This session will delve into the connection between the human animal and the rest of the natural life-death-life cycle. We are all inescapably linked to the food web. As omnivores, humans have an abundance of choices about how we connect to that natural web. 

The choice to connect directly as an omnivorous meso-predator opens the door to a sacred practice of balancing ethics and survival, of facing death and reconciliation with its place in the food web. As animals our life-sustaining practice has within it a cost of the life of another being, animal, vegetable, or both.

The hunter's mindset is a sacred right of humankind, that can be accessed through an openness to the Gaian mind. To serve us best it must be nurtured, understood, and cultivated carefully. 

Share some time laughing and learning the time honored skills of Manoomin/ Wild Rice workings. They will be sharing pole and knockers working and doing processing demos. Roger is the Wild Rice Chief of Michigan. SO HAPPY to have them back. 

Learn the basics of how to notice, recognize, and tell stories about the tracks, scat, and other sign that other animals leave behind. Tracking is ancestral to all humans and a natural behavior in us all that can helps us connect with and have understanding of our ecosystems and our place in them. We will learn about track morphology, animal behavior, tracking techniques, and how to practice using our senses.

In this 3 hour class we will learn how to naturally dye with plants, using the bundle dye method. Using food waste, native plants and other natural dye materials, we will create beautiful, vibrant patterns and prints on a silk bandana. We will also discuss methods of preparing different fibers for dye (mordanting), how to create a dye bath, and methods of shifting colors using various minerals and plant tannins. You will leave with a completely unique, wearable work of art. Up to 20 participants. $10 materials fee. 

Creating and tending fire is one of the most uniquely human things there is. I feel that getting closer to fire by starting it in this ancient way re-connects us to nature, our ancestors, our bodies, community, and ourselves. Come feel this joy and re-connection and spin a fire into existence with just a few sticks and a stone.

I will start with a demo and go over some fundamentals. Then, everyone can grab a set and play with it themselves. Most of this class will be a "bow drill open mat" where you can learn hands-on with some coaching. Bow drill sets will be provided and for sale at the end of class.

Please bring a knife if you have one!

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We will discuss how and why humans have used and developed a variety of archery tools and techniques. And offer time for participants to try them out, with guides coaching for those who want it.

Wooden long bows, wooden recurve bows, compound bows and even a cross bow, that can be set up for a supervised class in addition to the existing open archery range. 

Please note: This workshop builds on the Successful Death workshop and is open only to those who have completed that workshop.

Learn to:

• Identify a soul wound, including our own.

• Track its progression from original wound to resolution.

• Identify 3 to 6 methods of easing soul wound trauma.

• Locate resources to deal with soul wound trauma.

• Recognize when you've become enmeshed in someone else's soul wound trauma.

• Identify ways to extricate yourself.

• Categorize Ghost Pains.

• Participate in a ceremony to heal soul wound trauma across the veil.

Please bring a chair, paper/journal, writing tools, drinking water, and a small snack (one or two small bites) for the ceremony.

Students will use broomcorn to make a turkey wing style whisk and if time allows we will plait the handles. 

​These brooms are a must have in your cleaning arensal. 

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​Students will use a single bundle of broomcorn to make a flat stitched whisk and a small pot scrubber. This class will not include plaiting as flat stitching takes quite a while for beginners 

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Oxen are a practical alternative to tractors on a small farm or in a woodlot, and they’re a heck of a lot of fun, too. In this half day session, you’ll quickly learn the three basic ways teamsters communicate with a team of oxen; then we’ll yoke up a team or two and put them to work. Even if you’ve never worked with cattle before, you’ll be impressed at how much communication you can share with a team and how responsive they can be. 

Jamie will go over basic and French braid techniques. 

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Kid Friendly!

She will also have yarn to practice on. 

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Wonderful way to kick off a weekend of sleeping in the woods and learning protective hairstyles to help hair grow longer and stronger. 

 Working with locally available, natural materials to make cordage is fundamental to wild crafting - from making baskets, shoes, jewelry, bags, and ropes for numerous purposes.  In this class, you will learn about the history of cordage, including examples from history with a focus on European bronze and iron age sources, and you will learn about raw materials available within our region that can be used to make cordage, and you will get an opportunity to practice making cordage. 

Learn how to make loose incense using locally foraged and traditional materials.  The history of incense will be discussed, and students will have an opportunity to create a blend together to take home.  

Fee- $15

Learn to Attach several types of Points  to a shaft or handle. Arrowheads, knive blades, etc. 

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This will be at the end of the gathering to give students plenty of time to fashion a point in the Knapping Pit!

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ALSO BE COVERING CORDAGE in this session.

AGES  5-12

We would start the class discussing various bushcraft survival shelters and the benefits of some over others. We would discuss tool use safety and hike to (or start at) a spot in a wooded area where we can use sticks to build shelters. Kids would also have the opportunity to feel empowered to use "grown up" tools like a saw, axe, whittling knives, etc. 

Material costs- a set of Opanel whittling knives. 4 for $68 but could also do this for less. 

Join us for this hands on introduction class to natural building with a focus on straw bale building principles and techniques. We will introduce the student to common tools used in general straw bale building as well as methods of clay stucco application. A proportion of the class will include retrofitting techniques using straw bale infill method to retrofit a light wood frame construction. 

Learn this timeless and exciting skill!
 

This will be open to Bows and Atlatls. Bring yours along. 

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Friendly Competitions each day.

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Range will be open multiple sessions during the gatherings.

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Kids encouraged 

Fashion a scratch awl or hatpin. 

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Great all around tool or secret weapon!

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Open Air blacksmithing!

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This session will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of smithing: basic hammer skills, heat treating, forge welding, and identification of “found” steels. Safety, tools, techniques, and materials will be reviewed. With an anvil for each student, there will be an opportunity for hands-on learning with superb coaching.

Learn the ancient process of taking flint and turning it into an arrowhead. 

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Open Pit.

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Kids hours will be posted. There re many sharp objects so must kids will need adult super vision, 

Plant walk with a pillar of the plant world in this region! Even the seasoned forager will be sure to find out new ways to use the edible landscape. Led by the founder of Great Lakes Foraging Gathering and Owner of "Will Forage For Food."  

During the knowledge share you will dive into the wisdom of the beehive and unfold the relationship humankind has built with the honeybee throughout time, to understand why 100% beeswax is the healthiest wax to burn, to the traditional candle making technique.

Fee-$15 Includes leaving with 2 taper candles.