The 4th Annual Groundnut Earth Living Skills Gathering
Franklin County, MA, Oct. 2 - 3, '21
Wow! We're full! Registration is now closed!
Join us for an amazing two day regional Earth living skills gathering this fall in the beautiful woods and meadows of Franklin County at this year's Groundnut Gathering! Our 6th gathering, we're grateful for the chance to bring together inspired teachers and enthusiasts from around the area to connect with each other and the land as we learn and share new skills!
The gathering will run Saturday morning, 10/2, through Sunday afternoon, 10/3. Camping is available and encouraged. There will be 4 workshop blocks, time to work on and share personal projects, trade items, and share meals and community.
Proceeds support public food forests, planting 5 fruit trees per participant with Help Yourself!
Food not included or provided. BYO ingredients for outdoor kitchen and potluck meals. Sorry, no pets.
The gathering will run Saturday morning, 10/2, through Sunday afternoon, 10/3. Camping is available and encouraged. There will be 4 workshop blocks, time to work on and share personal projects, trade items, and share meals and community.
Proceeds support public food forests, planting 5 fruit trees per participant with Help Yourself!
Food not included or provided. BYO ingredients for outdoor kitchen and potluck meals. Sorry, no pets.
|
Workshops include:
|
Full weekend: $70-$200 sliding scale
Day attendance: $35-$105 sliding scale Kids under 8: Free Please inquire for special financial arrangements, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds support public fruit tree planting initiatives. |
Space is limited -- Register by completing the form below!
|
Saturday:
Arrival/parking:9:00 Opening Circle: 9:30 Block 1: 10-12:00 Complete Sheep Butchering Basket Making Potluck Lunch 12:00-1:30 Block 2: 1:30-3:30 Mushroom ID Friction Fire Block 3: 3:45-5:45 Skill Share: Hide Tanning, Fire by Friction, Spoon Carving, and Fishing! Potluck Dinner 6:00 Fire, Music, Song Circle and Stories! 6:00 Check out the planets! Open Telescope: 8:00 |
Sunday:
Potluck Breakfast 8:30-9:00 Arrival and Parking: 9:00 Opening Circle: 9:30 Block 1: 10-12:00 Connecting with the seasons Storytelling and Mythcarrying Potluck Lunch 12:00-1:30 Block 2: 1:30-3:30 Tools in Action Wild Edible Walk Block 3: 3:45-5:45 Skill Share: Fire by friction, tracking, and whatever else emerges! Closing Circle: 6:00 |
Class Descriptions:
Wild Mushroom ID and Walk-Dean Colpack
Fall is mushroom season! We'll explore the fungal connections all around us, learning about mushroom relationships with trees, edible and medicinal uses, as well as some of the identifying features human animals use to categorize these forest friends.
Tools in Action - Deborah Chamberlain
In this class we will learn simple and safe care and use of knives, hatchets and axes. Learn how to effectively use and control edges, and keep them sharp. We will also make simple tools that can be used in camp: wedges, mallets and benches. We will spend time using tools to make camp life more comfortable!
Complete Sheep Butchering - Felix Lufkin
Learn how to skin, dress, quarter and butcher a sheep! In this workshop, we'll learn about butchering, charcuterie and anatomy as we transform a whole, freshly slaughtered (off-site), noble cousin into food for us humans. All parts of the animal will be used including organ meats, bones and blood. Lastly, we will learn to use the sinew for string, hooves for glue how to begin hide work. Folks will be expected to roll their sleeves and participate. All this will be done, of course, in the respectful context of interdependence. If you are interested in attending the off-site slaughter, please let us know.
Storytelling and Mythcarrying- Jacquelyn Ward
There exists a deep connection between land, humans, and myth. In this session we will explore that connection through our imaginations and senses. We will listen to some ancient myths and folktales, practice a few tricks for telling stories, discuss what it means to carry these stories within us, and take that theory out into the land. You can come for just the stories or stay for the whole workshop. Children may be more interested in the first half (the stories), but are welcome for the whole time if they wish.
Basket Making-Mary Lauren Fraser
Come make a willow cone basket with Mary Lauren Fraser! Students will learn weaves such as twining, French randing and two-rod folded border. This is a great introduction to willow basketry and open to beginners as well as those with some willow working experience. All ages above 10 are welcome, class will be approx. 2 hours long. Please bring your own clippers or hand shears if you have them. All materials provided. Material fee $20/per person.
