Classes + Events
Starting a New Fruit Orchard, with Rikardo Jahnke
Join long-time orchardist Rikardo Jahnke to learn how to start your own orchard, along with a tour of Rikardo’s own beautiful ridgetop orchard near Gays Mills, the apple capital of western Wisconsin. Topics covered in the class will include:
-Getting ready and planning
-Siting and layout considerations
-Buying trees vs. grafting your own
-Apple varietal selection
-Pears, plums
-Small fruits (raspberries, grapes, currants, blueberries, etc.)
-First, second, and third years in the orchard
-Equipment and tools
-Deer, insect, and disease control
-Harvest, Putting By, and Marketing
Hammered Copper Jewelry, with Martha Buche
Learn how to work with copper to make one-of-a-kind jewelry. In this class, make a hammered copper ring, a shaped pendant, and a pair of hammered copper earrings with simple tools. Cut, hammer, drill, and polish the pieces.
Mushroom Foraging, with Andi Reisdorf (née Bruce)
This full-day mushroom foraging class will begin indoors with a Mycology 101 crash course. We'll cover fungal biology basics, the variety of shapes and structures found among mushrooms, key identifying characteristics, and foraging tips and tricks. After breaking for lunch, we'll spend the afternoon exploring the woods together, applying our new knowledge to understanding the fungi we observe. We'll look for fall edibles in our area, including maitake/hen of the woods, chicken of the woods, oyster mushrooms, chanterelles, giant puffballs, lobster mushrooms, hedgehog mushrooms, and more.
Hammered Copper Bowls with Stone Tools, with Martha Buche
Using the warm, red metal my Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) relatives call “miskwabik” (copper) and basalt hammer stones from the shores of G’chi gamii (Lake Superior), we will hand-forge bowls on wooden stumps. In a process called “sinking”, or hammering on the inside, we will anneal the metal in a wood fire and form our richly colored, beautiful vessels using the power of our own muscles. Come join us in this elemental journey of copper, fire, water, and stone.
Farm to Yarn: Learn to Process, Spin, & Dye Yarn, with Ellie Barbeau
Immerse yourself in a full day of woolly goodness and the wonderful world of fiber arts! Learn how to spin your own handmade yarn, the process of taking sheep wool from farm to fiber, and how to hand dye beautiful fibers for spinning or felting.
"Artist in Resonance" Led Community Singing Session, with Annie Schlaefer and Linnea Champ
Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.
"Artist in Resonance" Led Community Singing Session, with Annie Schlaefer and Linnea Champ
Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.
Off-Grid Solar with Batteries, with Jon Passi
In this class we will discuss types of batteries and how to connect and maintain them. We'll also introduce other elements necessary for setting up off-grid solar, including rack types, roof mounts, solar panels, charge controllers, off-grid inverters, and wiring.
Beekeeping for Beginners, with Jordan Bendel
Beekeeping for beginners will cover the basics needed to start your first hives.
Hexagonal Weave Basket (Shaker Cheese Basket Type), with Martha Buche
Make a tall or wide version of a Shaker Cheese Basket in a hex or triaxial weave pattern. This intermediate level basket project uses reed to create a hexagonal pattern over the whole basket. We will begin learning to lock together a triangle, the fundamental shape in this weave, by weaving a star-shaped ornaments. When we all understand that concept, we will move on to making a hex weave basket in one of two shapes: tall and vessel-like or short and tray-like.
DIY Dairy Ferments, with Laura Mathes
Fermented dairy is a wonderful way to incorporate probiotics into the diet, use extra milk, and can make dairy more digestible for some. In this class, participants will learn how to make easy dairy ferments, including yogurt, kefir, fresh cheese and cultured butter. We will discuss the health benefits of these foods, ways to use different animal milks in the recipes and fermentation troubleshooting.
Late Spring Foraging, with Nicholas WazeeGale
Late spring brings about a new realm of plants, opportunities and foods. This is a time of frost sensitive plants coming up, shoots and stalk vegetables, seeing plants from earlier now upright and blooming, and many new edible flowers and fungi. This will be an exploration of these foods filled with lessons, examples, and discussion on making the most of this bounty.
Tree and Shrub Recognition and Familiarity, with Nicholas WazeeGale
Naturalists and woodsfolk of all sorts depend on knowledge of trees in what they do, whether it is for finding fungi, identifying warblers, hunting deer on a mast year, or just celebrating trees for what they do and give. They are literally the foundation of the local ecosystem and the pillars of the forest. Come dig into learning to recognize and understand our local trees and shrubs and the opportunities they offer to engage and connect with the wilds around you.
