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Blacksmithing: Forging out Kitchen Utensils with Robert Schulz

Using traditional blacksmithing techniques, students will use forge, anvil, and hammer to create very useful and unique tools including forks, spoons, spatulas, and bottle openers. » read more

Apple Grafting Workshop with John Goeke

Students will have the opportunity to graft two apple trees to take home (additional rootstock and scionwood will be available for purchase). » read more

Painting with Mindfulness with Leigh Wall Jardine

In this class we will explore painting as a meditative practice. » read more

Making Herbal Salves and Lotions with Robin Mari

Learn the magic and science of making the freshest, highest quality skin care for yourself using herbal oils and infusions. » read more

Repairing and Maintaining Farm Equipment with Joe Clark

Since moving to his farm near Viroqua, Joe has been acquiring equipment and has learned that there can be a huge difference between “field-ready” and just sitting in a field. » read more

Old-Time Country Music with Tim Foss

These three class sessions will provide a basic understanding of old-time American music and how fun and easy it is to play with others with little skill required. » read more

The Art of Coffee with Caleb Nicholes

If you take your coffee seriously, please join us for a hands-on workshop put on by Kickapoo Coffee—artisan coffee roasters from Viroqua, WI. » read more

Introduction to Birdwatching: Mississippi River Floodplain with Chuck Meyer

Join instructor Chuck Meyer and be introduced to the wonderful activity called bird watching. » read more

Introduction to Birdwatching: Wetlands with Chuck Meyer

Join instructor Chuck Meyer and be introduced to the wonderful activity called bird watching. » read more

Backyard Astronomy with Jacob Hundt

This two-session course is intended to introduce beginners to the wonders of the night sky. » read more

Blacksmithing: Hand Forged Thumb Latch with Thomas Latané

The class project will be a basic thumb latch, variations of which have been used for hundreds of years in many traditions. » read more

Homemade Jams with Sofya Blyum-Hundt

Discover the homemade goodness of jams made with fresh fruit in this half-day class focusing on jam making. » read more

Rug Braiding with Lisa Carey

Rug braiding is becoming a lost art. Reconnect with a long lost tradition and learn a fun way to recycle unused clothing, blankets or old fabric by making a beautiful heirloom for your home. » read more

Fermented Beverages: Beer, Wine, Soda Making and more! with Linda Conroy

Learn how easy it is to make beer, wine, mead and soda in your own kitchen. » read more

Introduction to Permaculture with Mark Shepard

Permaculture (permanent agriculture/ permanent culture) is a design methodology that strives to create ecologically sound, energy efficient, economically profitable, self-reliant and beautiful living environments. » read more

Willow Wattle Fencing with John Holzwart

Learn how to work with willow in both a large and small format. » read more

Building for the Future: Basic 2×4 Construction for Youth with Robert Schulz

This class will offer aspiring builders hands-on experience in building a small, sturdy shelter, be it a clubhouse, chicken coop, greenhouse, or garden shed. » read more

Let’s Build a Playhouse with Dale Kittleson

“Mom, Dad, can you build me a playhouse?” Do these word strike fear into your heart? » read more

Dyeing with Natural Plants with Elin Pring Haessly

In this class you will learn to dye with plants from nature and learn to appreciate the unique colors obtained from the mostly wild plants surrounding you. » read more

The Miracle of Wood with Dan Peper

From root to leaf, man has found a multitude ways to use trees. » read more

Blacksmithing: Opening Doors with Robert Schulz

In this class we will create hand-forged strap hinges, appropriate for the home, barn, or outbuilding. » read more

Pickling Homemade Produce with Sofya Blyum-Hundt

Learn how to pickle and enjoy homegrown produce from the garden to the dinner table. » read more

Basics of Green Woodworking—Making a Rake with Dan Peper

Green wood is that which is not fully seasoned. » read more

Making a Wooden Hand Plane with Dan Peper

The hand plane is one of the most-used tools in woodworking. » read more

Chicken Butchering Basics with Vince and Dawn Hundt

Raising a few meat chickens can be the easiest way to grow your own meat. » read more

Old-Time Social Dancing with Sue Hulsether

Dust off your dancing shoes and clean out your dancing cobwebs: join this fun overview of popular social dances of the Midwest. » read more

