidelines organizing, attending, and photographing the community education classes as the director of Frederic Community Education, Sheila Beecroft was the instructor for a popular class on how to make totes using recycled feed bags on Monday, May 1. She started saving the bags last fall after her own foray into raising chickens, with no particular intent for them, but felt they were too pretty to just throw away. After looking for a DIY project idea to put them to good use, she decided to try making a tote. After offering the class, Beecroft intends to continue to upcycle the bags and offer them for use for those venturing to the farmers market for free. Beecroft is a lover of learning and all things art and craft. Throughout her class she was traveling throughout the room helping participants to shape their projects. The totes were relatively simple, requiring two main materials, the used bags and duct tape, plus scissors and a box for shaping the bag while folding the bottom edges for taping.
Historically, the reuse of feed sacks is quite an old tradition. According to the Tuppence Ha’penny Vintage site, “Feed sacks are the perfect example of a utilitarian product turned into something beautiful. In ‘Feed Sacks: The Colorful History of a Frugal Fabric,’ author Linzee Kull McCray explores the history of the humble feed sack, from a plain burlap or cotton sack to exuberantly patterned and colorful bags that were repurposed into frocks, aprons and quilts by thrifty housewives in the first half of the 20th century. Interestingly, the term ‘feed sack’ itself is a bit of a misnomer: While a substantial proportion of the printed cotton bags produced did indeed contain animal feed, the majority – 52% – were actually filled with flour. They were also used for all manner of other goods, from sugar, grains and beans to fertilizer and even ammunition!” (Source: tuppencehapenny.com/blog/feed-sacks-colourful-history.)
For more information about Frederic Community Ed and upcoming events, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/fredericcommunityeducation.