SAWW Level Two: Chainsaw Safety and Efficiency Training, with Luke Saunders
This course is certified through the Safety and Woods Working (SAWW) training program and is part of a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use.
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 1 training…
The Care and Use of the European-style Scythe, with Jared Torkelson
The scythe is a wonderfully efficient tool for the farmer, homesteader, and homeowner alike. It can be used for mowing hay, harvesting grains, maintaining hard to cut areas around trees and fences, or even mowing the lawn. Come learn about getting the right scythe blade for your situation, proper snath (handle) fit, sharpening, and mowing technique. Bring your scythe if you have one. There will be some loaners available for the class. Note: this class will not cover "American-style" scythes.
Shibori Dyeing with Indigo, with Martha Buche
This traditional Japanese technique of fabric folding and binding makes gorgeous repetitive patterns on fabric and is dyed with Indigo. We will learn a bit about the history and tradition of Shibori and about Indigo dyeing around the world. We will then try some ourselves using clips, tubes, bands and other items to make resists on our fabric for dyeing. Ignite your innovation and creativity! This fun and kind of addictive activity gives instant results and makes you want to try many more. It is magical to observe the oxygen react with the Indigo, creating all shades of ‘blue jeans’ blue.
Ecological Literacy in the Driftless Region, with Nicholas WazeeGale
During this lush and vibrant time of year, we will spend these days learning and experiencing all we can of the living landscape of the Driftless region. The array of trees, diverse herbaceous plants of forest and meadow, nesting birds, elusive mammals, and frogs, insects, fungi, and reptiles will all be explored as we work to comprehend the workings of the overall natural community here. Through the tools of drawing, discussion, observation, tracking, sits, and creative activity these plants and animals will be understood first-hand and become personally known, appreciated and respected neighbors in life upon this land.
Family Cow Bootcamp, with Anneka Baird
Known as "the foster mother of the human race," cows can serve both as beloved pets and a source of rich abundance for their owners. For this reason and more, family cows are gaining popularity in the Driftless Region, but they can represent a challenging learning curve for those without livestock experience.
This class will provide you with a first-hand introduction to cows and the world they live in. You will get to try your hand at halter training a calf; learn how to interact with a cow and read its body language; consider fencing, feeding and sheltering your cow; look at milking and milk-handling equipment (including how to cool milk quickly to preserve quality); and last but not least, we will milk a cow by hand and (if you like) taste the fresh, still-warm milk. This class is designed to equip prospective family cow owners with real-world skills and knowledge, but will also be an enjoyable experience for the strictly curious.
Beekeeping for Beginners, with Jordan Bendel
Beekeeping for beginners will cover the basics needed to start your first hives.
Many Voices, One Song: Beginning Polyphonic Song, with Caitlin Vitale-Sullivan
This class explores the beauty of singing together in harmony. Through an exploration of polyphonic songs from a range of song traditions, we will learn two and three part songs and work on becoming comfortable with dissonance and non-western harmony structures. This course provides students with a full body approach to song learning that stems from listening and feeling music and harmonies to increase comfort in singing. Part singing, part practice, this course will also provide both experienced and new singers with tools for warming up, finding variations in tunes, and tools for development of expressive singing. The course consists of 2 days of instruction with breaks for lunch. Students can expect to learn by ear.
Plant Wisdom: Observation, Sensory and Field Botany for Herbalists and Foragers, with Linda Conroy
This program is designed for herbal enthusiasts, herbalists and foragers. The intent is to increase confidence in seeing, experiencing and identifying the plants clearly. The program will include practices in identification, observation, and organoleptic (sensory) skills. The goal is for participants to learn skills for increasing their confidence and direct engagement with the green world.
Learning and practicing field botany as well as sensory exercises is practical and fun. Through playful and engaging observation exercises, sensory experiences and practices with plant keys, everyone will leave this program with skill-building techniques, feeling more confident and excited about creative approaches to engaging with the plant world.
Value Your Voice - Musical Mastery through Movement & Mantra, with Ally Smalley
You're the only one with your voice and it is accessible to you anywhere, everywhere and anytime! The ability to sing can feel mysterious and magical, yet it is our right as humans to use our voices with confidence and clarity. In this workshop, you can expect to learn voice science strategies to shift how you use your voice on a daily basis. Once empowered with this knowledge, you will involve the body through intentional yoga asana that supports the voice while quieting the mind and allowing you to move your singing from analysis to authentic artistry. Finally, you will learn and sing traditional yoga mantra in community and voluntarily as soloists to culminate your workshop learning. Knowing how to sing and use your voice can be one of the most rewarding skills to learn that will support you not only in music spaces, but also your communities and companies!
