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Youth Programming Fall Session Registration
Youth Programming Registration for fall term has began. Artful environmental education that will allow your homeschooled student ages 3- 18, to socialize while learning science, geography, social studies, art, music and more. To find out more about Caterpillar Collective 3-5yr, Field Mouse Academy 6-9yrs, Salamander School 10-13yrs, Barred Owl Institute 13-18yrs CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER
Find out more »Permaculture Practicum in Water and Forestry Systems
This course is designed for farmers, landowners, contractors, and students seeking to deepen their on-the-ground experience in planning and implementing regenerative forestry and water systems in the context holistic homestead and farm-scale projects. This program embeds students within three integrated focus areas: agroforestry and perennial food systems, timber based forest management, and water harvesting. Projects will include construction of ponds and other earthworks, land survey and map making, indoor and outdoor aquaculture, keyline system survey and implementation, food forestry, timber…
Find out more »Caterpillar Collective Fall Term Session
Caterpillar Collective allows little ones ages 3 – 5yrs old to explore and create indoors and out. The caterpillars will spend most of their day in play focused on the outdoors, tales, music making, movement, and artistic creation. Wednesdays 11-3pm Fall Term Begins September 23, 2017 Ends November 1, 2017 Scholarships available, please indicate interest on registration form Register here
Find out more »Field Mouse Academy Fall Term Session
Field Mouse Academy offers children ages 6-9yrs old an opportunity to socialize while engaging in social- environmental learning. Fall and Spring term will be held primarily in an outdoor classroom. Winter term will be spent in our cob class room, tipi and club house. Each week we will visit a different location on the globe through story, science, music, art, craft and exploration. WEDNESDAYS 11-3pm Fall 6 week session begins September 27 and ends Nov. 1st 2017 Scholarships available, please…
Find out more »Beginners Handcarving Traditional Woodenware from Green Wood
REGISTER AND PAY HERE. Saturday and Sunday, September 30th and October 1st, plus a 4-hour follow up on Saturday, October 21st INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Yanchury Come begin your study of traditional woodcraft this fall at Aprovecho. Instructor Daniel R. Yanchury of Corylus Crafts will guide students through a comprehensive two-day course designed to introduce carvers of all experience levels to a range of vital carving concepts, including: How and Why we can use Greenwood Scandinavian Knife Techniques Using a Hatchet…
Find out more »Medicinal Fungi 101: Cultivation, Indications, and Processing
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday, October 14th INSTRUCTOR: Peter McCoy In this workshop, mycology educator and author Peter McCoy will guide you into through the vast world of medicinal mushrooms. Starting with the history of medicinal mushrooms in cultures around the world, Peter will then teach you the various medicinal benefits of mushrooms and other fungi, how to cultivate medicinal species on logs, and how to identify several medicinal mushrooms that are common in the Pacific Northwest. At the end of class,…
Find out more »Secrets of Wildcrafting and Wild Mushrooms
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday October 21st and 22nd INSTRUCTOR: Rob Miller Wild mushrooms are enchanting, beautiful and abundant sources of free food and DELICIOUS! Join wildcrafter Rob Miller, who has harvested many tons of wild mushrooms for local health food stores and restaurants over the past 15 years, for a fun and engaging weekend of harvesting and eating these delicacies of the Pacific Northwest. Although you will learn practical skills such as identification, best practices for harvesting and cleaning,…
Find out more »Herbal Indulgences
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday, October 28th INSTRUCTOR: Venice Mason Learn the basics of herbal self-care. Creating your own herbal products from the ground up—literally! Using readily available and sustainable ingredients, we will explore the best whole plants, oils, and essences for luxurious herbal self-care at a fraction of the cost of commercially available products. In the hands-on lab, students will prepare bath salts and spritzers specifically crafted for their own skin types and take home an herbal product of their choice.…
Find out more »Habitat Restoration Ecology: Theory and Practice in Agroforestry
