Classes + Events
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.
Summer Mushroom Foraging (Viroqua), with Andi Reisdorf
In this beginner-friendly mushroom foraging class, we'll discuss mushroom identification techniques, and practical foraging tips. We'll explore the woods together in search of edible and medicinal mushrooms like lion's mane, lobster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, 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.
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.
Easy Fermented Beverages, 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.
Tanning with Tannins Two Day Workshop, with Nicholas WazeeGale
This method of tanning, frequently called bark or vegetable tanning, is an ancient method that was prevalently used in the northern parts of Europe and Asia. It creates a strong and long-lasting tan that is relatively dense in nature but can also yield softer, lighter leathers.
Using deerskin and tannin-rich plants like sumac from our environment here in the Driftless, we will have hands-on experience with all steps of the process. Emphasis will be on tanning hair-off skins but we will also cover in some detail how to use this method on hair-on skins, like sheepskins and pelts. Some of our second day will be spent harvesting sumac and maybe bark, and students will take home enough fresh sumac leaf for tanning a first skin (if they have cargo room!).
Long-stitch Bookbinding: the Medieval Paperback, with Anneka Baird
The Long-stitch has been used as far back as the 14th century as a stationary binding and as a temporary binding for books with more elaborate (and expensive) futures.
This simple multi-section structure allows for a virtually unlimited number of pages and is well-suited for sketchbooks, notebooks and journals. It is also a popular structure for artists' books as the spine lends itself readily to decoration.
Coptic Bookbinding: the Original Codex, 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.
Fourteenth Annual Driftless Spoon Gathering 2026
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 14th Annual Driftless Spoon Gathering will take place Friday, September 11th through Sunday, September 13th, 2026. 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!
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.
The Star Hill Method: Timber Framing Essentials, with Jon Anderson (of Star Hill Timberworks)
Learn the Star Hill Method by helping build a real timber frame from layout to raise. Many people want to build a timber frame. Most don’t know where to start…
Understanding Electricity and Basic Home Wiring, with Jon Passi
Learn the history and basics of electricity, and electrical theory, including Ohm's Law, amps, volts, and watts, and how they are calculated in simple home wiring jobs.
The class will also learn about wire, wire sizes, and some basic home wiring, including how to properly wire a switch, an outlet, a light, and a circuit breaker. The class will also get to safely explore a circuit breaker box, including the use and wiring of circuit breakers, and proper grounding, including placement of the ground wire and the ground rod.
This class is for anyone, including absolute beginners.
Intro to Oxen, with Anneka Baird
These majestic and powerful animals are rarely seen at work 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.
We will cover some basics of cow psychology and demonstrate and practice some training strategies with a pair of untrained calves. We will consider yoking and hitching a team and take some time to talk about ox yokes-- fit, shape and design-- and how to approach making a yoke. This class is designed to be a good starting point for anyone interested in draft animal power, whether for pleasure or for practical contemporary use in sustainable small-scale farming and land management.
Fall Mushroom Foraging (Viroqua), with Andi Reisdorf
In this beginner-friendly mushroom foraging class, we'll explore the autumn woods together in search of edible and medicinal mushrooms. We'll discuss mushroom identification techniques, helpful tools, and practical foraging tips. We'll be on the hunt for fall mushrooms like hen of the woods/ maitake, honey mushrooms, lion's mane, lobster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, shaggy manes, hedgehog mushrooms, puffball mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and more! Come prepared for off-trail hiking and traversing uneven terrain. As with any foraging class, the abundance and variety of mushrooms we find in the woods is entirely up to mother nature!
Fall Mushroom Foraging (La Crosse), with Andi Reisdorf
In this beginner-friendly mushroom foraging class, we'll explore the autumn woods together in search of edible and medicinal mushrooms. We'll discuss mushroom identification techniques, helpful tools, and practical foraging tips. We'll be on the hunt for fall mushrooms like hen of the woods/ maitake, honey mushrooms, lion's mane, lobster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, shaggy manes, hedgehog mushrooms, puffball mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and more! Come prepared for off-trail hiking and traversing uneven terrain. As with any foraging class, the abundance and variety of mushrooms we find in the woods is entirely up to mother nature!
Introduction to Relief Woodcarving, with Kevin Ewing
Curious about relief woodcarving? This relaxed, hands-on class is for you! You’ll get an 8”x10” basswood block and use of all the tools needed to learn the basics of relief carving. With step-by-step guidance from the instructor, you’ll practice making cuts on the back of the board and then carve your very own piece on the front. Kevin’s approachable style and years of experience make it easy to learn and fun!
Understanding Electric Vehicles, with Jon Passi and Al Buss
Curious about electric vehicles? In this class co-taught by DFS photovoltaics instructor, Jon Passi, and Vernon County Energy District President, Al Bus, we'll tackle questions most drivers have: how EVs stack up against gas cars, how they handle long trips, and what to expect in winter conditions. You’ll get a brief history of electric vehicles and a practical overview of today’s hybrid and all-electric models, including pricing.