Draft Horse Basics with Randy Powell

Those interested in horsepower for agriculture, logging, or transport are given a chance to gain greater confidence through hands-on experience in this class. » read more

Dyeing with Indigo and other Exotic Dyes with Elin Pring Haessly

In this class we will learn about different ways to prepare a vat dye indigo bath. It will be a two day course. » read more

Passive Solar Greenhouse Design with Roald Gundersen

Learn the basics of greenhouse design including solar angles, the value of poly carbonate or glass, proper insulation and construction techniques. » read more

4th Annual DFS Harvest Festival with

Join us in celebrating the harvest of the season by bringing a dish to share to our fourth annual Driftless Folk School Harvest Festival. This year we will gather in LaFarge at the shelter in the Village Park. There’s a nice playground for little ones right there, so bring your whole family. Later in the evening, a community dance with live music and callers will be held down the street at the LaFarge Community Center, so don’t forget your dancing shoes!! Tell all your friends and neighbors, and bring them along too!!

Fall Wild Foods with Nicholas Gale

Come see and sample autumn's abundant wild foods! » read more

From Wool to Sweater with Anne-Marie Fryer

As sheep graze in the field, join us in washing, carding, spinning, and knitting their beautiful wool. » read more

Green Cleaning with Wendy Crews

This workshop will explore some friendly cleaners on the market and will provide simple homemade recipes and techniques to make cleaning easier such as how to clean and how often. » read more

Winterizing Your Home with Chris Mahan

In this home weatherization class for current and future renters and homeowners, we'll begin by discussing the history of insulating and basic insulation and air sealing principles. » read more

Forging a Fire Poker with Brad Nichols

This course will allow students to design and create a fire tool for the forge or the fireplace. » read more

Beekeeping with Jordan Bendel

This class will cover the basics of sustainable beekeeping, the inner- workings of the hive and basic beekeeping techniques.

Composting Basics with Wendy Crews

Begin or improve your composting skills. » read more

Starting Plants for Spring Planting with Don and Pat Zietlow

A class for learning the basics of choosing materials for an organic soil mix, covering seeding methods and soil blocking. » read more

Firewood Basics with Wendy Crews

We will cover basic chainsaw maintenance, safety equipment, proper attire, some methods of splitting with a maul, and an axe, and stacking.

Painting for Families with David Aarup Mogensen

In this class for families David Mogensen will give anyone between 5 and 112 some good ideas on how to paint, guiding you step by step. » read more

Soap Making with Shivani Arjuna

In this class you'll learn what soap is, how it works and how to make great soaps at home. » read more

Hog Butchering with Perry and Mary Glick

In this class a live hog will become various cuts of pork. » read more

Forged Kitchen Utensils (Advanced) with Thomas Latané

Students will forge a long handled fork and spatula which will be decorated by modest filing and chasing (stamped designs). » read more

Homebrewing with Mike Breckel

Homebrewing, in its modern incarnation, is a simple and straightforward process, at least for the beginner. Mike strictly adheres to the major rule of homebrewing: "Don't worry, have a homebrew!" » read more

Pelt Tanning with Natural Agents with Nicholas Gale

For thousands of years, people around the world have depended on our animal relations for warm wear through cold winter months. Learn the involved yet simple natural process that made this beautiful gift possible in this two day workshop. » read more

Making Miso at Home with Wil Fryer

Miso is the Japanese fermented soybean paste used in soups, dressing, marinades etc. » read more

2009 DFS Membership Meeting with

Join the Board Members of DFS to learn of current happenings, and have an open conversation about the direction of the school and how it can best serve the community.