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, October 28th and 29th INSTRUCTORS: Abel Kloster and Steve Braun This workshop will cover the principles of habitat restoration in streams, oak woodlands, and riparian forests from holistic perspectives rooted in the most current ecological best practices. We will tour on-going restoration projects in Aprovecho’s waterways and oak woodlands and restoration practices including check dam installation, oak woodland stewardship, and riparian revegetation will be applied in each of these systems. We will also discuss current…
Find out more »Nutritional Therapy and Herbalism for Prenatal and Postpartum Women
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday, November 11th INSTRUCTOR: Amanda Braun What you eat and the environment you live in is literally what makes your baby. Learn how to prepare and serve tasty and nutritious foods to support a healthy pregnancy, populate your baby’s microbiome, and restore your health in the “fourth trimester.” We will be making, eating, and sipping herbally-infused bone broth, a vegetable ferment, herbal tea infusion, and a nutritious snack. Learn how these foods nurture the “foundations of health” to…
Find out more »Greenwood and Steel: Make the Tools, Carve the Wood
REGISTER AND PAY Thursday, November 29th through Sunday, December 3rd INSTRUCTOR: Kiko Denzer Forge your own blade(s), then learn to carve spoons and bowls; includes basic blacksmithing, hardening/tempering, sharpening, knife use/grips/techniques, use of a shave-horse and draw knife, basic principles of carving, sculpture, and design, as well as discussion of traditional and appropriate technologies and their histories. Traditional foot- and/or bow-powered lathes may be available for practice/demonstration. We’ll start by spending a couple of days making a simple crooked knife to use…
Find out more »Natural Plasters for a Healthy, Beautiful Home
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, December 2nd and 3rd INSTRUCTOR: Angela Francis Natural building has been around for as long as humans have existed in relationship with this Earth, as people have ingenuously negotiated how to provide shelter for themselves with what they’ve got in their immediate surroundings, with the ground beneath their feet. Plasters, made of clay, sand and straw, and applied over the preferred wall system, are not only naturally beautiful but healthy, detoxifying and breathable. At this…
Find out more »Introduction to Tiny Homes
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, January 13th and 14th INSTRUCTOR: Connor Anderson In this Introduction to Tiny Homes course, we will to explore how tiny homes have come into popularity and how the wealth of different designs and applications are helping to change how people think about interacting with their home and the environment. From tiny homes on wheels and modular homes to off grid tiny homes and those made from natural and reclaimed materials. We will talk about the…
Find out more »Timber and Round Pole Framing for Beginners
REGISTER AND PAY Monday, January 15th through Friday, January 19th INSTRUCTOR: Chris Foraker Timber framing is a timeless tradition among the owners and builders. In this class you will learn the craft of joining large timbers without the use of metal hardware. Students will learn not only the craft of cutting timber frame joinery, but also the important details necessary to properly layout joinery using both edge and center rule. During this week students will also learn how to cut, peel and…
Find out more »Introduction to Carpentry and Power Tools for Women
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, January 20th and 21st INSTRUCTOR: Lydia Doleman This women’s only weekend workshop is designed to build basic skills and confidence using power tools via hands on experience on a group project. No experience is necessary, or if you have some skills and want to build on those you are welcome to join in!!!! We will focus on tools such as the circular saw, cordless drill and jig saw and a variety of hand tools. With…
Find out more »Willow Basketry
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, January 27th and 28th INSTRUCTOR: Rob Miller Basketry is a timeless art of elegance, simplicity and practicality. Join us for 2 days as we slow down into Nature’s rhythm, practicing the weaves of our ancestors. You will create a medium-sized handled basket from willow, usable for harvest, shopping, storage, laundry and more.You’ll go home with a beautiful and useful basket you can be proud of. Sign up early as this class is popular and limited…
Find out more »Women’s Gear Upcycling Weekend
