Terracotta Garden Olla Pot Workshop

I am Sarah and a full-time ceramicist. I have a home studio located in the beautiful village of Emerald, on the boundary of Emerald Lake Park, in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, the home of Puffing Billy.I offer small group, hand-building classes for all levels of clay enthusiasts, where you can explore texture, technique, and artistic expression in a relaxed, bushland setting. During this workshop, you will learn about and make your own Olla irrigation, a sustainable ancient method of irrigation.I have been studying and teaching pottery since 2019. My focus is on teaching hand-building of sculptural and functional ware in a supportive and encouraging environment.I would welcome the opportunity to teach you while sharing the incredibly inspiring environment that my studio is in.Classes are offered as a single 4-hour workshop.You will learn how to make your own olla using terracotta clay and the coil-building method. Your olla will hold approximately three to four litres of water, and you will also make a lid. Time & weather permitting (clay dries slower in cooler temperatures), you may also have the opportunity to decorate your piece with underglaze prior to firing. The finished piece will then be available for pickup 1-2 weeks later.What is an Olla?An Olla, Spanish word for irrigation, is an ancient watering/irrigation system constructed with unglazed porous clay pots.Installing an olla is simple, just dig a hole, bury the pot, and fill it with water!Once the porous terracotta olla is in contact with the soil, water begins to seep into the surrounding soil, directly to the root zone of surrounding plants. The amount of water drawn from the olla varies depending on the soil moisture – dry soil will draw water faster; wet soil slows it down.Olla irrigation is most efficient for crops with fibrous root systems like squash, melons, watermelons, tomatoes, and chillies, but it can work well for establishing young trees.One three-litre olla will irrigate a 60 x 60cm garden bed.

• Clay
• Bisque firing of up to 4 small pieces
• Tea, coffee, and a light lunch

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