2nd Annual Community Celebration!
Join the Driftless Folk School + Thoreau College for our 2nd Annual Community Celebration on July 6th, 2024 from 1:00 - 5:30 PM!
There will be a variety of our Folk School Instructors leading demonstrations of their classes, a Silent Auction with instructors’ handmade goods and other fun prizes, traditional games and activities for the whole family, a few farm animals to meet (lamb, oxen, etc.), live music from multiple local bands (+ an optional community song circle), along with some refreshing beverages, snacks, seasonal fresh fruit, and an ice cream truck!
Intarsia Knit Scarf, with Grace Mitchell
Intarsia knitting creates blocks of colors by switching different balls of yarn throughout your flat knitted piece. Over the course of a day-long class, you will learn how to intarsia knit geometric shapes, letters, and representative objects onto panels. The end result of these panels will be a scarf that will serve a utilitarian and stylistic purpose. In class you will start your project, with something to continue in your own time outside of class. It's a deeply rewarding skill that introduces artistic skills akin to drawing into the act of knitting.
Bike the Yards, Led by Julie Tomaro
Meet our new event, Bike The Yards, the little sibling to Bike The Barns! We will meet in Viroqua for a biking tour of urban gardens around town (cars are welcome to follow). We will visit a small handful of yards within easy biking distance being urban-farmed right here in Viroqua. From hoop houses to orchards, we'll hear from the gardeners themselves about how they tend their yard, prune their trees, use rain water, and plan permanent beds. At each garden stop, there will be an opportunity for a few minutes of hands-on gardening, as a way to get our hands in the soil and to lend a helping hand to our volunteer garden hosts. Come be inspired by these beautiful and productive gardens being nurtured in our neighbors' back yards!
Introduction to Flower Essences and Flower Remedies, with Kayle Karbowski
In this workshop we will:
discuss the history and background of flower remedies and a relational, place-based approach
learn about the process of making a flower essence (both indirect and direct methods)
identify flowers in the field and have a chance to practice making your own flower essence with a provided kit for you to take home
practice preserving and bottling essences
become familiar with gem, animal, and environmental essences
expand understanding of flower families and their energetic components
explore how color, scent, and environment can influence the energetics of a flower remedy
experiment with formulating flower remedies that combine multiple essences to make a particular formula using an expansive flower essence apothecary
Introduction to Shape-Note Singing, with James P. Page
This is an introductory shape-note class using Jim's book The Harp of Life. The class assumes students can read music. Students will get an introduction to four-shape notation and basic performance practice. The book includes music in 1, 2, 3, and 4 voice parts. We will start with the simpler tunes, singing through the individual parts and then putting the tunes together. We will also sing some of the rounds. If the class seems able and time allows, we will move on to some of the more challenging music.
Beginner Beverage Fermentation: Kombucha, Kefir and More!, with Laura Poe Mathes
If you have been looking for a way to add more probiotic-rich foods and beverages to your diet (without breaking the bank!), then this workshop is for you! Participants will learn how to make their own non-alcoholic fermented drinks, including kombucha, water kefir (aka tibicos), beet kvass, and shrubs. We will be tasting lots of samples, discussing the health benefits of these drinks and talking all about fermentation troubleshooting.
Wild River Nature Immersion Canoe Trip, with Nicholas WazeeGale
This will be a three day canoe camping adventure on a wild river in southern Wisconsin, likely the Wisconsin River but dependent upon conditions. Using canoeing as our travel mode we will experience immersion in the wildness, biodiversity, and timelessness that these special places offer. We will learn wilderness skills in the gathering, cooking, camping and paddling that we do but an equal amount of our learning will be focused on nature observation, tracking, and awareness of everything from the wildlife we are surrounded by and trees over our heads to the incoming weather and the watercourse. We will also take periods of reflective time for full absorption of this experience and personal connection to these places. This is designed to be a well-supported and dynamic experience in wild camping, deep nature connection, wilderness skills, and cooperative functioning in the wild.
