Willow artisan restores historic herb garden

“It’s all in your wrist and your fingers,” said Howard Peller, as he worked on his hands and knees in the historic Fisher-Martin Herb Garden in Lewes.

Peller is an artisan is every sense. In fact, he is the only craftsman in the country who professionally designs and weaves live willow bundles for wattle fencing.

“You have to grab it, learn how to bend it in a certain way, then use your thumbs to move it back so it doesn’t kink. It takes a lot of practice,” Peller said while demonstrating his unique skill.

He spent three steamy July days in Zwaanendael Park tying willow to fencing and arbors around the herb garden perimeter.

Peller said what is now a heritage skill began 1,000 years ago in northern Europe.

“It used to be used as a way of herding sheep and fencing them in,” Peller said.

Peller said his willow weaving started with a mid-life urge to do something different. 

“In my mid-50s, I decided I wanted to grow something on my farm that I can use in my work as an artist, with my hands, with simple tools,” he said. “That comes from a background in crafts. I made pottery for many years. It’s not one thing, but many things that have led me here.”

Peller now grows 14 acres of willow on his farm in southeastern Ohio. 

He also used this pottery skills to make dinnerware and mixing bowls that sold nationally under the brand name Fiori.

Lewes in Bloom invited Peller to come to the First Town in the First State to restore the herb garden to what it was more than 200 years ago.

“It’s very important to us,” said Warren Golde, founder of Lewes in Bloom. ”It makes it authentic to the way it was back in the 1700s.”

Golde said he was lucky to find Peller online.

“He said this was the last job he’s going to be doing this year. We were fortunate to get it,” Golde said.

Peller said he showed Lewes in Bloom some pointers on how to maintain the fencing for eight to 12 years.

“For me, I love growing plants. I like working with them. It’s a lovely practice,” he said.

For more information, go to livingwillowfarm.com.