Why not turn pesky invasive Privet stems into useful walking sticks!

That’s what long-time Eco-A walker and photographer Tony Thaxton decided to do with the privet he was removing from his yard. “I made my first walking stick about twelve years ago after a newly planted maple tree died in our front yard — good news, the maple tree came back from the roots. Next, I turned to the privet hedges in our front yard. Within a few years they grew from 2 feet to over 12 feet tall. Making walking sticks became a fun hobby.”

Today Tony makes walking sticks from a number of shrub and tree stems and branches – each is unique. Tony artfully leaves original bark in places while smoothly sanding others, and uses existing branch forms or knots in the wood for design, then often adds subtly carved-in patterns. Many of our Eco-A walkers are proud carriers of Tony’s walking sticks, and we thought we’d offer a workshop where folks can help restore the forest by cutting their own raw material from invasive stands of Privet or Cherry Laurel, and then Tony can help us through the initial steps of fashioning your perfect cane for walking.

We’ll first cut invasive stems (we’ll provide hand saws and loppers for cutting Privet or Cherry Laurel) then Tony will show us some tips on crafting walking sticks. 

To register (RSVP) click HERE – details and directions sent to registered participants. 

A donation of $15 or more helps support our programs.

More about Tony Thaxton, Jr.:

Tony Thaxton enjoys a long professional career in building and customizing prosthetic limbs for amputee patients. He is also an avid photographer. He and his wife Verel are dear friends of Eco-A and have joined Eco-A walks and outings for over 7 years.