We’ll take a closer look under the hood (and beneath the floor), exploring how EVs are built, how their systems work, and what to know about battery lifespan and replacement. You’ll also gain insight into everyday EV ownership, from charging at home to finding stations on the road. Plus, see an electric vehicle up close during a live demonstration.
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.
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!
The Home Apothecary 1: Herbal Medicine Making for Winter Health, with Linda Conroy
Join herbalist Linda Conroy for this fun hands-on herbal medicine-making class. During this day-long class, we will make a wide array of remedies that you can add to your home apothecary. We will make syrups, oxymels, throat sprays, gargle, tinctures, lozenges, infusions, tea, salves and much more. Everyone will leave with recipes, remedies that we make in class and instructions on how to work with each herb.
Value Your Voice - Musical Mastery Through Movement & Mantra, with Ally Smalley
In Value Your Voice, you will discover the power of your voice in this transformative workshop. You will dive into the mysterious world of singing and claim your right to vocal confidence and clarity. Learn voice science strategies to elevate your everyday voice use, accompanied by intentional yoga asana, mudra, and pranayama to support both your body and mind. Join our workshop community as we explore traditional yoga mantras, singing together and stepping into solo singing with newfound authenticity. Whether you're a seasoned singer or a beginner, this workshop promises to empower your voice and enrich your life.
The Home Apothecary 2: Herbs for Topical Applications: Salves, Compresses, Poultices, Lotions and More!, with Linda Conroy
Join herbalist Linda Conroy for this fun experiential class. We will learn about herbs that can be applied topically to heal the skin, to relieve pain and heal sprains and strains. We will make infused oils, salve, lotion, poultices, topical sprays, washes, and much more! Everyone will leave with recipes and remedies that we make in class.
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.
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.
The Home Creamery: Home Cheese Making 101, with Linda Conroy
Join home cheese maker and traditional food aficionado Linda Conroy for this fun class. We will begin the day making cultured milk and cream products including kefir, yogurt, and piima (a Scandinavian cultured cream). We will then transform these into fresh cheeses, like paneer cheese, feta, and mozzarella. Everyone will take home cultures, cheese, rennet, and recipes. The class includes a lunch full of delicious homemade cheese.
Deer Butchering, with Vince Hundt
Become a part of the hallowed Wisconsin tradition of deer hunting and learn how to take advantage of an abundant local source of all-natural meat. Local hunters will harvest a number of healthy deer for the class and students will learn how to skin and de-bone the animal, as well as how to identify, process, and preserve steaks, stew meat, and meat for grinding…
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.
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.
Summer Mushroom Foraging (La Crosse), with Andi Reisdorf
In this beginner-friendly mushroom foraging class, we'll discuss mushroom identification techniques, and practical foraging tips. We'll explore the woods together in search of edible and medicinal mushrooms like lion's mane, lobster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, 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.
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! (One chicken per registered participant.)
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.
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. 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!
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.
Stone Masonry Basics, with Rikardo Jahnke
Discover the timeless craft of stonework in this hands-on introductory class. You’ll learn the fundamentals of selecting and collecting stone, along with techniques for building sturdy and attractive walls, whether for gardens, retaining structures, home features, or creative projects. The class covers both dry-stacked and mortar-set methods, as well as basic stone cutting skills. We’ll also explore existing on-site stone structures to see these techniques in action, giving you practical insight and inspiration to start your own projects.
Bike the Yards 2026, Led by Julie Tomaro
Meet 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!
Willow Round Basketry, with Clint Grabhorn
This one-day course is a beginner-friendly introduction to the rich traditions of willow basketry. Students will explore the fundamentals of crafting a classic round basket, working with cured willow to learn essential techniques such as creating a round base, twining, staking up, waling, bordering, and finishing. While the hands-on focus is on working with prepared materials, the course also includes discussion on how to process and prepare willow for future projects. Each participant will complete a small to medium-sized basket and receive detailed informational materials to support their continued learning and independent practice in the art of willow basketry.
4th Annual Community Celebration!
SAVE THE DATE:
The Driftless Folk School Community Celebration will be hosted on Sunday, July 5th, 2026.
FREE micro classes with folk school instructors, live music, ice cream, local community connections, and more…
We hope you can join us!
Trees, Shrubs, Brambles and Vines of the Driftless, with Nicholas WazeeGale
This program will foster better familiarity with our native woody plants who shape and support the living landscape of the Driftless. Though often taken for granted, these members of our ecosystem are dynamic and essential constituents of this place and knowing them better will help us in our plant and fungi foraging, birding, photography, hunting, stewardship of lands, and even our feeling of belonging to this place. We will explore leaf shapes, bark, twigs, and tree growth forms for identification purposes, and discuss ecological aspects like their preferred soil types, tree communities, and wildlife/woody-life interdependence. This will be an instructive but enjoyable and hands-on exploration of this fascinating world.
Botany and Sensory Skills 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.
Harvesting and Processing Basswood Fiber, with Nicholas WazeeGale
For thousands of years people have harvested and used fiber from basswood and linden species for lashings, rope, nets, mats and woven bags, both in the Old World and here in the Americas. This amazing material is still available from trees growing throughout our region but is little known now and very little used. We will get to know the American Basswood, learn of these tree's ecological significance, harvest a small tree and peel the bark, begin retting some of the bark, and process out some finished fiber. We will learn a couple methods of rope making and spend some time doing so. Participants will leave with some bark to ret and process, and some cord of their own making.