Root Cellaring with Lauren Hunt

Take your garden bounty one step further by exploring how to store your produce away for winter using natural cold storage. » read more

Introduction to Bread Making with Jeff Shields

This is an introductory class for those with little or no experience in baking bread and will cover the basics of baking bread with yeast. » read more

Deer Butchering with Vince and Dawn Hundt

This class is your opportunity to become a part of the hallowed Wisconsin tradition of deer hunting and to learn how to take advantage of an abundant local source of all-natural meat. » read more

Communicating from the Heart with Linda Conroy

Interested in communication tools that promote connection in times of conflict? Want to increase your capacity for clear expression and empathic listening? Longing for more inner peace and less struggle? » read more

Sausage Making with Vince and Dawn Hundt

Come and be a part of a joyous early winter tradition and go home with some delicious homemade charcuterie. » read more

Cultures of the Middle East with Rasha Abdulhadi

In this series of 4 evening lecture-discussions, we will explore the different eras and regional cultures of the Middle East. » read more

Philosophy through Painting with David Aarup Mogensen

Who am I? Who are we? What is the world? Maybe painting can bring us closer to possible answers. » read more

Open Source Software for Computer Survival with Rasha Abdulhadi

Compute for free, and with freedom. » read more

Ice Fishing 101 with Chuck Meyer

Have you ever wanted to ice fish, but didn't know what to do? Join instructors Rice Spann and Chuck Meyer and discover why so many of us enjoy the sport. » read more

Winter Dance and Concert: (Canceled) with

This event has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

—DFS 1/18/2010

Join us this winter evening for music and dance in the LaFarge Community Center. Norwegian Fiddler Karen Solgård will begin this evening playing Norwegian fiddle tunes on a hardanger fiddle, a beautiful 8-stringed traditional Norwegian instrument. Afterwards, we’ll dance squares, contras and Norwegian dances, called and taught by Karen Solgård. Students from the Norwegian Fiddle class will be invited to play for the dances.

Fermented and Cultured Foods with Anne-Marie Fryer

Fermented foods are a small, yet immensely important part of daily meals. » read more

Canceled: Norwegian Fiddle Tunes with Karen Solgård

Fiddle students may expect to leave this half-day workshop with two to three Norwegian fiddle tunes in basic form ready to play together for an evening dance. » read more

Dance Callers’ Workshop with Tim Jenkins

Get a jumpstart or improve on the teaching and calling of American folk dance in squares, circles, and contras. » read more

Websites for the Pioneering Life with Rasha Abdulhadi

Learn to make your own personal, professional, or business website using free or low-cost services that you can maintain and change yourself. » read more

Making Savory Broths from Scratch with Anne-Marie Fryer

Nourishing broths are essential for our health, easy to make and delicious to eat. » read more

Irish Step Dancing with Brittany Hying

Irish step dancing is a beautiful and lively form of solo dancing that is well suited to any fun-loving person. » read more

Sweet, Sweet Spring! with

Enjoy this annual event co-hosted by Driftless Folk School and Norskedalen. Maple sugaring, blacksmithing, craft demonstrations, sledding and snowshoeing, music, children’s activities, horse-drawn rides, and an organic pancake breakfast

Find out more at www.norskedalen.org

Small-Plot Winter Gardening with Rasha Abdulhadi

Learn how to extend your garden's production into the coldest months of the year by using low-cost passive-solar structures that don't require added heat. » read more

Evening Owling with Chuck Meyer

Participants in this class will receive an overview of the owl species of Wisconsin, as well as of the role owls play in the environment and basic owl biology. » read more

Organic Gardening for Any Space with Rasha Abdulhadi

You don't need much to get started growing with organic gardening--a windowsill, a roof, a deck, or a small yard can all provide you with nutritious food. » read more

Composting for Any Lifestyle with Rasha Abdulhadi

Learn about different composting systems, as well as get tips on how to build them or where to find ones already assembled. » read more

Maple Sugaring with Robert Schulz

Experience the joy and worth of harvesting maple sap and cooking it down to maple syrup, a great local source of sweetener. » read more

Irish Ceili and Set Dancing Workshop with Julee Caspers Agar

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for the March 26 Irish Ceili Dance! » read more

Forge Welding Workshop with Robert Schulz

The focus of this course is forge welding, welding multiple pieces using the forge and anvil. » read more

Irish Fiddle with Matt Shortridge

Irish Fiddle will introduce you to the subtle arts of fiddling in the Irish style. » read more

Irish Ceili Dance with Tim Jenkins

It’s March and we’re all ready for a ceili dance! Tim Jenkins and Julee Agar will teach and call the dances, and the Irish Ceili Band will play for us at the LaFarge Community Center. If you’ve never been to a ceili dance, come and find out. If you’ve been to many, you know how fun it is, so don’t forget to bring your family and friends!