REGISTER AND PAY Friday, February 2nd through Sunday, February 4th INSTRUCTOR: Heather Greene Join us for a weekend of reclaiming renewing, and reworking, to create exactly what you need, want, or would just love to explore. Using a variety of reclaiming tactics and materials, participants will plan, pattern and upcycle bags, pads, baby slings, wallets, diapers covers, carriers, covers, cozies, coats and more. Overnight accommodations available, potluck dinner Friday and Saturday evening at 6pm. LOCATION: Aprovecho Strawbale Dormitory TUITION: Early Bird (Registered/Paid by January 2nd) $200; After January…
Find out more »Advanced Traditional Hand Carving Woodenware Techniques
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday, February 3rd INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Yanchury Looking for more advanced instruction in handcarving techniques? Look no further. In this one day class, carver Daniel Yanchury will share advanced handcarving techniques that will take your work to the next level. The class will focus on four key areas: Finishing from the tool, without sanding Carved engraving with the Sloyd Knife Proportions, design and function of woodenware Oil sanding, oils for finishing, and techniques for upping your production Students are…
Find out more »Living with the Forest: An Ecocultural Land Stewardship Intensive
REGISTER AND PAY HERE Thursday, February 8th to Sunday, February 11th INSTRUCTORS: Tao Orion and Heron Brae The Willamette Valley region offers a unique mix of conifer forest and oak savanna ecosystems. Although many old-growth conifers and oaks have been cleared to make room for industrial forestry and agriculture, opportunities abound to actively participate in rekindling the biodiversity of these ecosystems. This three-day intensive will use lecture and hands-on projects to delve into the principles and practices of developing a…
Find out more »The Art of Inlay & Woodworking: Cutting a Secret Puzzle Box for Your Valentine
REGISTER AND PAY HERE. THE ART OF INLAY AND WOODWORKING: CUTTING A SECRET PUZZLE BOX FOR YOUR VALENTINE Saturday, February 10th INSTRUCTOR: Uli Kirchler This workshop will explore the ways in which holes and cracks in wood become opportunities. Each tree has its unique natural tendencies in its growth that cause it to split and crack. While these pieces are often overlooked and discarded, Uli has been seeking them for over the past ten years. Each “blemish” in the wood…
Find out more »Sustainable Business Development for Existing Businesses
REGISTER AND PAY HERE. Saturday, February 17th INSTRUCTOR: Heather Greene Revist☆Rethink☆Revise: Does your business strive to be as socially and environmentally responsible as possible? Are you and your organization creating a resilience plan for the future? In this workshop existing organizations and businesses will evaluate their Business plans and future timelines through the lens of social justice, sustainability and resilience. Participants will increase visibility, create invaluable collaboration and renew community ties. LOCATION: Healing Matrix TUITION: Early Bird (Registered/Paid by January…
Find out more »Bed Preparation and Using Soil Amendments
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday, February 17th INSTRUCTOR: Andrea Mull Learn how to prepare your beds for the Spring. This class is a combined soil science and bed preparation class. I would like to take us through what “good” soil “looks” like and how to maintain (or replenish depleted) soil. We will talk about amendments to use and how they work and run through a sample soil test. Bed prep methods will be discussed and demonstrated (if the weather cooperates, we might…
Find out more »Instructional Strategies for Educators in the Environment and Sustainability Fields
REGISTER AND PAY HERE. Saturday, February 17th INSTRUCTOR: Steve Braun Its all about education. Workshop designed for existing and emerging instructors. Explore the avenues for, and effects of, educational programming in your practice. Are you an expert in your craft wanting to add an educational component to your work? Are you an educator wanting to deepen your grasp on relevant pedagogy? This workshop is for you. Discover and leave with a firm grasp on several instructional techniques (including simple evaluation,…
Find out more »Friction Fire and the Creative Flames Within
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, February 24th and 25th INSTRUCTOR: Rob Miller The ability to create fire, using nothing but the materials Nature provides, is incredibly powerful, empowering and,yes, magical. It touches something deep in our bones. In this class, you will learn how to make friction fire using a bow drill. With guidance you with then go out into the woods and make your own bow drill kit. On a deeper level, friction fire is a metaphor for our…