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.
Family Cow Bootcamp, with Anneka Baird
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.
5-Day Timber Framing Class, with Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks
Are you ready to build your own timber frame structure? Our comprehensive 5-day “Ready to Build” class is perfect for those eager to start their first project—no prior experience needed! Learn the Square Rule method alongside the exclusive Star Hill Timberworks Layout System through hands-on training with expert guidance. This course will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in timber framing.
Basic Fermented Dairy, with Laura Poe 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.
Intro to Beekeeping, with Jeff Hancock
This introductory beekeeping course is designed for beginners who are curious about keeping honeybees and want the knowledge and confidence to get started as a hobby beekeeper. The class covers the fundamentals of beekeeping, including a brief history of beekeeping, honeybee biology and behavior, and an overview of common pests and diseases. Participants will learn about essential equipment, with a focus on the Langstroth hive and basic wooden ware, as well as core management techniques such as hive inspections and record keeping. The course also provides helpful resources to support continued learning and successful beekeeping beyond the classroom.
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.
Mushrooms A-Z: Preparing and Growing Fungi for Food and Medicine, with Linda Conroy and Ingrid Daudert
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. The second part of the day will be spent learning to grow mushrooms and everyone will take home their own inoculated log.
Wildcrafting with Beeswax: Mullein Torches + Acorn Cap Balms, with Dr. Crystal Jewell
Before candles, we made torches. Learn how to make one of human's original portable light sources: the mullein stalk torch!
Love using lip balm but hate wasting plastic tubes? Discover the simple magic of turning acorn caps, herbs, and beeswax into your own nourishing lip and body balm. You’ll learn to infuse, blend, and pour your balm using natural, zero-waste ingredients.
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.
Herbal Floral Remedies: Incorporating Flower Essences, with Kayle Karbowski
This workshop focuses on incorporating flower remedies (or flower essences) in daily practice as well as folk and clinical herbalism settings. Suitable for flower enthusiasts and seasoned herbalists alike, we will spend the afternoon learning about how this homeopathic medicine can support balance of emotional and energetic shifts.
Coptic Bookbinding: the Original Codex, 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.
Long-stitch Bookbinding: the Medieval Paperback, with Anneka Baird
The Long-stitch has been used as far back as the 14th century as a stationary binding and as a temporary binding for books with more elaborate (and expensive) futures.
This simple multi-section structure allows for a virtually unlimited number of pages and is well-suited for sketchbooks, notebooks and journals. It is also a popular structure for artists' books as the spine lends itself readily to decoration…
5-Day Timber Framing Class, with Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks
Are you ready to build your own timber frame structure? Our comprehensive 5-day “Ready to Build” class is perfect for those eager to start their first project—no prior experience needed! Learn the Square Rule method alongside the exclusive Star Hill Timberworks Layout System through hands-on training with expert guidance. This course will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in timber framing.
Traditional Spoon Carving, 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. We will learn a basic repertoire of carving strokes, cover spoon function and aesthetic, go over good wood species and how to source them for spoons, rough out blanks, stress safety, gain some hands-on experience with basic sharpening, and learn about finishing. There will be educational exercises with a couple warm-up projects and carving of a first spoon from a prepared blank in the first day, and then in the second day we will all rough out a second spoon (or two) and work to carve that one out in order to improve upon and solidify the techniques.
Spring Foraging in the Driftless, with Nicholas WazeeGale
In this in-depth exploration of wild edibles of the Driftless area, we will learn a wide range of plants that offer us food during this season. Many roots and tubers from the previous season are still prime underground, a plethora of greens and blossoms will have burst out, and even some early stalk vegetables and petioles should be available. We will learn the plants that offer these foods with emphasis on proper identification, relationship, and reciprocity. This class will set you up to begin foraging from many plants on your own, or add plants to your knowledge base if you have some foraging experience. Discussion, sampling, a lunch of wild and local fare, and exploration of various local habitats will fill out our day of learning and experiencing this enriching, connecting and grounding activity.
Spring Foraging in the Driftless, with Nicholas WazeeGale
In this in-depth exploration of wild edibles of the Driftless area we will learn a wide range of plants that offer us food during this season. Many roots and tubers from the previous season are available still, a plethora of greens and blossoms have burst out, and even some early stalk vegetables are showing. We will thoroughly learn the plants that offer these foods with emphasis on safety, respect, and reciprocity. This class will set you up to begin foraging in earnest, or add plants to your list if you know something about foraging but are still rather new to the game. Discussion, sampling, a wild food lunch, and exploring of various Driftless aspects and environments will fill out our day of learning and experiencing this enriching, connecting and grounding activity.
Off-Grid Solar with Batteries, with Jon Passi
Are you interested in going off-grid, with batteries and solar panels for power?
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…
Starting a New Fruit Orchard, with Rikardo Jahnke
Join long-time orchardist Rikardo Jahnke to learn how to start your own orchard.
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