Pysanky (Ukranian Eggs) with Lori Peters

Discover the history and magical meaning of Pysanky, a 4,000 year old Ukrainian method of decorating eggshells with wax and dye. » read more

“Fire, Forging, Fun!”: Blacksmithing for Kids with Robert Schulz

This class happens twice a year and gives children the chance to work with the open fire and create with the hammer in hand. » read more

Hearth Broom Making with John Holzwart

Discover the art of making beautiful and functional handmade brooms! » read more

Introduction to Home Cheese Making with Linda Conroy

Join cheese maker and whole food cook Linda Conroy and find out how simple it is to make cheese in your own kitchen. » read more

Grafting with Ricardo Jahnke

Students will have the opportunity to graft three apple trees to take home (additional rootstock and scionwood will be available for purchase). » read more

Flyfishing with John Bethke

This class is intended to teach students the basics of flyfishing. You would do well to take this class if you have an interest in the sport of flyfishing but want expert guidance and mentoring. » read more

Building an Earthen Oven with Ian Miller

Earthen ovens are made out of a mixture of clay-soil, sand, sawdust, straw and firebrick. They're simple, low-cost and fun to build. After taking this workshop, you'll soon be baking your own wood-fired bread and pizza in your beautiful new work of art! » read more

Introduction to Blacksmithing with Nick Smolen

This course is for those individuals with little or no blacksmithing experience. It will cover topics such as safety, basic metallurgy, and how to build and maintain a fire. » read more

Beginning Permaculture Workshop with Clare Hintz

Permaculture is a process of ecological design that develops functional relationships among elements of ecological integrity, social justice, and economic viability. » read more

Introduction to Natural Horsemanship with Michelle Rasmussen

This course focuses on understanding the natural language between you and your horse to help you advance to any level of horsemanship skill. » read more

Sustainable Forest Management With an Eye for Whole Tree Construction with Roald Gundersen

Walk Driftless Farm's 140 acres of forest with architect and Whole Tree pioneer, Roald Gundersen, and begin to see forest management through the lens of Whole Tree construction. » read more

Birdwatching Series: Session 1--Goose Island with Chuck Meyer

Join instructor Chuck Meyer and be introduced to the wonderful activity called birdwatching. These courses are appropriate for all beginning bird watchers with an interest in learning how to find and identify birds. » read more

Whole Tree Architecture and Construction with Roald Gundersen

Learn state of the art skills in sustainable construction that you can apply to your own building projects using trimmings from your backyard trees. » read more

Horse Hoof Care with Nancy Filbert

This class will address the anatomy, physiology, and functioning of the horse's hoof, causes of founder, navicular, ringbone and other debilitating hoof issues, and the basics of anatomically and physiologically correct hoof trimming. » read more

Blacksmithing: Sawtooth Trammel Chandelier with Robert Schulz

Students will forge an adjustable two-candle chandelier. The edge of the anvil will be used to forge the steps of the saw tooth trammel allowing the candles to be suspended at different levels. » read more

Birdwatching Series: Session 2--Myrick Park with Chuck Meyer

Join instructor Chuck Meyer and be introduced to the wonderful activity called birdwatching. These courses are appropriate for all beginning bird watchers with an interest in learning how to find and identify birds. » read more

Straw/Clay Walls for Any Building with Robert Schulz

Straw/clay infill is a great option to insulate a home, barn, shop, or any small outbuilding, and allows us to use inexpensive, local materials to create a beautiful, healthy wall. » read more

Birdwatching Series: Session 3--Kickapoo Valley Reserve with Chuck Meyer

Join instructor Chuck Meyer and be introduced to the wonderful activity called birdwatching. These courses are appropriate for all beginning bird watchers with an interest in learning how to find and identify birds. » read more

Karst Geology of the Driftless Region with Kelvin Rodolfo

While enjoying the beautiful, wooded, coulee-carved Driftless landscape, participants in the class will learn how caves, sinkholes, springs, and other elements of karst landscape are formed. » read more

Building a Shaving Horse with Dan Peper

This viselike holding apparatus is basic to any hand woodworking shop. » read more

