Woodland Skills Series

Woodland Skills Series

8 Wednesday sessions; Sept 30, Oct 5, Oct 12, Oct 19, Nov 9, Nov 16, Nov 23, Nov 30.

These half day programs will run from 2:00PM to 6:00PM each of these Wednesdays

$450 tuition includes various materials worked with in the series. Two $200 scholarships are offered to those needing financial assistance.

In this series we will immerse ourselves in the woodlands of our area and learn to receive the food, shelter, comfort and materials they have always offered people. Through a focus on woodland skills, and in the context of fall, we will learn many hands-on skills of competency and also increase our knowledge of this realm and our connection and belonging to it. Obviously this learning can go on for a lifetime, but this course will give participants the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to continue with confidence and a foundation in their own ways.

Our projects will range through familiarizing ourselves with local trees and other members of this complex natural community, gathering wild foods like various nuts and learning to process them, harvesting poles and other materials and building a structure to house our craft learning in the later block, gaining greater awareness of the plants and animals of our forests and their habits, learning the intricacies of skillful fire use, fire-starting, and wood selection, making useful utensils and camp craft from what the forest gives, and competent use and maintainance of hand tools like axes, saws, adzes, knives, and gouges. A majority of this learning will happen out in the forest, or under simple shelters made of the trees themselves, with the opportunity to use an indoor shop space if serious weather or crafting need requires. Our consistent emphases will be respectful participation in and developing relationship with the natural forest community, supportive and cooperative working together in our group, and learning to work within this realm in a mutually beneficial, skillful and dynamic way.

If you have longed to know the forest in a deeper way, make more out of local materials, be more knowledgeable of our natural communities, and become more at home and connected to this realm, this course is made for you. Some physicalness and willingness to push oneself and your comfort levels in the outdoors will be required, and some serious tool use will be involved in our building efforts. And though safety will be emphasised, there is always risk in the use of sharp tools. Scholarships are offered for those whom the cost of this program is burdensome. Please contact me at wazeegale@gmail.com or 608-606-9377 with any and all inquiries about this program.