Find out more »Wilderness Survival
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, March 3rd and 4th INSTRUCTOR: Shaun Mellor This class will teach you essential knowledge for tackling a short-term survival situation or just getting into the world of primitive skills to enjoy nature and deepen your relationship with the outdoors. We will build shelters, purify water, start fires with friction, forage for wild food, make basic stone tools, carve traps, talk about the order of operations, and as much more as we can fit in a…
Find out more »Felting for the Future
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, March 3rd and 4th INSTRUCTOR: Heather Greene From wallet to wall, felt can be utilized for necessity, or adornment. In this 2 day workshop participants will learn to choose animals for their fiber, glean, clean and card wool. Create functional pieces, from pocket-size to area rug size. Wet and dry felting techniques will be explored, and multiple creations will be completed. Overnight accommodations are available, potluck dinner the first evening. LOCATION: Aprovecho Meeting Hall, Upstairs…
Find out more »The Art of Bowmaking
REGISTER AND PAY Monday, March 5th to Friday, March 9th INSTRUCTOR: Shaun Mellor Making your first bow from start to finish can be a little intimidating, but with the right instruction and some determination, anyone can make a capable bow first shot. In this class you will take a seasoned stave and transform it into a long-lasting bow using only had tools. We will cover wood qualities, seasoning, and of course all the steps included in making your own bow. Students…
Find out more »Fur Tanning
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, March 10th and 11th INSTRUCTOR: Shaun Mellor Fur is both beautiful and functional for clothing. In this class you will learn the basics of brain tanning smaller mammals while keeping the fur on. Each student will membrane, soften, and smoke their own fox using simple tools. They will then have the option of sewing it into something if they wish. Students will leave with an understanding of the tanning and smoking process, how to sew…
Find out more »Seasonal Wellness: Nurturing Family Health through Food, Foraging, and Herbal Education
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, March 10th and 11th INSTRUCTORS: Amanda Braun, Laura Pacheco, and Kate Coulton Join Herbalists, Nutritionists and Activists for a weekend of self-care and creative inspiration for the whole family! We’ll have structured activities for youth and adults while allowing time to explore and connect to the forest. There will be a blend of hands-on cooking activities, plant walks, medicine making, music and sing-alongs at the fire at night. Registration includes nutritious meals, access to showers,…
Find out more »Botanical Ales: Herbal Brewing Demonstration, Lore, and Tasting
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday, March 17th INSTRUCTOR: Steve Braun, Old Growth Ales In this class we will learn about health benefits, history and lore of select country wines (herbs + cane-based ferments), Gruits (herbs + grain or seed-based ferments), Methelglins (herb + honey based ferments) and Specialty Herbal Beers. We will start the day wild harvesting a few seasonally available plants and learning about their role in herbal ales. We’ll spend the second half of the day engaged in a brewing…
Find out more »Compost: Making and Use (Including Teas)
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday, March 24th INSTRUCTOR: Andrea Mull Does composting elude you? Do you have a slimy, stinky mess that makes you gag if you try to turn or use it? Compost is an art which, once you learn the tricks, becomes “almost” effortless. Learn some secrets to success and benefits (too numerous to count) for making and using compost. We will cover compost micro-biology, methodology, as well as vermi-composting (worms!). Our hands-on will include turning and building a standard compost…
Find out more »Intermediate Carpentry and Power Tools for Women
REGISTER AND PAY Saturday and Sunday, March 24th and 25th INSTRUCTOR: Lydia Doleman This workshop is designed for students with familiarity with carpentry and power tools who would like to take their skills to the next level. Each student will learn intermediate techniques for working with wood using power tools by assembling a folding chair that they will get to take home at the end of the workshop. LOCATION: Aprovecho Shop TUITION: Early Bird (Registered/Paid by February 24th) $200; After February 24th, $250; Last…
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