Mowing with the Scythe with Ian Miller

Come to this workshop and discover how easy and effective it is to mow with an Austrian scythe. » read more

Advanced Permaculture Workshop with Nathaniel Larson

This workshop will relate a new way of knowing to agriculture, politics and communication to come up with a pattern of language for a regenerative ecological society. » read more

Family Birdwatching with Chuck Meyer

This course is appropriate for all beginning bird watchers with an interest in learning how to find and identify birds. » read more

Music for Children with Summer Deal-Schulz

This will be a fun class for the young child ages 4 - 8 years old. We will explore movement through the classics, be introduced to a variety of instruments and be able to have some hands on experience. » read more

Introduction to Claw Hammer Banjo with Summer Deal-Schulz

In this introductory class to claw hammer banjo you will gain the foundation of play to set your practice in the right direction. » read more

Sacred Harp Singing with Annie Grieshop

If you love to sing, then Sacred Harp might be for you! Sacred Harp singing (also known as “shapenote” or “fasola” singing) is one of the foundations of modern American folk, bluegrass, and gospel singing. » read more

Making Strawberry Jam with Honey with Jane Siemon

Learn how to make strawberry jam with honey as the sweetener. » read more

Blacksmithing: Functional Tool Making with Brad Nichols

This workshop will introduce beginners to basic blacksmithing techniques through the creation of a pair of scrolling pliers. » read more

Contra Dance with

Join us for an old fashioned contra dance!

Herbs for Health and Nourishment with Linda Conroy

Working with herbs in your own backyard is fun and empowering. » read more

Blacksmithing: Forging a Double Hook with Ball Ends with Robert Schulz

Learn core techniques of hand forging including fullering, upsetting, drawing out, and punching holes. » read more

Constructing a Rocket Mass Heater with Ian Miller

Rocket mass heaters are, simply put, the natural building version of a masonry heater. In a weekend, we'll take clay, sand, straw, sawdust, firebrick and a few old steel drums and turn them into a super-efficient wood-burning stove. » read more

Chicken Butchering with Jane Siemon

Learn how to butcher a chicken from start to finish. » read more

Free Family Fishing Adventure! with Chuck Meyer

We'll supply the bait, and you supply the enthusiasm! » read more

More Cheese Making! From Curd to Press with Linda Conroy

We will make several varieties of hard cheese including cheddar and gouda as well as a mold ripened goat cheese.

Appalachian Clogging and Rhythms with Kathy Casper

Upgrade your toe-tapping habit: Appalachian clogging is one of the best forms of noise making around. » read more

Honest Bread with Daphne Kingsley

Learn to make true artisan style 100% whole grain sourdough breads--no refined flour or commercial yeast added » read more

The Art of Pickling with Corina Bergan

Join instructor Corina Bergan as she guides you through the process of pickling using a variety of herbs and vegetables. » read more

Life Off the Grid with Dale Kittleson

Come hear the story of how three families built an off grid rural neighborhood in northeast Iowa and have happily generated most of their power from the sun and wind for nearly 10 years. » read more

Driftless Region Garden Tour with Ann Ralles Mahan

Vernon County has some of the most beautiful and productive organic gardens in the country. Join us to visit several of them. » read more

Wisconsin Basic Hunter Education Course with Royce Curtis

These classes will cover topics such as hunting equipment and methods, rules and regulations, ethics, responsibility, first aid and survival, principles of wildlife management, and basic firearms knowledge and safety. » read more

Healthy Humanure Composting with Amelia Baxter

Learn from experiential tales, on-site demos, and suggestions from the larger movement of humanure composters. » read more

Introduction to Green Home Building with Dan Peper

This is an overview of a wide variety of "green" and so called "green" building techniques. Participants will start by developing their definition of green building. The positive and negative qualities of various building methods such as straw bale, earth blocks, light clay straw, papercrete, etc. will be the emphasis of the class. » read more

Collecting and Identifying Wild Fungi with Craig Dunek

Most people like to eat wild mushrooms but are too scared to pick anything except morels. Learn the fool-proof-four, other edible species, and how to distinguish poisonous species. » read more

Wooden Toys for Tots with Dan Peper

What if you were a two year old with the hand/eye coordination and tools of an adult? Imagine the toys you would create. This is your chance. » read more