Basket Making

Historically, baskets have been essential items in households and on farms, especially in the days when all crops were harvested manually. Workers used these sturdy but lightweight containers to gather up cotton, vegetables, or other items and carry them from place to place. Methods and materials for constructing baskets varied widely. White oak baskets were common in the cotton-growing sections of northern Florida, while Seminoles farther south typically made baskets from palmetto. African-Americans sometimes made baskets from sweetgrass, a traditional method transferred from Africa.