Admit it. When you hear the word bonsai, you think of Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid, meticulously grooming trees in his garden while Daniel embarked on his hero’s journey to learn karate and defeat his nemesis, Johnny. You know what? Bonsai trimming sounds more fun. And now you can learn the ancient art of bonsai while drinking beer.
You read that right. Bonsai Bar was founded in 2021 by Tim Arsenault, a bonsai enthusiast living in Providence, RI. A hobby that sprouted from lockdown grew into a full-blown family business. Now, Bonsai Bar leads workshops and private instruction in fourteen states.
“Our goal,” explains Steven Evans, Northeast Regional Director, “is to get as many people as we can to bonsai. It’s a really cool art form.”
Nod Hill Brewery in Ridgefield has been hosting workshops with Bonsai Bar for two years. They are popular, with groups of twenty to thirty-five people signing up and often selling out. Participants receive their own bonsai tree, enjoy a two-hour lesson from an instructor, and sip beverages from Nod Hill’s vast selection. (My fave is the Geobunny.)
On a glorious Sunday afternoon, bonsai newbies gather in Nod Hill’s Backspace, a woodsy space boasting stacked barrels, a psychedelic bunny mural, and a disco ball dangling from the ceiling. Eager participants perch at long tables behind a square tub of supplies while the bartender takes everyone’s order.
Instructor Colin Mason, a jolly presence, shares an introduction about the art of bonsai and the history of the company. He delivers a breakdown of the tools before demonstrating how to isolate nebari roots with the chopsticks provided and recommends covering your beverage to avoid flying bits of soil.
Mason encourages students to “bonsai at your own pace,” as he circles each table. Bonsai neophytes at Nod Hill are from all walks of life. One Ridgefield couple told me they jumped into the class because their recent empty nest status inspired them to try activities “that are really for us.” Another woman enrolled as a birthday gift for her delighted boyfriend. “It’s one thing to buy a plant,” he muses, spinning his tree around in the small tub. “Building your own is more meaningful.”
The team does not expect novices to be naturals.“It’s kind of a rite of passage to kill your first bonsai tree,” laughs Evans.
Not to worry, if your tree is suffering, Bonsai Bar offers telehealth sessions they call Tree-iage. Registered owners can sign up for an online consultation where bonsai masters coach your tree back to peak health. In the tragic case the plant has gone to the great beyond, you can scoop up a fresh one at another Bonsai Bar event.
Nod Hill co-owner David Kaye enjoys hosting the Bonsai Bar classes and has noticed the workshop draws new faces to the brewery.
“You get to learn new skills and do something with your hands. It’s a very casual, low-key environment,” says Kaye.
A chance to connect with nature, be screen-free, and make friends? Yes, please. Plus, you get to take home a tiny tree. Just make sure you take it easy on the Geobunnies. Otherwise, your bonsai might end up looking a little less Mr. Miyagi and more like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. •
