Waste-Less Living
Advanced Strategies for Waste-Less Living:
Refuse. Reduce. Reuse. Repair. Repurpose.
Green Woodworking
Green Woodworking: Techniques and Tools for Harvesting, Splitting, and Shaping Green Wood
Rainwater Catchment
Learn the basics of connecting gutters and downspouts to water tanks and how to connect multiple water tanks to each other. We will also cover issues of piping and pumping water to where you need it, simple water purification and filtering, freeze protection during winter, sizing water pipes, different piping materials, and common pipe fittings and connections. This workshop is a hands-on workshop installing simple connected water catchment systems. The workshop is led by licensed plumber Harvey Harman, who has 30+ years of rainwater catchment experience in central North Carolina and Africa.
Climate Emergency Prep
Be prepared for climate emergencies such as: floods, hurricanes, wind, fire, earthquakes, drought, high temperatures, winter storms, mudslides, and crop failures.
Preserving the Harvest
Fermenting, Freezing/Refrigerating, Drying, Canning, Root Cellaring, Smoking, Salting, Vacuum Sealing, and Storing in Vinegar or Alcohol
Camp & Carve
Camp & Carve
Join us for a weekend of community and creation, hosted by Ben Harman. The vibe will be low pressure: just craft enthusiasts hanging out, making crafts together. Share skills, share tools, enjoy the quiet.
Attendance is free, and all are welcome. Rustic camping is available for $10/night.
Bushcraft Tools
The 3 Most Essential Bushcraft Tools for Emergency Situations: Knife, Hatchet, and Folding Saw
Backyard Solar
We will put together a basic Solar PV (electric) System for use on a Home or Homestead. We will connect Solar PV panels to a charge controller, and the controller to battery storage. Then we will connect the batteries to an inverter to run various AC (alternating current) loads like you would need in a standard home or homestead. This system also works well as an emergency backup system during power outages.
Firecraft
Fire starting, fuel sources, fire control, open fire cooking techniques, fire starting in wet weather, fires for warmth and safety, and additional emergency uses of fire.
Herbal First Aid
In this workshop we will make poultices, compresses, essential oil blends in carrier oil preparations for first aid and much more, while we discuss traditional first aid from multiple cultures and learn what herbs and herbal preparations to include in your first aid kit/apothecary, both at home and while away from home.
Grow Amazing Tomatoes
All You Need to Know to Grow Amazing Tomatoes (and a garden) in North Carolina
Foraging: Food from the Forest
Food From the Forest: Utilizing woodlands for dependable food supplies.
Success with Herbs
Success with Herbs: Growing and Harvesting Cultivated and Wild Herbs for Food, Seasonings, Health, Well-Being, and Vitality
FAQs
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We are enthusiastic about sharing skills with folks of all ages! There is no minimum age for attendance. Our youth rate applies to attendees ages 6-18. Attendance is free for children 5 and under. We require that youth be accompanied by an adult who is attending the same workshop when they are here at the Folk School.
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For the events that include lunch, we are eager to share with you the bounty from our gardens and kitchens. We typically have a wide range of options, including gluten free, dairy free, vegan and vegetarian. If you have any concerns about whether the food will suit you or not, feel free to reach out and/or bring along some food for yourself.
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Yes, work-trade options are available. We do not want the cost of the workshop to keep anyone who is interested from attending. Usually the work-trade involves 3 hours of work-trade in exchange for a 3-hour workshop. Ideally, work-trade hours are to be worked off prior to taking the workshop. It may be possible to do some work-trade hours remotely (help with marketing and promotion, for example). Especially helpful is to do work-trade hours the day before workshops. It may be possible to do some work-trade the day of workshops, if set-up in advance.
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There is no childcare at this time, but we do encourage families to participate together. We offer free attendance to children 5 and under, and a youth rate for folks ages 6-18. Please be mindful that all children and youth must have an accompanying adult attending the same workshop.
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There is signage at the end of Rising Sun Way directing one where to park.