These ingenious round bark boxes are an old craft of Scandinavia and Northern Russia. Made of a coiled and locked, round sleeve of high-quality birch bark and fitted with carefully carved base and lid, they historically held teas, dry goods, snuff, trinkets, and butter. The bark work teaches careful selection, cutting, thinning, and layout, and the base and lid require careful and skillful knifework, all of which will be taught in this class. This will be a long day of dedicated handwork, but your heart will likely be won over by these magical little containers. And you will learn a lot along the way...

Come join in an old fashioned barn dance with the Driftless Folk School at the La Farge Community Center. We will begin with a potluck at 5:00 and begin dancing at 6:30, wrapping up around 9:00…. Bring a dish and your dancing shoes and join in the fun to help stay warm in the heart of winter and to celebrate the start of the new year!

The Long-stitch has been used as far back as the 14th century as a stationary binding and as a temporary binding for books with more elaborate (and expensive) futures.

This simple multi-section structure allows for a virtually unlimited number of pages and is well-suited for sketchbooks, notebooks and journals. It is also a popular structure for artists' books as the spine lends itself readily to decoration.

This will be an immersive experience in the winter woods learning to get more comfortable with winter conditions, learning skills to care for our needs in this season, learning sources of food, and enjoying the rare beauty of this season. We will hike out into a wild area along the Wisconsin River, observing the dormant plant life and signs of less dormant animal life, and then setting up a space for our afternoon activities. After roasting some goods and cooking a hearty local stew on the fire we will learn about setting up winter shelter, picking good sheltered locations, lost-proofing and safety. We'll cover sourcing various materials, fire making under adverse conditions, and more in the wondrous winter woods. A moderate amount of physical fitness will be required for this experience.

Coptic Bookbinding was developed by the Egyptian Copts in the 2nd century A.D. and represents the earliest known form of a true codex. This multi-section, non-adhesive binding features an exposed spine which reveals the decorative, braid-like sewing of the binding -- commonly known as a chain stitch. These books lay flat when opened, making them easy to write in and an ideal candidate for journals and notebooks. This class will include a brief introduction to material considerations and each participant will bind a book to take home.

The smell of warm beeswax can be so calming on a cold winter's day! Come share a contemplative morning making simple, hand-dipped beeswax candles. Next, try your hand at more complicated variations of candle making. Spend a few meditative hours making several candles, and learn some things about beeswax and candles. Please note that this activity involves hot wax and equipment. Care must be taken at all times to ensure everyone’s safety.

"Chip Carving" is an ancient form of wood-surface decoration. It can be applied to wood surfaces both practical and decorative. Examples can be seen on jewelry, Christmas ornaments, boxes, furniture, door frames, spoons and more! In this class each student will have guided practice, then choose/create a traditional Rosette pattern to complete their own Chip Carving artwork.

Using the warm, red metal my Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) relatives call “miskwabik” (copper) and basalt hammer stones from the shores of G’chi gamii (Lake Superior), we will hand-forge bowls on wooden stumps. In a process called “sinking”, or hammering on the inside, we will anneal the metal in a wood fire and form our richly colored, beautiful vessels using the power of our own muscles. Come join us in this elemental journey of copper, fire, water, and stone.

This will be a day of immersive education on how the Natural World in the Driftless functions during the winter season. The open landscape shows us the tree and plant communities clearly, the snowy ground reveals the movements and interactions of resident wildlife, and the beauty, quiet, and solace of this season can take one's breath away (yes, so can the cold, dry air). The requirements for accessing this realm are that we dress well, sometimes move with some exertion, look and listen carefully, and attain a foundation of knowledge and awareness of these characters, their tracks, and the stories they live out. With good snow conditions we will cover many aspects of skillful tracking, like forms of feet, gaits (ways animals move), and behaviors of common species, but this will be balanced within learning about the overall ecosystem that all species work within and depend upon. This class will be devoted to helping folks attain this foundation and become more knowledgeable, involved and appreciative of this endangered, educational, and often underrated season.

Using the warm, red metal my Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) relatives call “miskwabik” (copper) and basalt hammer stones from the shores of G’chi gamii (Lake Superior), we will hand-forge bowls on wooden stumps. In a process called “sinking”, or hammering on the inside, we will anneal the metal in a wood fire and form our richly colored, beautiful vessels using the power of our own muscles. Come join us in this elemental journey of copper, fire, water, and stone.

Using the warm, red metal my Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) relatives call “miskwabik” (copper) and basalt hammer stones from the shores of G’chi gamii (Lake Superior), we will hand-forge bowls on wooden stumps. In a process called “sinking”, or hammering on the inside, we will anneal the metal in a wood fire and form our richly colored, beautiful vessels using the power of our own muscles. Come join us in this elemental journey of copper, fire, water, and stone.