Batik, with Martha Buche
Make a colorful batik image on cotton cloth, to frame or make into a pillow or scarf. Batik is a wax resist technique in which we make a design, draw it on cloth with liquid wax, building a “fence” to contain the fabric dyes we paint on. When it is dry and washed the result is a gorgeous batik. Come explore this interesting and beautiful way to decorate cloth! The batik art form is practiced in most corners of the world, but is believed to have reached its highest expression on the island of Java, Indonesia. Most people have seen gorgeous batiked scarves and sarongs from that part of the world. Come with a sketch of your batik ideas for a piece about 18” square.
Wild Foods, Wild Medicine: 2-day Immersion with Linda Conroy
Join forager and herbalist Linda Conroy for this two-day immersion, focusing on the plants that grow around us. Day 1 will focus on herbs and wild food for nourishment. Day 2 will focus on herbal medicine.
This will be a fun and full weekend. Everyone will leave with nourishing and medicinal herbal preparations that can be used at home. Come prepared to be fully immersed in the plant world!
Leather Card Sleeve Wallets, with Grant Schroeder
In this immersive class, delve into the timeless art of hand-stitching leather to craft wallets that combine functionality with elegance. Whether you're a seasoned artisan or a beginner eager to explore the world of leathercraft, this course offers a comprehensive journey into the techniques and traditions of working with leather…
Beef Chuck Roll Butchery, with Ryan O'Hern
Beginner and intermediate butchers alike will benefit from this class. The boneless chuck roll subprimal comes from the beef shoulder. Students will create chuck eye steaks, Denver steaks, a sierra steak, and a chuck roast, wrapped and ready to fill their home freezers. Foundational concepts such as food safety, knife safety, knife sharpening, quadruped anatomy, and beef muscle cookery will be covered as well. The meat knowledge and knife skills practiced during subprimal butchery will dovetail into all your future butchery and cookery pursuits…
Mindfulness In Nature, with Roger Reynolds
Mindfulness In Nature is a “Down to Earth” approach to Mindfulness Meditation. We use nature as part of the mindfulness experiences. One can practice mindfulness with a leaf, a branch, a tree, a stone, a flying bird, a fire, the landscape, clouds and more. Gently, we increase our connection to self and nature.
Hammered Copper Bowls with Stone Tools, with Martha Buche
Using the warm, red metal my Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) relatives call “miskwabik” (copper) and basalt hammer stones from the shores of G’chi gamii (Lake Superior), we will hand-forge bowls on wooden stumps. In a process called “sinking”, or hammering on the inside, we will anneal the metal in a wood fire and form our richly colored, beautiful vessels using the power of our own muscles. Come join us in this elemental journey of copper, fire, water, and stone.
Fermented Vegetables 101, with Laura Poe Mathes
Fermented vegetables are a wonderful way to incorporate probiotics into the diet, put up the garden harvest, and make vegetables even more nutritious and digestible. In this class, participants will learn how to make sauerkraut, kim chi, lacto-fermented pickled vegetables and condiments. We will discuss the health benefits of these foods, ways to add them to meals, and fermentation troubleshooting.
Black Ash Plaited Basket, with Liandra Skenandore
Plaited baskets are simple but beautiful and still strong holders for many precious and humble items.
Chicken Butchering, with Jacob Hundt
Raising a few chickens can be the easiest way to grow your own meat. Chickens are easy to start and relatively cheap to raise. They have a short lifecycle and can be kept on a small plot of land. To bring this process to a happy conclusion, however, the would-be poultry grower must be ready to butcher as well.
This half-day class will teach the basics of chicken anatomy and meat sanitation and provide hands-on experience with killing, scalding, plucking, and gutting. Plus, you’ll go home with your own freshly butchered chicken, ready for the oven!
Timber Framing Fundamentals Class, with Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks
Master the art of timber framing in our immersive 5-day class! Learn and apply square rule methods to construct a small, beautiful timber-framed structure. Benefit from expert guidance, hands-on construction, and a comprehensive understanding of timber framing principles. Work with quality materials and join a supportive learning environment.
Twelfth Annual Driftless Spoon Gathering 2024
A Spoon Gathering is an event for spoon carvers—and would-be spoon carvers or people curious about spoon carving—and green woodworkers of all sorts. We get together to carve spoons, talk carving and carving tools, share techniques and tools and carving wood, trade or sell spoons or tools.
The 12th Annual Driftless Spoon Gathering will take place Friday, September 13th through Sunday, September 15th. Even though programmed activities don't start until Saturday, more and more people are coming early—on Friday, and some on Thursday, to start carving and renewing old or starting new friendships.
