Ian Andrus
Grand Marais, MN
Ian lives in the woods outside Grand Marais without running water or electricity in a yurt he built himself, spending much of his time gathering wild foods, firewood and craft materials. He is inspired by traditional lifestyles and is always seeking to uncover the lost art of living off the land. Aside from yurts Ian makes black ash and birch bark baskets, birch bark canoes, and other utilitarian crafts. Ian is a former North House Folk School intern. Ian's website: www.superioryurt.wordpress.com
Current Courses Offered by Ian Andrus
3 Days
Black Ash Pack Baskets
Instructors:
Ian Andrus
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,…
Fri, Feb 23rd, 2018 – Sun, Feb 25th, 2018
Instructor:
Ian Andrus
Build Your Own Yurt
Instructors:
Ian Andrus
Create yourself a comfortable living space: a spare bedroom, office, studio, sauna or whatever else you can dream up. The 18-foot yurt is an excellent shelter option that provides comfortable living arrangements for all four seasons. Working with skilled yurt builders, you’ll build a simple yurt, complete with a door…
Thu, Dec 7th, 2017 – Sun, Dec 10th, 2017
Instructor:
Ian Andrus
3½ Days
Craft of Birch Ski Making: Making Your Own Set
Instructors:
Ian Andrus
Discover the secrets of the old Saami school of ski construction by crafting a custom pair of birch skis to meet your needs. In this course you'll learn about the origin of ski design, function and construction. We'll also cover topics such as wood grain, bending wood, types of bindings,…
Thu, Jan 4th, 2018 – Sun, Jan 7th, 2018
Instructor:
Ian Andrus
1 day
Foraging for Spring Wild Edibles
Instructors:
Ian Andrus
Have you always been interested in gathering wild foods but just weren't sure where to start? This class is a great first introduction to spring edibles as we focus on just five common, nutritious and often abundant plants. These early risers sprout up almost as soon as the snow is…
Sat, May 26th, 2018
Instructor:
Ian Andrus
2 Days
Traditional Finnish Ski Poles: Craft Your Own Set
Instructors:
Ian Andrus
Enhance your winter adventures with these lightweight, durable ski poles which are based on the types used by northern Minnesota Finnish immigrants for winter travel. The poles are constructed with birch shafts, copper rivets, whitetail-tanned buckskin grips, and moose rawhide and bent birch baskets. You will make your custom-sized ski…
Mon, Jan 8th, 2018 – Tue, Jan 9th, 2018
Instructor:
Ian Andrus
4 Days
Yurt Building: Design and Construction
Instructors:
Ian Andrus
Whether you’re looking for a spare bedroom, office, studio, tent, sauna, summer cabin, or just looking to reduce your footprint, the yurt may be the answer. Yurts are ancient, portable shelters and one of the classic inventions of human history: simple, efficient, easy to heat, sturdy, and beautiful inside and…
Thu, Nov 2nd, 2017 – Sun, Nov 5th, 2017
Instructor:
Ian Andrus
Mon, Nov 13th, 2017 – Thu, Nov 16th, 2017
Instructor:
Ian Andrus