This class will help the aspiring banjo player learn the basics of playing their instrument in an old style! Clawhammer banjo is a method of playing that's usually associated with traditional American music, although the style can be well applied to contemporary genres, too. Topic to be discussed in class include the history of banjos, fundamentals of strumming, frailing, and drop-thumbing, music theory for the banjo, alternative tunings, and a few reels, waltzes, and more…

If you have never dabbled in the wonders of this spring tradition, this class will give you the know how and understandings to gather some of this sweetness of the land. This old tradition reaches back beyond European arrival here and will hopefully continue to be an offering of the Driftless landscape to future generations of residents. We will cover everything from when and how to tap, and identification of maples at this time of year, to various equipment, holding of sap, cooking, and finishing syrup and sugar. Much of this day will take place in a small scale sugar bush with some time learning indoors. This class is geared towards beginners and folks looking to take on backyard to moderate homestead scale syruping operations.

Level 2 of the Basics of Clawhammer Banjo with Brennan Henry will provide students with more advanced techniques for playing their banjo in an old style! Topics will include a refresher on the fundamentals of strumming and drop-thumbing, chord shapes (and their inversions) music theory for the banjo, techniques for playing up-the-neck, alternative tunings (playing scales and chords within these tunings), and a plethora of reels, jigs, and more….

Learn the fundamentals of forging in a well-equipped shop with James Fleming of Wasteland Forge. You'll learn forge safety, heat control, tools and purpose, hammer techniques, and forging fundamentals. You'll leave with what you make!

A full day of making soap. We will cover the myriad ways to add herbs for your soap, as well as how to make a creamy, moisturizing farm-fresh bar of goat milk soap. This class will cover the qualities of the herbs we can add, for their healing and moisturizing qualities and 3 approaches to soap making: hot process, cold process, and hand milling. In addition to making soap, we will learn to felt soap as well as add loofah sponges for exfoliation as well as additional nourishing skin qualities. This is a comprehensive soap-making class, that will offer a foundation for making soap with the best ingredients from the field, forest, and farm. Participants will leave with many bars of soap to cure at home, a recipe guide and skills for a lifetime.

Explore the creative possibilities of this traditional skill as you design and complete a coiled basket using pine needles and sweetgrass. Herbalist Linda Conroy will guide and instruct you on how to coil and stitch a simple basket as well as integrate other materials into your basket, such as black walnut hull, pine cone, beads, and more.

This class is a great opportunity for both beginners and intermediate weavers to learn and expand on their skills.

Learn the history and basics of electricity, and electrical theory, including Ohm's Law, amps, volts, and watts, and how they are calculated in simple home wiring jobs.

The class will also learn about wire, wire sizes, and some basic home wiring, including how to properly wire a switch, an outlet, a light, and a circuit breaker. The class will also get to safely explore a circuit breaker box, including the use and wiring of circuit breakers, and proper grounding, including placement of the ground wire and the ground rod.

This is a hands-on on class for all experience levels, for ages 9 and up. Learn to use traditional and modern tools to create beautiful, symbolic Pysanky!

The word Pysanka(-y plural) derives from the Ukrainian verb, pysaty, to write. Writing pysanky is an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years! Special symbols and colors are used as prayers and talismans to ward off evil.

Intarsia knitting creates blocks of colors by switching different balls of yarn throughout your flat garter-stitch knitted piece. Over the course of a day-long class, you will learn how to use intarsia, starting with 3 square patterns: one solid, one striped, and one checkered - this will give you the basic skills to develop your own multi-colored knit patterns. It's a deeply rewarding skill that introduces artistic skills akin to drawing into the act of knitting.

This class is best suited for folks with a basic familiarity with knitting…

This is a hands-on on class for all experience levels, for ages 9 and up. Learn to use traditional and modern tools to create beautiful, symbolic Pysanky!

The word Pysanka(-y plural) derives from the Ukrainian verb, pysaty, to write. Writing pysanky is an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years! Special symbols and colors are used as prayers and talismans to ward off evil.

Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.

Calling ALL voices! You are invited to come and sing with us! Community Singing is accessible to anyone and everyone. All songs are taught call and response (no need to read music or have previous singing experience). They are simple, yet beautiful when sung together. Some songs are rounds, some have multiple simple parts, and some have simple harmonies. This kind of singing is for the sheer joy of being together in community, and there is no performance. Come experience the pleasure of simple connection with others through music.