SAWW Level One: Chainsaw Safety and Efficiency Training, with Luke Saunders
This course is certified through the Safety and Woods Working (SAWW) training program and is part of a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use.
Participants in Level 1 training will spend part of the morning in the classroom, and at least 5 hours outside practicing techniques to operate chainsaws safely, comfortably and productively. Topics covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), body mechanics, chainsaw safety features, the chain and the cutter tooth, reactive forces, planning and executing tree felling, intro to limbing, and bucking. Level I introduces the participant to bore cutting and open face felling, and develops the mechanics to execute these techniques. Hands-on training gives participants the opportunity to fell or limb at least one tree.
The Basics of Clawhammer Banjo, with Brennan Henry Allsworth
This class will help the aspiring banjo player learn the basics of playing their instrument in an old style! Clawhammer banjo is a method of playing that's usually associated with traditional American music, although the style can be well applied to contemporary genres, too. Topic to be discussed in class include the history of banjos, fundamentals of strumming, frailing, and drop-thumbing, music theory for the banjo, alternative tunings, and a few reels, waltzes, and more…
PrintCraft: An Introduction to Screen Printing on Textiles, with Leah Parkhurst
In this hands-on, exploratory workshop we will build our own silk-screens from three common items you may already have at home, learn how to use four different resist methods to create a stencil and add your own prints to a range of textiles. First, you’ll learn about traditional screen-printing techniques and then we will get rolling with simple, DIY methods so you can jump right in and begin printing. By the end of class, you’ll create four silk-screens and multiple custom printed textiles to take home. This is a fun and funky beginner class for you to dip your toes into the fantastic world of screen-printing!
Timber Framing Fundamentals Class, with Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks
Master the art of timber framing in our immersive 5-day class! Learn and apply square rule methods to construct a small, beautiful timber-framed structure. Benefit from expert guidance, hands-on construction, and a comprehensive understanding of timber framing principles. Work with quality materials and join a supportive learning environment.
Fall Mushroom Foraging, with Andi Reisdorf (née Bruce)
In this beginner-friendly mushroom foraging class, we'll learn fungal biology basics, mushroom identification techniques, and practical foraging tips during an indoor presentation. We'll also enjoy hands-on exploration in the woods and search for choice fall edibles like hen of the woods, lion's mane, lobster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, chanterelles, puffball mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and more! Come prepared for off-trail hiking and uneven terrain. As with any foraging class, the abundance and variety of mushrooms we find in the woods is entirely up to mother nature! Being prepared for uncertainty (and for surprises!) is all part and parcel of wild foraging.
Forest to Farm: Cultivating Wild Mushrooms, with Andi Reisdorf (née Bruce)
By learning to cultivate wild mushrooms from our local woodlands, we can bypass the need to buy commercial spawn (the mushroom equivalent of purchasing seeds for your garden), and safeguard against the introduction of non-native invasive mushroom species. In this class we’ll leverage low-tech techniques to create spawn from native fungi and discuss strategies for small-scale home grow set-ups. This DIY approach to cultivation creates opportunities to deepen your mycological knowledge while also playing a crucial role in preserving your local ecology.
The Art of Kolrosing, with John Carlson
Kolrosing is an ancient form of wood surface decoration. Thin lines are incised into wood and a powderized substance, such as ashes, coffee grounds or cinnamon, is rubbed into the lines. Oil is applied to the wood, suspending and sealing the substance, creating colored patterns on the surface that are smooth to the touch.
Unlike woodcarving or woodburning, Kolrosing is not removing wood, but spreading the wood and filling the grooves. The technique is easy to learn and is commonly used to decorate wooden spoons and other utilitarian objects.
SAWW Level One: Chainsaw Safety and Efficiency Training, with Luke Saunders
This course is certified through the Safety and Woods Working (SAWW) training program and is part of a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use.
Participants in Level 1 training will spend part of the morning in the classroom, and at least 5 hours outside practicing techniques to operate chainsaws safely, comfortably and productively. Topics covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), body mechanics, chainsaw safety features, the chain and the cutter tooth, reactive forces, planning and executing tree felling, intro to limbing, and bucking. Level I introduces the participant to bore cutting and open face felling, and develops the mechanics to execute these techniques. Hands-on training gives participants the opportunity to fell or limb at least one tree.
Herbs for Winter Health, with Linda Conroy
This class introduces you to herbs that can promote winter health as well as address common ailments. Everyone will make their own simple elderberry oxymel syrup, elderberry tincture and herbal lozenges to take home. During class, we will also taste a variety of herbal tea and infusions that can be easily made at home.