Connecting with the seasons-Plants and Practices for seasonal wellness-Gina Shvartsman
The Earth and our bodies change in tandem, following the collective cycles of the sun, weather patterns, seasonal changes, etc. Having an awareness of these shifts, as well as our tendencies, can become potent tools for agency & supporting balance. Plants, both food & medicine, are allies for us on this journey. Come learn tools for seasonal awareness and plants to integrate to support balance and wellness as we move through the seasons. Focus will be on local & in season plants. This class will integrate some aspects of the Chinese Medicine Five Element lens, a system of patterns of Nature.
Wild Mushroom ID and Walk-Dean Colpack
Fall is mushroom season! We'll explore the fungal connections all around us, learning about mushroom relationships with trees, edible and medicinal uses, as well as some of the identifying features human animals use to categorize these forest friends.
Tools in Action - Deborah Chamberlain
In this class we will learn simple and safe care and use of knives, hatchets and axes. Learn how to effectively use and control edges, and keep them sharp. We will also make simple tools that can be used in camp: wedges, mallets and benches. We will spend time using tools to make camp life more comfortable!
Complete Sheep Butchering - Felix Lufkin
Learn how to skin, dress, quarter and butcher a sheep! In this workshop, we'll learn about butchering, charcuterie and anatomy as we transform a whole, freshly slaughtered (off-site), noble cousin into food for us humans. All parts of the animal will be used including organ meats, bones and blood. Lastly, we will learn to use the sinew for string, hooves for glue how to begin hide work. Folks will be expected to roll their sleeves and participate. All this will be done, of course, in the respectful context of interdependence. If you are interested in attending the off-site slaughter, please let us know.
Storytelling and Mythcarrying- Jacquelyn Ward
There exists a deep connection between land, humans, and myth. In this session we will explore that connection through our imaginations and senses. We will listen to some ancient myths and folktales, practice a few tricks for telling stories, discuss what it means to carry these stories within us, and take that theory out into the land. You can come for just the stories or stay for the whole workshop. Children may be more interested in the first half (the stories), but are welcome for the whole time if they wish.
Basket Making-Mary Lauren Fraser
Come make a willow cone basket with Mary Lauren Fraser! Students will learn weaves such as twining, French randing and two-rod folded border. This is a great introduction to willow basketry and open to beginners as well as those with some willow working experience. All ages above 10 are welcome, class will be approx. 2 hours long. Please bring your own clippers or hand shears if you have them. All materials provided. Material fee $20/per person.
Connecting with the seasons-Plants and Practices for seasonal wellness-Gina Shvartsman
The Earth and our bodies change in tandem, following the collective cycles of the sun, weather patterns, seasonal changes, etc. Having an awareness of these shifts, as well as our tendencies, can become potent tools for agency & supporting balance. Plants, both food & medicine, are allies for us on this journey. Come learn tools for seasonal awareness and plants to integrate to support balance and wellness as we move through the seasons. Focus will be on local & in season plants. This class will integrate some aspects of the Chinese Medicine Five Element lens, a system of patterns of Nature.