Brooms have been made and used for centuries throughout the world. Make your own hearth broom which is both decorative and utilitarian, using natural broom corn and hand tools. Students will learn to prepare handles and broom corn, assemble and tie brooms securely using a foot spindle, weave handles, attach hangers, and stitch brooms.

This course will take students on a guided hike of the Wintergreen Trail at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, one of the most beautiful places to spot the unique and transient spring ephemerals. We will meet at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Visitors' Center at 9am and begin our hike shortly after. Please come prepared with rain gear or other clothing that will allow you to sit on the wet ground and draw for a time. As we walk through the fields and forest, we will focus on the unique ecology of these understory plants that bloom and fade before the forest canopy leafs out. We may see skunk cabbage, hepatica, Dutchman's Breeches, and other fantastic species, taking time to draw several and record notes. Please bring the following: a small field notebook, pens, pencils & erasers, water, and a light snack. The language of this class is geared toward high school students and adults, but children are welcome to come along.

Come learn the magic of fruit tree grafting! With this versatile skill you will be able to make your own apple trees at a fraction of the cost of purchasing them, and have the tools to clone any apple tree you happen to fancy. In the class we will discuss and demonstrate whip-and-tongue and cleft grafting in detail. The basics of bridge grafting, bud grafting, and top working older trees will be covered. The care and protection of young trees, selection of root stocks, and sources of grafting scion wood will also be discussed…

Turkey wing whisk brooms are beautiful and valuable tools in your home, workshop, garage or wherever you frequently tidy up. Make your own turkey wing broom using natural broom corn and hand tools. Students to prepare broom corn, assemble and tie brooms securely using a foot spindle, weave handles, and attach hangers.

Have you ever wanted to make a leather bound journal by hand? Either for yourself or for a loved one? Come spend a half day with a local leathersmith and learn step by step how to make a notebook to your own preferences, and leave with a completed book!

Are you curious about alternative energy or photovoltaics and want to know more? Would you like to put solar panels on your house or property? Are you curious about conserving energy, and the costs of alternatives?

This course will give you practical, real-world, and background information on solar panels, solar electricity, and various PV systems. Each class participant models their own solar project, and collects all the information they need to finance, construct, or manage their own solar project. The class comes with a take-home DIY manual that can be used with any solar setup, and also includes lists of resources. There will be a tour of existing working systems, installation basics for roofs and racks, and a means for estimating costs of parts and installations on all systems. Class includes a fifty-page DIY PV booklet.

A windmill is both a rural icon and a time-honored method of pumping water - one that is still a viable method today.

This class will introduce you to windmill parts and types, and the basics of constructing a foundation for the tower. The class will have access to Jon's Aeromotor 403 B windmill, which operates as his main water pump.

In this in-depth exploration of wild edibles of the Driftless area we will learn a wide range of plants that offer us food during this season. Many roots and tubers from the previous season are available still, a plethora of greens and blossoms have burst out, and even some early stalk vegetables are showing. We will thoroughly learn the plants that offer these foods with emphasis on safety, respect, and reciprocity. This class will set you up to begin foraging in earnest, or add plants to your list if you know something about foraging but are still rather new to the game. Discussion, sampling, a wild food lunch, and exploring of various Driftless aspects and environments will fill out our day of learning and experiencing this enriching, connecting and grounding activity…

Immerse yourself in a full day of wooly goodness and the wonderful world of farm and fiber! Spend the morning at a local sheep farm meeting new lambs! Then in the afternoon, learn how to spin your own handmade yarn!

Using the warm, red metal my Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) relatives call “miskwabik” (copper) and basalt hammer stones from the shores of G’chi gamii (Lake Superior), we will hand-forge bowls on wooden stumps. In a process called “sinking”, or hammering on the inside, we will anneal the metal in a wood fire and form our richly colored, beautiful vessels using the power of our own muscles. Come join us in this elemental journey of copper, fire, water, and stone.

Want to learn to sharpen your tools? No experience needed. Taught by Jon Anderson of Star Hill Timberworks, this workshop is designed for beginners. In this hands-on workshop, we teach you to sharpen your knives, axes, chisels, and auger bits. The techniques work just as well on mower blades, scissors, shovels, hoes, etc. You will use traditional and modern sharpening methods to hone and polish the edge. All sharpening equipment and materials are provided.

Immerse yourself in a full day of woolly goodness and the wonderful world of fiber arts! Learn how to spin your own handmade yarn, the process of taking sheep wool from farm to fiber, and how to hand dye beautiful fibers for spinning or felting….

Save the date! Our 3rd Annual Community Celebration will be held on Saturday, July 5th, 2025… FREE micro classes with folk school instructors, live music, ice cream social, local community connections, and more! We hope you can join us.