Herbal and Goat Milk Soap Making, with Linda Conroy
A full day of making soap. We will cover the myriad ways to add herbs for your soap, as well as how to make a creamy, moisturizing farm-fresh bar of goat milk soap. This class will cover the qualities of the herbs we can add, for their healing and moisturizing qualities and 3 approaches to soap making: hot process, cold process, and hand milling. In addition to making soap, we will learn to felt soap as well as add loofah sponges for exfoliation as well as additional nourishing skin qualities. This is a comprehensive soap-making class, that will offer a foundation for making soap with the best ingredients from the field, forest, and farm. Participants will leave with many bars of soap to cure at home, a recipe guide and skills for a lifetime.
SAWW Level Two: Chainsaw Safety and Efficiency Training, with Luke Saunders
This course is certified through the Safety and Woods Working (SAWW) training program and is part of a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use.
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 1 training…
Pine Needle and Sweetgrass Basketry, with Linda Conroy
Explore the creative possibilities of this traditional skill as you design and complete a coiled basket using pine needles and sweetgrass. Herbalist Linda Conroy will guide and instruct you on how to coil and stitch a simple basket as well as integrate other materials into your basket, such as black walnut hull, pine cone, beads, and more.
Home Cheese Making: Farmer, Gouda, and Cheddar, with Linda Conroy
Learn to make delicious cheeses! This workshop is suitable for the home cheese maker, small farmstead chef, and cheese lovers as well.
Herbal Gift Making, with Linda Conroy
If you're looking for ways to keep up with the spirit of giving without giving in to the pressure to spend lots of money on trendy but less-than-ecological gifts, look no further!
Join Linda Conroy of Moonwise Herbs for this magical make-and-take workshop - perfect for the budding herbalist or the experienced medicine maker looking for some inspiration.
Mindfulness In Nature, with Roger Reynolds
Mindfulness In Nature is a “Down to Earth” approach to Mindfulness Meditation. We use nature as part of the mindfulness experiences. One can practice mindfulness with a leaf, a branch, a tree, a stone, a flying bird, a fire, the landscape, clouds and more. Gently, we increase our connection to self and nature.
Fruit Tree Grafting, with Rikardo Jahnke
Come learn the magic of fruit tree grafting! With this versatile skill you will be able to make your own apple trees at a fraction of the cost of purchasing them, and have the tools to clone any apple tree you happen to fancy.
Mushrooms A-Z: Preparing and Growing Fungi for Food and Medicine, with Linda Conroy
Whether you grow, forage or purchase mushrooms, it is easy to bring them into your kitchen and medicine chest. Learn how to best prepare mushrooms for optimal benefit and get inspired to incorporate them into your daily life through this informative workshop.
Intro to Oxen, with Anneka Baird
These majestic and powerful animals are rarely seen in the developed world, but in many places they remain essential sources of power for food production, freight and everyday living. In this class you will learn how oxen are traditionally driven in the western world and have the opportunity to practice driving a trained team…
Spring Foraging, with Nicholas WazeeGale
This will be a full day of exploring, learning, eating and discussing the abundant edible growth that spring offers. We will explore and sample both plants that grow near to our homes and those of the wilder forests and meadows, and we will make sure our learning is complete with discussions on plant families, concerns and cautions, habitats and proper recognition, and many other aspects of knowledgeable and productive harvesting in spring. Spring is overwhelmingly a time of greens, but some roots are still available after the winter, and buds, stalks, and flowers are also great spring foods. Some early mushrooms may even make an appearance. This is truly a spectacular time in the Driftless, and with some dedication and education, you can make it a delicious one as well!
SAWW Level One: Chainsaw Safety and Efficiency Training, with Luke Saunders
This course is certified through the Safety and Woods Working (SAWW) training program and is part of a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use.
Participants in Level 1 training will spend part of the morning in the classroom, and at least 5 hours outside practicing techniques to operate chainsaws safely, comfortably and productively. Topics covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), body mechanics, chainsaw safety features, the chain and the cutter tooth, reactive forces, planning and executing tree felling, intro to limbing, and bucking. Level I introduces the participant to bore cutting and open face felling, and develops the mechanics to execute these techniques. Hands-on training gives participants the opportunity to fell or limb at least one tree.
