On August 1st at the Pakatakan Farmers’ Market, join woodworker John Virga as he shows children how to make an attractive bird feeder by decorating a recycled can.
Weekly Workshops at the Round Barn
Every Saturday from 10 am till noon, kids are invited to free workshops at the Pakatakan Farmers’ Market. Sessions are taught by members of the Catskill Mountain Artisans Guild. Workshop themes relate to the Pizza Garden, an installation created by Transition Catskills. A Pizza Garden is shaped like a giant pizza, and it’s where you grow the topping ingredients for your favorite food.
Making Bird Feeders
Kids who participate in the workshop will learn how to make a simple bird feeder from a metal can decorated with markers, ribbon and twigs.
Bats, Birds and Woodworking
A native of Bovina, John received a degree in graphic design from The College of Saint Rose in Albany. His journey in woodworking began with an interest in the brown bats whose numbers were declining due to white nose syndrome, a fungal infection that affects bats during winter hibernation. John started an organization called Bovina Brown Bats and began building bat houses to help replenish bat populations. Recently, he initiated a project at the College Golf Course in Delhi, constructing 20 bluebird houses, 6 bird houses suitable for cardinals or robins, and 2 bat houses, which are located in the “environmental hazard” - if a golf ball lands in that zone, it’s considered lost and the golfer moves on. The course is one of only 3 in the nation that is Audubon-certified. This summer, John has taught children to build birdhouses at the Bovina Public Library.
Wooden Toys for the Imagination
As he refined his woodworking skills, John created a line of the kind of toys he liked to play with as a kid—wands, swords and shields—which are available at the Artisans Guild stores in Margaretville and Delhi.
Hybridizing Design
Lately, John has fused design skills and woodworking to create custom signage. His customers have included a wide range of local businesses, such as an antique store in Andes, the Cardio Club and Indiepay in Delhi, and he has also created custom signs used as wedding gifts.
The Craftskills
To support other artisans in the area and encourage consumers to buy locally made goods, John organized a crafts fair called The Craftskills. The fourth annual event will take place November 14th and 15th at the Bovina Center Community Hall.
Farmers’ Market and Workshop Hours
The farmers’ market is open from 9 am to 2 pm every Saturday through October. Please note that the Artisans’ Guild workshops are only offered from 10 am till noon. Parents often do their shopping while kids learn a new skill at the workshop. However, children under the age of six should be supervised by their parent or guardian.
The Pakatakan Farmers’ Market is located on the grounds of the historic Round Barn, Route 30, Halcottsville (about 5 miles north of Margaretville).