Courses

For students who are confident with the basic stake and strand form and ready to move on, we welcome Steen Madsen of Denmark to teach two challenging willow techniques: the rectangular basket and an ’open work’ technique called fitching. Students will choose which project they prefer to focus on, but…

Make your own sausage flavored the way you like it using your favorite meats. As a class, we will make and take home 4 to 5 kinds of sausage of your choosing from a list of about 10 varieties. These will be fresh, non-smoked, non-cured sausages like bratwurst, breakfast sausage,…

Discover the designs, color, styles, and technique of traditional bead embroidery as you work with Ojibwe cultural specialist and Grand Portage band member Marcie McIntire, sewing and decorating a pair of moccasins in this course. You will design a pair of moccasins to make, choosing from either a baby or…

Discover the designs, color, styles and technique of traditional bead embroidery while crafting moccasins designed for baby feet. Create a gift that will be treasured for years to come (and that will stay on those adorable little feet). Students will design and sew a pair of moccasins using quality tanned…

Lace up your baking shoes and get ready for an artisan breads baking marathon. Combining the skills of our popular Artisan Breads I and II courses, this two-and-a-half-day intensive course allows students to dig deep into hand-crafted, long-fermented, and hot-hearth baked breads. We’ll explore pre-ferments and a long cool rise…

Can’t whey-t to take your home cheesemaking to the next level? Make your favorite cheese anytime you want. You will learn the basics of cheese making during class and then be able to replicate and experiment at home. We’ll cover milks, starters, bacteria, molds, and common household equipment for cheese…

For centuries, the hardworking goats and cows of the fjords & mountains of Scandinavia have been kept fat and happy on the lush green grasses that thrive in the long daylight hours of summer. And as any foodie will tell you: where there is an abundance of milk, there is…

Cranks wind, gears turn, dragons chomp, and birds fly. Welcome to the whimsical world of automata: simple wooden machines that delight and amaze. Join Cecilia Schiller for a five-day exploration of the art of making wooden machines and the mechanisms that make things move. Starting with the design process in…

Fall means apples in abundance! In anticipation of the season, join Chef Graden for an exploration of the versatile applications of a fruit that is both ubiquitous and under-utilized. This class will cover preparing (and eating!) all of these recipes, and more: apple and cran-apple ciders, apple pie, apple cider…

Join us for three days of chopping, carving, and hollowing wooden vessels using all hand tools. Axe carving is physically demanding, so during this class we will focus on body mechanics and ergonomic tool use in order to develop stamina and minimize strain. We will start each day with an…

Our ancestors produced sharpened tools of stone—axe heads, knife blades, and arrow points. Learn how flintknapping evolved and how to identify appropriate base materials from which you can produce a variety of sharpened stone tools. This class will introduce the basic techniques of pressure flaking and percussion, providing the basis…

Learn the planning, layout, and joinery necessary to construct a traditional timber frame (post and beam) structure, such as North House's blacksmith shop, bread oven shelter, fish house classroom, and other structures around campus. The course begins with the basic mortise and tenon joint, and then expands on these techniques…

Learn the planning, layout, and joinery necessary to construct a traditional timber frame (post and beam) structure, such as North House’s blacksmith shop, bread oven shelter, fish house classroom, and other structures around campus. The course begins with the basic mortise and tenon joint, and then expands on these techniques…

Learn the craft of birch bark basket weaving by working on a variety of projects. Choose from three designs, or make all three if you are a deft-hand. The never-ending basket, the square weave tray, and the cornucopia wall hanging each offer an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques.…

This course provides an opportunity for in-depth exploration of two interesting techniques, bead embroidery and needle felting. With time, space, and abundant materials, each participant will create their own unique works of art. The goal is to review and then move beyond the basics of materials and processes. Working with…