Courses

Minnesota’s history is interwoven with the history of hat-making. Europe’s hunger for beaver-felt top hats drove the voyageurs into the heart of fur country. Most of the fur traded at Grand Portage eventually became felt hats. There is no softer, warmer, or more pliant fiber than fur-felt. We will use…

We know that butter makes it better. But which butter? And what’s behind the magic? We will learn three distinctive butter techniques as we explore croissants, Danish pastry, and kouig amann, which may be the best “muffin” you’ll ever have. We’ll make cultured butter and demystify this ancient treasure.

Let’s face it, the news from nature hasn’t been uplifting lately. One of the most potent ideas out there pushing back against the doom and gloom is biomimicry, a practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges—and finds hope along the way.…

Fully experience the craft of making a traditional birch bark basket for the gathering and storage of berries or anything you please. This course includes time focused both on basket making and on material preparation. Day one includes an extended session in the woods to harvest the birch bark in…

Scandinavians and Russians commonly kept small, flat birch bark boxes in their pockets in the 18th and 19th century for the then-popular taking of snuff. Larger finger and lap jointed boxes often held coffee, tea or salt. Today they continue to be made and hold keepsakes, buttons, spare change, jewelry,…

Carry around your studies, tools, or groceries in this beautiful and functional large birch bark tote basket. Students will learn about sustainable techniques for legal harvest and then use hand tools to prepare their 1 inch wide bark strips, and weave them into a tote base. The bag will be…

Discover the sturdiness and the beauty of birch bark by weaving a medium table top basket; perfect for organizing or displaying with its large base, shallow walls, and sturdy rim structure. This rim design will elevate your weaving skills by adding a three-dimensional pattern that mimics the zigzags of the…

From birds to beads, there are so many possibilities when it comes to birch bark. Join accomplished weavers Jack and Julie to learn to weave a variety of small projects, including garlands and a three dimensional star and more. Learn about the ecology of this iconic northern tree and leave…

This course will introduce students to the world of bird carving. This is a great class for beginners and experienced carvers alike. We will focus on song birds commonly found in the sub-boreal forest of the Lake Superior region. Of course, each bird is different but the general form, anatomy,…

Most birds are not known for sitting still. By learning to recognize their songs, calls and the habitats they live in, you can have a satisfying birding experience every time you step outdoors, with or without your binoculars! In this one-day workshop we’ll travel to various habitats and birding hotspots…

The black ash pack basket: it's beautiful, highly functional and can be made using simple materials. The first part of the class will be spent preparing black ash splint for your basket by pounding a locally harvested log. Next, you'll weave the basket and finish it with a rim, handle,…

Outfit your own blacksmithing tool chest while developing and refining your skills on the forge. In this course, you will create the set of tools needed to become a backyard blacksmith, while simultaneously learning the basics of blacksmithing. Initial tool projects will include tongs and fire-tending tools. Heat treatment, forging,…

This course is an introduction to the basic skills of the blacksmith, including safety, fire control, tools, and equipment in both a classroom and "on the forge" setting. Student projects will be tailored toward individual skill levels. The class will begin with basic projects such as decorative nail-in hooks to…

This course will introduce students to the methods and techniques involved in hand crafting an all-metal friction folding knife, a project suitable for beginners to experienced smiths that want to learn more about knife making. Students will learn to forge, grind, heat-treat, and polish a carbon steel blade using coal…

Spring in northeastern Minnesota is truly alive with life. After a winter of cold and white, there is a veritable explosion of all things feathered. The Boreal Birding Workshop is field focused, offering students a rare opportunity to immerse in this world and develop an appreciation for the wide range…