Spring Barn Dance
Come join in an old fashioned barn dance with the Driftless Folk School. We will begin with a potluck at 5:00 and begin dancing at 6:30, wrapping up around 9:00. Acclaimed and notable local caller Sue Hulsether will call the dance and the infamous Farm Market Buskers will be playing. Bring a dish and your dancing shoes and join in the fun in celebration of Earth Day and the Returning of Spring!
Learning from the Land in Spring, with Nicholas WazeeGale
This will be an experiential day of learning to interpret the stories of the living landscape. From birds returning, frogs calling and breeding, and mammals feeding on rich spring growth (and each other), to wild edibles along the river bank and the history of the land written in tree species and growth, we will endeavor to put together the puzzle pieces that show us how the wild communities around us function and abound at this special time of year. Emphasis will be placed on respect, connection, interpretation of track and sign, and productive times, places, and methods by which to see and experience more of what is happening around us. This class will take place in the diverse landscapes of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Please be prepared for a full day off and away!
DIY Photovoltaics, with Jon Passi
Each class participant models their own solar project, and collects all the information they need to finance, construct, or manage their own solar project.
Coptic Bookbinding: the Original Codex (at the Ridges & Rivers Book Festival), with Anneka Baird
Coptic Bookbinding was developed by the Egyptian Copts in the 2nd century A.D. and represents the earliest known form of a true codex. This multi-section, non-adhesive binding features an exposed spine which reveals the decorative, braid-like sewing of the binding -- commonly known as a chain stitch. These books lay flat when opened, making them easy to write in and an ideal candidate for journals and notebooks. This class will include a brief introduction to material considerations and each participant will bind a book to take home.
Timber Framing Fundamentals Class, with Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks
Master the art of timber framing in our immersive 5-day class! Learn and apply square rule methods to construct a small, beautiful timber-framed structure. Benefit from expert guidance, hands-on construction, and a comprehensive understanding of timber framing principles. Work with quality materials and join a supportive learning environment.
Traditional Spoon Carving (Two-Day Course), with Nicholas WazeeGale
In this two-day course, we will dig deeply into the Scandinavian tradition of spoon carving using sloyd knife, hook knife, axe and saw. With these simple tools, in good sharp condition, one can create myriad forms and purposes of woodenware, much of it while enjoying the comforts of home and hearth, or campfire…
Windmills for Water Pumping, with Jon Passi
A windmill is both a rural icon and a time-honored method of pumping water - one that is still a viable method today.
Fruit Tree Grafting, with Rikardo Jahnke
Come learn the magic of fruit tree grafting! With this versatile skill you will be able to make your own apple trees at a fraction of the cost of purchasing them, and have the tools to clone any apple tree you happen to fancy.
"Artist in Resonance" Led Community Singing Session, with Sarina Partridge
Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.
"Artist in Resonance" Led Community Singing Session, with Sarina Partridge
Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.
SAWW Level One: Chainsaw Safety and Efficiency Training, with Luke Saunders
This course is certified through the Safety and Woods Working (SAWW) training program and is part of a four-level series designed to increase safety and efficiency of chainsaw use.
Participants in Level 1 training will spend part of the morning in the classroom, and at least 5 hours outside practicing techniques to operate chainsaws safely, comfortably and productively. Topics covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), body mechanics, chainsaw safety features, the chain and the cutter tooth, reactive forces, planning and executing tree felling, intro to limbing, and bucking. Level I introduces the participant to bore cutting and open face felling, and develops the mechanics to execute these techniques. Hands-on training gives participants the opportunity to fell or limb at least one tree.
Beginning Chip Carving, with John Carlson
"Chip Carving" is an ancient form of wood-surface decoration. It can be applied to wood surfaces both practical and decorative. Examples can be seen on jewelry, Christmas ornaments, boxes, furniture, door frames, spoons and more! In this class each student will have guided practice, then choose/create a traditional Rosette pattern to complete their own Chip Carving artwork.
Making Mead, with Bjorn Bergman
Mead (honey wine) is a traditional Norwegian alcoholic beverage is made by mixing water, honey, and yeast and allowing them to ferment. In this class, learn the art and science of making mead at home. Topics covered include: choosing honey, sanitation, different ways to ferment mead, monitoring fermentation, bottling, and tasting mead. Participants will leave class with a small batch of mead to ferment at home. Must be 21 years of age or older to participate in this class.
