What is the Driftless Folk School?
When the glaciers bypassed southwestern Wisconsin and the adjacent areas of Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois during the ice ages, they left intact a unique landscape of ridges and coulees, a geological island in the midst of the vast Midwestern plains. Due to the absence of the gravel, boulders, and other glacial “drift” typically left behind in the path of receding ice sheets, this area is known to geologists as the “Driftless Region.” Today, the unique character of this area’s geology and landscape is matched by the character of its culture. Narrow ridges and valleys have impeded the growth of industrial agriculture in this region, opening the way for the development of organic and sustainable farming practices, for the growth of several thriving Amish communities, and for an influx of many people seeking a simpler life in harmony with the land.
At the Driftless Folk School we aim to make the skills and knowledge necessary for such a life more widely available to the people of the Driftless Region and beyond. We are rooted in Vernon County, between the Mississippi and the Kickapoo Rivers at the heart of the Driftless Region. Join us to explore traditional and contemporary strategies for sustainable living, to experience the beauty of the region through the arts and natural history, and to participate in an ongoing dialogue on meaningful issues and ideas in the classroom, in the garden, or over the dinner table.
Mission of the Driftless Folk School
The mission of the Driftless Folk School is to support healthy, sustainable communities and personal development by providing creative and meaningful educational opportunities and inspiring lifelong learning for individuals and families.
Goals
We strive to accomplish our mission by offering experiences in agriculture, natural history, arts and crafts, and traditions of rural Wisconsin and other cultures. This includes offering:
- practical guidance for farmsteading practices and land stewardship,
- family activities, children’s workshops and childcare,
- traditional and contemporary skills that have proven to be sustainable,
- a context for dialogue and exploration of issues meaningful to human life,
- a noncompetitive and supportive learning environment.