Teacher bios:
|
Mary Lauren Fraser: Basket Making
Mary Lauren Fraser apprenticed with a basket and coffin weaver in northeast Scotland in 2015 and has since been weaving and teaching in New England. She weaves willow coffins for green burial and baskets and urns. This is her sixth season teaching basketry workshops throughout New England. Find her work at www.fraserbaskets.com and on Instagram @fraserbaskets Dean Colpack: Mushroom ID Dean moved to Western MA when he was eighteen and has since fallen in love with wild nature. He has worked as a nature educator in public elementary schools, has taught holistic, ethical butchering with gratitude to adults, is a member of the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association, and has been a prison justice activist focusing on reproductive rights and abolishing solitary confinement. He is currently working towards a Master of Social Work at Smith, with which he hopes to integrate group therapy and nature literacy. Felix Lufkin: Wild Edible Plants, Complete Sheep Butchering Felix works with K-12, college and adult students at a number of programs in the Valley teaching nature awareness and homestead skills, in programs at public, private and home schools, public workshops and organizations including Mass Audubon, Wolf Tree Programs, the Vermont Wilderness School, and Earthwork Programs. He has lead programs at NorthStar Teen Center, Four Rivers Charter School, the Paulo Friere Social Justice Charter School, and taught wild edible plants and earth living skills classes at UMass Amherst and Hampshire College. He also directs Help Yourself, inc. Deborah Chamberlain: Tools in Action Deborah's career in education started with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School leading 30 day river trips with youth at risk some 30 years ago. She was lucky enough to work and travel from the Florida swamps to the hills of Wales and the streets of NYC. Deborah studied bush craft in the UK with the West Yorkshire Bushcraft group, in the US at the Tracker School and Mountainsong Expeditions. She also studied at the Blazing Star Herbal school with Gail Ulrich. "I am so happy to be bringing my skills in progress to the Ground Nut Gathering!" |
|
Jacquelyn Ward: Storytelling and Mythcarrying
Jacquelyn grew up running around the woods, eating herbs straight from the garden, and sleeping outside whenever possible. In 2007 she took part in Amherst High School’s Survival Living class and became interested in learning how to thrive without the trappings of the consumer world. Since then she has worked for Hawk Circle, Vermont Wilderness School, Wolf Tree, Earth Works, and Art of Mentoring programs. She has a BA in Historiography and Alternative Historical Narrative from Marlboro College in Vermont and an MA in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies from the University of Iceland. She has been living in Iceland and Denmark for two years, and recently spent six months working on farms in Devon, England and exploring the landscape and stories of Dartmoor. She is passionate about mythology, history, and food cultures, and the ways in which they connect people to place. Gina Shvartsman: Connecting with the seasons-Plants and Practices for seasonal wellness Gina is a practicing herbalist, farmer, shiatsu practitioner, and kitchen witch thoroughly enthralled with the natural world (of which we humans are intrinsically part of). Since her first day of herb class, Gina knew she was home; she's been eagerly learning about the non-human world, especially plants, since. She is deeply inspired by a desire to connect, learn with and cocreate in right relationship with all beings on our one Earth home as a form of self & collective empowerment to build resiliency. She believes that it is our birthright to connect deeply with Mama Earth & hopes to share tools and inspiration for doing so. You can find Gina forever harvesting plants and stuffing them into jars, mixing flavors from the fields & forests to create colorful & intriguing foods & medicines. |
Skill share:
|
Maggie Ranen - Hide tanning
Bring hides you are working, and whatever tanning supplies you have! Maggie will answer questions, give a demo and assist with projects. Kevin Aderer - Spoon carving and fire by friction Practice the art of fire by friction, bring a knife and any bow drill or hand drill kits you have! Learn how to carve and coal burn a spoon, eat soup out of at the potluck that day! Ellena Baum - Evening Song Circle Ellena has been bringing people together through informal song circles for special occasions over the last several years. She is continually inspired by the song leaders and creators around her. Often, her favorite part of a song is the silence that comes after it. Join us for an informal song circle to learn new songs, share old ones, celebrate the fall, and use our voices to create something beautiful together! Ned Phillip-Jones - Fishing Learn more about fishing in lakes, streams, ponds and the oceans, bring whatever fishing equipment you have! |
Testimonials:
"I went last year and I can say for certain it was nothing short of life changing for me -- a beautiful weekend outside, new experiences, real skills taught in a shared and humble way with patience and respect for the seriousness of the tools and resources in use, a central campfire flame kept alive all weekend to cook and share meals and meet around, and best of all being surrounded by people showing up to create community in real time. I was so amazed by the tightness of the community formed in just 2 days! It felt like such a blessing, and I walked away feeling more whole in myself and my abilities and more ready to engage with others and the earth. Ah I can't say enough!" -Anya Klepacki
"The Groundnut has been a wonderful yearly tradition for our family to go to! We have learned so much over the years and made wonderful friends!"- The Petersons
"I went last year and I can say for certain it was nothing short of life changing for me -- a beautiful weekend outside, new experiences, real skills taught in a shared and humble way with patience and respect for the seriousness of the tools and resources in use, a central campfire flame kept alive all weekend to cook and share meals and meet around, and best of all being surrounded by people showing up to create community in real time. I was so amazed by the tightness of the community formed in just 2 days! It felt like such a blessing, and I walked away feeling more whole in myself and my abilities and more ready to engage with others and the earth. Ah I can't say enough!" -Anya Klepacki
"The Groundnut has been a wonderful yearly tradition for our family to go to! We have learned so much over the years and made wonderful friends!"- The Petersons