Regenerative Design in the Driftless, with Peter Allen of Mastodon Valley Farm
We will learn the basics of regenerative land design, focusing on our native ecosystems here in the Driftless, with the goal of learning how to guide the development of healthy, diverse, functional, and productive ecosystems that provide essential goods and services to our community. We will learn how to rapidly build topsoil, sequester carbon, enhance biodiversity, and recharge aquifers, all while producing abundant nutrient-dense foods, high-quality fibers, and building materials. The course includes lectures and hand-on activities at on-farm field trips. Once we've learned the fundamentals of soil, water, ecology, and the human context, we will have the opportunity to put theory into practice by helping you develop your own regenerative design.
Black Ash Mini Basket (With Kits), with Liandra Skenandore
In this class, students will make one mini basket made out of black ash splint material. Students will work with already prepared base and weaver pieces to weave a mini basket in the continuous weave style. Students will learn how to finish a basket by tucking in the uprights and how to fashion a rim system onto the basket with prepared rim and lashing pieces. A log pounding and splint splitting demonstration will be done where students can participate in the intricate process of attaining ash splint material. Students will also learn about Haudenosaunee traditions and histories of black ash basket weaving. A display table of baskets and basket books will be available for students to interact with.
Long-stitch Bookbinding: the Medieval Paperback, with Anneka Baird
Pamphlets are the most common introduction to book arts and almost always the first project in an extended class. And for good reason: the go-to structure for children's books, chapbooks, zines and bound ephemera, the pamphlet is widely useful and introduces many of the essential elements required for more advanced structures.
In this class we will cover (at least) two styles of sewing pamphlets, discuss paper grain and precise cutting and folding techniques, sewing tension and other ideas central to building a codex.
The Art of Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs), with John Carlson
This is a hands-on on class for all experience levels, for ages 9 and up. Learn to use traditional and modern tools to create beautiful, symbolic Pysanky!
The word Pysanka(-y plural) derives from the Ukrainian verb, pysaty, to write. Writing pysanky is an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years! Special symbols and colors are used as prayers and talismans to ward off evil.
Pine Needle and Sweetgrass Basketry, with Linda Conroy
Explore the creative possibilities of this traditional skill as you design and complete a coiled basket using pine needles and sweetgrass. Herbalist Linda Conroy will guide and instruct you on how to coil and stitch a simple basket as well as integrate other materials into your basket, such as black walnut hull, pine cone, beads, and more.
Herbal and Goat Milk Soap Making, with Linda Conroy
A full day of making soap. We will cover the myriad ways to add herbs for your soap, as well as how to make a creamy, moisturizing farm-fresh bar of goat milk soap. This class will cover the qualities of the herbs we can add, for their healing and moisturizing qualities and 3 approaches to soap making: hot process, cold process, and hand milling. In addition to making soap, we will learn to felt soap as well as add loofah sponges for exfoliation as well as additional nourishing skin qualities. This is a comprehensive soap-making class, that will offer a foundation for making soap with the best ingredients from the field, forest, and farm. Participants will leave with many bars of soap to cure at home, a recipe guide and skills for a lifetime.
Bow-drill Fire Making, with Nicholas WazeeGale
For thousands of years people have cherished fire and all that fire provided. And one of the prevalent methods of creating those uncountable fires around the world was the 'bow drill', a well-shaped rod of soft wood spun in a bow with a cord, which generates enough heat in its' spinning against the hearth board to create a powdery, smoldering ember
We will craft our own bow drill sets from local materials, some that we gather and others that have been cured out for immediate use, and then start working at gaining the form and strength to run it well enough to make coals consistently.
"Artist in Resonance" Led Community Singing Session, with Lyndsey Scott
Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.
"Artist in Resonance" Led Community Singing Session, with Lyndsey Scott
Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.
Saw Horse Class, with Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks (CANCELLED)
Join our Saw Horse Class for a hands-on journey into the timeless craft of timber framing. In this workshop, participants will craft their own set of saw horses from sturdy 6×6 timbers, gaining practical skills in timber framing essentials such as square rule layout, tenon and mortise cutting, test fitting, and draw-boring. These saw horses, made with precision and care, aren't just a class project – they're yours to take home and enhance your woodworking endeavors. Whether you're a woodworking enthusiast or a beginner eager to explore timber framing, this class offers a unique opportunity to learn the basics while creating a functional masterpiece for your home shop or work area.
Mindfulness In Nature - Fire & Ice, with Roger Reynolds
Mindfulness In Nature is a “Down to Earth” approach to Mindfulness Meditation. We use nature as part of the mindfulness experiences. One can practice mindfulness with a leaf, a branch, a tree, a stone, a flying bird, a fire, the landscape, clouds and more. Gently, we increase our connection to self and nature.