Learn how to make your own paper from harvest to production with guest instructor & fiber ethnobotanist James Ojascastro collaboratively hosted by Trees Atlanta and Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking.

During this three-part hands-on project, participants will learn why removing invasive species like invasive paper mulberry trees from Atlanta’s urban forest can help native plants, animals, and wildlife thrive and how to prepare and process the material from these trees to create their own paper.  Session 1 is voluntary; session 2 & 3 are participatory. 

Session 1: Harvest (Optional)

Location: Connally Family Cemetery (2363 Manor Ave, East Point, Georgia)
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Description: During voluntary session 1 of this hands-on restoration project, you’ll help strip the paper mulberry for fiber, and then help remove the invasive paper mulberry plants all while learning information about how their bark can be transformed into paper.
*This is an optional/bonus event in this three part series that we highly recommend to complete this Forest to Fiber process. 

Session 2: Fiber Prep

Location: Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking
Date: Saturday, May 29, 2026
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Description: Participants will take the fiber harvested in the voluntary session 1 and learn how to prepare and process the material from these trees in order to later turn it into their own paper. You’ll get to scrape and beat! All skill levels welcome and all materials provided.

Session 3: Papermaking

Location: Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 10:00am-4:00pm
Description: Join us for a lively, hands-on day of papermaking! In this one-day workshop, you’ll dive into the magical moment where fiber (prepared in session 2) becomes paper, using the classic Western or European style technique. Together, we’ll pull, couch, and press beautiful handmade sheets—an incredibly satisfying process whether you’re brand new to papermaking or an expert. All skill levels welcome and all materials provided.