Using only a chisel and mallet, ancient stonecutters produced some of the most compelling letter forms in stone, which have not only endured, but influenced the very fabric of all the formal text we see. Roman capital letters are our point of departure in analyzing the proportion and elegance of a timeless style of Western script, where letters are both drawn and brush painted. From this foundation, students will learn to cut a letter or a word into a flat slab of stone using mallet and chisels. Students will have the chance to develop their own monogram, words or symbols as their personal stone carving project.

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.

Pigments are located in fascinating places in the natural world. We can coax them out of hiding and onto our palettes through a number of ancient innovative methods. From cave paintings to gallery walls, natural pigments have remained much the same across time, as well as the mediums used to bind them into paint. This course examines both sides of this topic in great detail, providing a deep exploration of traditional methods, philosophy and practical applications of handmade paint.

Come bask in wonder at the beauty of the night sky! Orient yourself in place by learning how to find the directions using the stars. Place yourself in time by learning the histories and mythologies of the stars that humans have been drawing, speaking, and writing for tens of thousands of years. We are of the first generations who know so very little. But the stories are not forgotten!! With a green laser pointer in hand, Megan will trace the constellations, teach star names, and show how the different celestial bodies move through the night, the seasons, and years.

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.

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!

Are you interested in going off-grid, with batteries and solar panels for power?

In this class we will discuss types of batteries and how to connect and maintain them. We'll also introduce other elements necessary for setting up off-grid solar, including rack types, roof mounts, solar panels, charge controllers, off-grid inverters, and wiring…

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.

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 still prime underground, a plethora of greens and blossoms will have burst out, and even some early stalk vegetables and petioles should be available. We will learn the plants that offer these foods with emphasis on proper identification, relationship, and reciprocity. This class will set you up to begin foraging from many plants on your own, or add plants to your knowledge base if you have some foraging experience. Discussion, sampling, a lunch of wild and local fare, and exploration of various local habitats will fill out our day of learning and experiencing this enriching, connecting and grounding activity.

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…

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.

This workshop focuses on incorporating flower remedies (or flower essences) in daily practice as well as folk and clinical herbalism settings. Suitable for flower enthusiasts and seasoned herbalists alike, we will spend the afternoon learning about how this homeopathic medicine can support balance of emotional and energetic shifts.

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.

Before candles, we made torches. Learn how to make one of human's original portable light sources: the mullein stalk torch!

Love using lip balm but hate wasting plastic tubes? Discover the simple magic of turning acorn caps, herbs, and beeswax into your own nourishing lip and body balm. You’ll learn to infuse, blend, and pour your balm using natural, zero-waste ingredients.

Often called "picture knitting," intarsia knitting is a colorwork knitting technique used to create blocks of color or graphic images by switching different balls of yarn throughout your flat garter-stitch knitted piece. In this class you will learn the basics, leaving with the skills to follow intarsia knit patterns or create designs as you go. It's a deeply rewarding craft that introduces artistic skills akin to drawing into the act of knitting.

Whether you grow, forage or purchase mushrooms, it is easy to bring them into your kitchen and medicine chest. Learn how to best prepare mushrooms for optimal benefit and get inspired to incorporate them into your daily life through this informative workshop. The second part of the day will be spent learning to grow mushrooms and everyone will take home their own inoculated log.

These majestic and powerful animals are rarely seen at work in the developed world, but in many places they remain essential sources of power for food production, freight and everyday living. In this class you will learn how oxen are traditionally driven in the western world and have the opportunity to practice driving a trained team.

This traditional Japanese technique of fabric folding and binding makes gorgeous repetitive patterns on fabric and is dyed with Indigo. We will learn a bit about the history and tradition of Shibori and about Indigo dyeing around the world. We will then try some ourselves using clips, tubes, bands and other items to make resists on our fabric for dyeing. Ignite your innovation and creativity! This fun and kind of addictive activity gives instant results and makes you want to try many more. It is magical to observe the oxygen react with the Indigo, creating all shades of ‘blue jeans’ blue.

Turn everyday food packaging into works of art in this eco-friendly intaglio printmaking class. Intaglio (pronounced in-TAHL-yo) is a printmaking process where you carve or etch a design into a surface, fill those recessed lines with ink, and then transfer the image onto paper using a press. We’ll use recycled TetraPak cartons (shelf-stable cartons used for boxed soup broth) as our primary plates, etching, scoring, and peeling back the thin foil liner to create our designs. We’ll also experiment with a mini-print project using recycled tuna packets. By scoring, stitching, and crinkling the flexible packaging, we'll create fun textures that print beautifully.

This introductory beekeeping course is designed for beginners who are curious about keeping honeybees and want the knowledge and confidence to get started as a hobby beekeeper. The class covers the fundamentals of beekeeping, including a brief history of beekeeping, honeybee biology and behavior, and an overview of common pests and diseases. Participants will learn about essential equipment, with a focus on the Langstroth hive and basic wooden ware, as well as core management techniques such as hive inspections and record keeping. The course also provides helpful resources to support continued learning and successful beekeeping beyond the classroom.

Fermented dairy is a wonderful way to incorporate probiotics into the diet, use extra milk, and can make dairy more digestible for some. In this class, participants will learn how to make easy dairy ferments, including yogurt, kefir, fresh cheese and cultured butter. We will discuss the health benefits of these foods, ways to use different animal milks in the recipes and fermentation troubleshooting.

