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2008 Old-Style Life Skills Workshops
The Old-Style Life Skills Series (OSLSS) is a monthly series of workshops for the whole family
devoted to rediscovering
rural wisdom. Our mission in offering these classes and workshops is to foster self-sufficiency,
neighborly interdependence, and sustainable agricultural practices. As we thus rebuild cohesive
community, we strengthen our families, and improve the lot of all mothers.
Please visit Our Blog to read first hand reports of previous workshops and for more details about upcoming workshops
and join us on the second Saturday of every month!
All OSLSS workshops, except the Family Cow workshops, are scheduled from 10:30 until 1:30 with a pot-luck lunch and are $35 per family. Family Cow workshops are from 10:00 until 1:00, also include a potluck lunch and are $35 per person or $50 per family of up to four members. Registration for all workshops, before the workshop, is required. To register, please write
lifeskills@motherhouse.us or call Debra Tyler at (860) 672-0229.
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HERBAL SALVATION
January 12, 2008
Herbalist Jean Pollack of Mystical Rose Herb Company in Monterey, MA will make traditional home remedies with herbs. Hear how she has used them in raising her large and healthy family. Go home with a jar or two of soothing salve.
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SAUSAGE MAKING (RESCHEDULED)
January 26, 2008
Join Steph Pond to learn how to make your own delicious sausage. Steph is an avid bow hunter and an excellent chef. If he's successful in harvesting a deer between now and then, we'll be making venison sausage... Otherwise, we'll be using beef. Either way, it's bound to be good!
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BEE-GINNING WITH BEES
February 9, 2008
Join Mark Moorman of Sprain Brook Apiary in Woodbury, CT, as he explains the basics of beekeeping. Buzz over the tools, fire up a smoker, examine a hive, learn how to install apackage of bees and make your own beeswax candles. See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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WOOL GATHERING
March 8, 2008
Area "spin-sters" demonstrate carding, spinning, knitting, weaving and felting with natural wool. Meet a sheep. Make your own knitting needles and try your hand at these soothing traditional arts. See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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GET YOUR GOAT
April 12, 2008
Looking for natural bramble control? Enjoy a bit of chevre? Visit Rachel Gall and her backyard goats; disucss their
care, feeding, fencing and how to get started. See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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WE' D WALK
May 10, 2008
Discover the wonder of edible and healing plants -a.k.a. weeds - just now popping up in your neighborhood with herbalist Alicia North of North Star Botanicals. See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog. (Alicia also plans to lead a July 19 Summer Weed Walk and an Autumnal Weed Walk on Oct. 18)
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EGGS-PERIENCE CHICKENS
June 14, 2008
A hands-on inquiry into the marvelous creature that enriches your garden, turns table scraps into eggs, and
can be a tasty roast, which you prepare for the oven. See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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KEEPING A FAMILY COW
July 12, 2008
Learn about finding, feeding, housing, fencing, breeding, and caring for your own cow with Debra Tyler of Local Farm.
Try your hand at milking; make butter, soft cheese, ice cream and MOOre. ($35 per person/$50 per family of up to 4. Also held May 3, June 7, August 2, September 6.)
Visit rlocalfarm.com for more information, including photos of past workshops.
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SUMMER WEED WALK -
"ALL TIED UP" (NEW!)
July 19, 2008, 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Join outdoor enthusiast, Joseph Jude Brien for a leisurely walk around Local Farm to learn about a unique use for common “weeds” - fiber production. Learn how to identify, harvest and process plants which have been traditionally used to make cordage, rope and woven fabric. Participants will hand-process bast fiber from a dried plant stalk and make a cordage sample to take home. (Pictured to the right: Dogbane Cordage) Bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch.
To register, please send an email or call (860) 672-0229.
See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog. |
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YES, WE CAN CAN
August 9, 2008
Wyatt Whiteman will demonstrate methods of putting-food-by (that is, preserving food) in glass jars. Go home with a few jars of
this summer's harvest so you can eat local all winter long.
See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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CARE AND FEEDING OF SAW HORSES (NEW!)
August 23, 2008, 10:30AM - 3:00PM
Learn basic carpentry techniques with Joseph Jude Brien while building a team of very useful sawhorses you can take home. You’ll wonder how you ever survived without them! All tools and materials are provided. Bring your favorite dish to share for a potluck lunch.
To register, please send an email or call (860) 672-0229. |
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BUILDING A STANCHION
September 6, 2008, 1:30 - 4:30 PM
Learn how to use woodworking hand tools with Joseph Jude Brien while building your own stanchion, a wooden frame used to secure a cow for hand milking. Basic metal working will also be taught. Each participant, or team, will fashion a stanchion unit which can be mounted to an existing stall. All tools and materials are provided. Bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch.
To register, please send an email or call (860) 672-0229.
See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog. |
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BUILD A MILKING STOOL
September 7, 2008, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Learn how to use vintage and reproduction hand tools with Joseph Jude Brien as you hand-craft a three-legged milking stool, perfect for sitting upon whilst hand milking your cow or goat. All tools and materials are provided. Bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch.
To register, please send an email or call (860) 672-0229. |
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PIE IN THE SKY
September 13, 2008
Celebrate harvest season with a homegrown pie. Pluck a ripe squash, collect eggs, make maple syrup, grind flour, and render lard to make a delicious “pumpkin” pie from scratch.
See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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IN A PICKLE?
October 11, 2008
Join Jill Oneglia as she explains the marvels of using lacto-bacillus to preserve food, improve health and make delicious
pickles, sauerkraut, and drinks. Taste hers, begin your own and take it home. See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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AUTUMNAL WE'D WALK
October 18, 2008
Free Autumnal We'd Walk with Alicia North of Northstar Botanicals. Get to know traditional medicinal herbs and wild edibles in their pre-winter forms. Gather for a pot-luck lunch and taste some! 10:30 - 1:30. Starting from the Local Farm barn.
This event is part of the CT History Hunt. Visit www.locallygrownhistory.org for more information and please let us know if you're coming:
Debra@Motherhouse.US or call (860) 672-0229.
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BLOOD AND GUTS
November 8, 2008
Francisco Alves will share his culinary expertise is making use of the “spare parts” left after butchering an animal. Make blood sausage, liverwurst, hoof cracklings, soup stock, head cheese other tasty treats.
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SERIOUS DOUGH
December 13, 2008
Cheer up seasonal grumps with the smell of fresh bread. Grind wheat, mix and knead dough, form and bake your own loaf of bread. Sample a variety of home-made breads and discuss the use of different ingredients.
See more photos and read about this workshop on the Motherhouse Blog.
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