Local youngsters wishing to develop fiber arts, textile, and other creative skills have a chance at being mentored by an Ashfield woman who – for about a decade – made a living in New York City by running an unusual business. “I made chain mail, professionally,” said Lisa Fortin. Readers may be wondering how Fortin made a go of it; after all, how many knights in shining armor populate the Big Apple?

Apparently, chain mail is no longer just for King Arthur’s friend group; Chicopee native Fortin was able to support herself in a place with high cost-of-living demands by creating chain mail for a wide range of customers, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Tina Turner, as well as for Shakespeare companies and FAO Schwarz store windows.

Today, Fortin uses softer materials to create gorgeous art and apparel, and offers two week-long summer camps at her “Growing A Bunch” farm – one in July and the other in August. In both cases, Fortin and the eldest of her four children, Clara and Lily, will share phenomenal skills with young folks from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Fiber Arts Camp, now in its eighth year, will run from July 7-11, enabling kids ages 7 to 14 to work with wool and other natural materials in the farm’s shady barn.

Participants can embroider, knit, weave, use a drop spindle, or do needle or wet felting. “They can draw, play games, meet our animals, walk in pastures, harvest flowers, and make sun tea from herbs like peppermint or lemon balm, fresh from our garden,” said Fortin. In terms of meeting animals, the farm has chickens, geese, ducks, and eight sheep (Shetlands and Romneys).

Youngsters can experience the entire sheep-to-sweater process by turning wool into yarn, which entails cleaning, drying, dyeing, carding, and spinning. “We also sometimes dye wool using local plants like goldenrod, apple bark, or marigold,” said Fortin.

Stitch Camp, held August 4-8, allows kids ages 8 to 14 to learn or enhance sewing machine skills. “They can make a cozy quilt, sew a Halloween costume, or create a complete outfit,” said Fortin. “Beginners are welcomed; they’ll learn technical skills to last a lifetime.” Fortin offers a bonus: “This year we’ll be working in our bright new sewing studio, which includes a fully functioning 1904 treadle sewing machine for all to try!”

Fortin said that, while using the treadle machine, she feels like she’s time traveling. “I close my eyes and imagine that I’m living in the 1920s,” she said. “I love the feel and sound of it; it really takes you back.” The machine is a recent acquisition: Ashfield resident Andrea Calouri, a historian, came into possession of eight donated sewing machines in order to teach a class at the town library. “When the class was over,” said Fortin, “Andrea invited people to submit requests to receive a free machine. My name was drawn for the treadle machine, and I’m thrilled.”

Being from a French-Canadian family, I had to ask Fortin about her last name, which led to a motherlode of Quebecois connections. Fortin said, “My mother’s maiden name was Couture!” We shared a chuckle; couture is a French word that can mean dressmaking, sewing, or needlework. “All eight of my great-grandparents were from Quebec, and were all farmers,” said Fortin. True to one of her family names, Fortin has dabbled in fashion design and DIY sewing projects since her teens.

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“My daughters, Clara and Lily – 19 and 17, respectively – are very talented at sewing and design and can create tailored outfits and full size quilts. My girls started out in 4H and became very accomplished. These days, I send some of the trickier (camp project) questions to them!” Fortin added that in addition to sharing practical skills, “we hope to inspire others to create clothing and accessories while also learning to minimize the effects of so-called fast fashion on the environment.” This is no small point in a nation where an estimated 11.3 million tons, or about 85% of all textiles, end up in landfills each year.

“Stitch Camp is definitely the more focused of the two sessions,” said Fortin. “We cut patterns, measure, pin, and sew on machines. The kids get so deep into their projects, it’s sometimes hard to convince them to break for lunch.” Fortin said that even when she encourages participants to go outside to enjoy some natural beauty and fresh air, “some of them will go out for about five minutes and rush back inside to work on their projects. That’s how absorbed they get!” Participants “include both boys and girls,” said Fortin. “We’ve actually never had a boyless session in either camp.”

Both summer camps take place at the Fortins’ Watson Road homestead atop a hill that affords stunning views of rolling farm fields and other lush natural beauty. Fortin emphasized that they take into consideration ticks, poison ivy, sunburn, and various allergies, and that shoes must be worn at all times unless playing in the grassy yard. “We’re a working farm, and feet are safest in shoes,” she said. “We use electric fencing for our sheep, but no fences are electrified during camp time.”

Having left the city for country life, Fortin’s life now significantly revolves around sheep. She operates a CSA called Bloom Woolen Yarns, offering different homegrown and hand-dyed yarns. “Some are super warm, while others are light and delicate,” said Fortin. She added that her farm’s moniker came in a flash when she had to register her sheep under a specific name. “I had four young kids, I was gardening, and raising sheep. Growing A Bunch seemed like a good name, and it stuck.”

There are just a few places left in each camp. Information and registration details can be found at growingabunchfarm.com.

Eveline MacDougall is the author of “Fiery Hope.” To contact: eveline@amandlachorus.org.