This class will provide you with a first-hand introduction to cows and the world they live in. You will get to try your hand at halter training a calf; learn how to interact with a cow and read its body language; consider fencing, feeding and sheltering your cow; look at milking and milk-handling equipment (including how to cool milk quickly to preserve quality); and last but not least, we will milk a cow by hand and (if you like) taste the fresh, still-warm milk. This class is designed to equip prospective family cow owners with real-world skills and knowledge, but will also be an enjoyable experience for the strictly curious.

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.

For thousands of years people have harvested and used fiber from basswood and linden species for lashings, rope, nets, mats and woven bags, both in the Old World and here in the Americas. This amazing material is still available from trees growing throughout our region but is little known now and very little used. We will get to know the American Basswood, learn of these tree's ecological significance, harvest a small tree and peel the bark, begin retting some of the bark, and process out some finished fiber. We will learn a couple methods of rope making and spend some time doing so. Participants will leave with some bark to ret and process, and some cord of their own making.

This program will foster better familiarity with our native woody plants who shape and support the living landscape of the Driftless. Though often taken for granted, these members of our ecosystem are dynamic and essential constituents of this place and knowing them better will help us in our plant and fungi foraging, birding, photography, hunting, stewardship of lands, and even our feeling of belonging to this place. We will explore leaf shapes, bark, twigs, and tree growth forms for identification purposes, and discuss ecological aspects like their preferred soil types, tree communities, and wildlife/woody-life interdependence. This will be an instructive but enjoyable and hands-on exploration of this fascinating world.

Whether you’re new to lamb or a lamb lover, this hands-on class is for you!

Make: Cured Lemon and Herbed Meatballs and Steamed Lamb Dumplings
Rotate between the two stations and get a chance to make both dishes, with recipes to take home.

Taste: Slow-cooked Shredded Lamb with Tomato and Red Wine
Another recipe to take home! The instructor's favorite quick and easy slow cooker dish will be bubbling away to share with students.

Chat: Meet new people!
Learn what it’s like raising 100% grass-fed lamb from your farmer/instructor.

Eat! We’ll end the class by gathering to eat the meal we’ve cooked together.

SAVE THE DATE:

The Driftless Folk School Community Celebration will be hosted on Sunday, July 5th, 2026.

FREE micro classes with folk school instructors, live music, ice cream, local community connections, and more…

We hope you can join us!

This one-day course is a beginner-friendly introduction to the rich traditions of willow basketry. Students will explore the fundamentals of crafting a classic round basket, working with cured willow to learn essential techniques such as creating a round base, twining, staking up, waling, bordering, and finishing. While the hands-on focus is on working with prepared materials, the course also includes discussion on how to process and prepare willow for future projects. Each participant will complete a small to medium-sized basket and receive detailed informational materials to support their continued learning and independent practice in the art of willow basketry.

Fermented vegetables are a wonderful way to incorporate probiotics into the diet, put up the garden harvest, and make vegetables even more nutritious and digestible. In this class, participants will learn how to make sauerkraut, kim chi, lacto-fermented pickled vegetables and condiments. We will discuss the health benefits of these foods, ways to add them to meals, and fermentation troubleshooting.

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.

Curious about electric vehicles? In this class co-taught by DFS photovoltaics instructor, Jon Passi, and Vernon County Energy District President, Al Bus, we'll tackle questions most drivers have: how EVs stack up against gas cars, how they handle long trips, and what to expect in winter conditions. You’ll get a brief history of electric vehicles and a practical overview of today’s hybrid and all-electric models, including pricing.

We’ll take a closer look under the hood (and beneath the floor), exploring how EVs are built, how their systems work, and what to know about battery lifespan and replacement. You’ll also gain insight into everyday EV ownership, from charging at home to finding stations on the road. Plus, see an electric vehicle up close during a live demonstration.

In this beginner-friendly mushroom foraging class, we'll discuss mushroom identification techniques, and practical foraging tips. We'll explore the woods together in search of edible and medicinal mushrooms like lion's mane, lobster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, puffball mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and more! Come prepared for off-trail hiking and uneven terrain. As with any foraging class, the abundance and variety of mushrooms we find in the woods is entirely up to mother nature! Being prepared for uncertainty (and for surprises!) is all part and parcel of wild foraging.

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.

In this beginner-friendly mushroom foraging class, we'll discuss mushroom identification techniques, and practical foraging tips. We'll explore the woods together in search of edible and medicinal mushrooms like lion's mane, lobster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, puffball mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and more! Come prepared for off-trail hiking and uneven terrain. As with any foraging class, the abundance and variety of mushrooms we find in the woods is entirely up to mother nature! Being prepared for uncertainty (and for surprises!) is all part and parcel of wild foraging.

Come bask in wonder at the beauty of the night sky! Orient yourself in place by learning how to find the directions using the stars. Place yourself in time by learning the histories and mythologies of the stars that humans have been drawing, speaking, and writing for tens of thousands of years. We are of the first generations who know so very little. But the stories are not forgotten!! With a green laser pointer in hand, Megan will trace the constellations, teach star names, and show how the different celestial bodies move through the night, the seasons, and years.

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.

If you have been looking for a way to add more probiotic-rich foods and beverages to your diet (without breaking the bank!), then this workshop is for you! Participants will learn how to make their own non-alcoholic fermented drinks, including kombucha, water kefir (aka tibicos), beet kvass, and shrubs. We will be tasting lots of samples, discussing the health benefits of these drinks and talking all about fermentation troubleshooting.

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.