Wild Crafting Series
Nov 8 2009 10:00
Nov 8 2009 16:00
US/Alaska
Offered: March - November 2010
Location: Commonweal Garden
Instructor: Matt Berry
Have you wondered what wild foods you can eat around your home? How to prepare them? Tried your hand at lighting a fire without a match? Meet Matt Berry, who has been practicing and teaching primitive skills and nature awareness for more than a decade. Matt blends his passion and expertise in field biology, primitive skills, horticulture and permaculture. After spending some time with Matt, you may never look at the weeds in the corner of your garden or the oak trees in your neighborhood the same way again!
This year, Matt offers a series of day-long skill intensives. These classes will not only help to build your wildcrafting skills, but also deepen your connection with the natural world.
Matt is also available to teach private courses - see full listing below.
Families are welcome - with discounted fees for children.
Wild Foods
Next Offered: Spring 2010, 10am - 4pm
Location: Commonweal Garden, Bolinas, California
In this course, you'll explore the wild edibles that live in and around the Commonweal Garden. You'll learn how to make Matt's wild weed raw energy bars, how to identify some key edible plants and their nutritional values, learn what plants not to eat, and learn strategies for enhancing wild food production and sustainable harvesting methods.
Basketry Basics
Next Offered: Spring 2010, 10am - 4pm
Location: Commonweal Garden, Bolinas, California
In this day-long course, you'll learn how to sustainably harvest and process wild basket materials like willow, dogwood, and more. From what we gather on site, you'll learn to weave with basic basketry techniques and take home a creation of your own!
Primitive Fire Making
Next Offered: Summer 2010, 10am - 4pm
Location: Commonweal Garden, Bolinas, California
In this skills course, you'll learn how to make fire by friction with local materials. Though there are 23 ways to make fire without matches or a lighter, we'll use the bow drill. We will also look at other common methods - the hand drill, fire plow and fire saw - all of which come in handy in a survival situation. You'll also learn about tinder, coal extenders, igniters and tipi fire construction. You will go home with a complete fire kit to practice with.
Wild Crafting with Acorn and Bay Nuts
Offered: Fall 2010, 10am - 4pm
Location: Commonweal Garden, Bolinas, California
Acorns and bay nuts were a staple food for the ancients of this area - in this course, you'll learn the ancient practice of harvesting and processing these nuts. Learn which oaks are best to gather acorns from, when to gather, and how to process acorns and bay nuts into food. We will be making acorn mush the old way with hot cooking rocks and ash cakes on the coals. You will also learn how to make roasted bay nuts into tempting chocolate-like candy!
Registration
Course Fee:
First Adult - $ 65.00
Second Adult - $ 50.00
First Child (10-16) with Paying Adult - $ 25.00
Second Child with Paying Adult - $ 15.00
Children under 10 may accompany a parent at no cost.
How to Register:
Currently there are no courses scheduled for 2010. Please check back.
Private Day-Long and Weekend Intensives
Make a birthday party, office team-building day, or a family gathering special! You can schedule any of Matt Berry's wildcrafting courses for private groups of six people or more. Fees are comparable to those outlined above. Contact the RDI office for information about how to schedule a private course for you and your family or friends. Course can include the following:
Shelter
In a survival situation, a well made shelter can make all the difference. You'll learn how to build different types of debris huts and shelters according to landscape and materials.
Bark Containers
You'll learn how to peel live bark off of a eucalyptus tree to produce a basket of both high function and beauty. We will also learn to process rawhide and fibers to lace up the bark containers. Go home with a bark container of your own creation.
If time permits, youwill also learn how to make a bone awl from the cannon bone of a deer leg. An awl is a useful tool when working with natural materials such as bark, brain-tanned leather and basketry frons.
Primitive Pottery
In this special course you will explore the ancient art of pottery. Learn where clay can be found, and how to make a coil pot, and how to fire it. Learn techniques for smoke clouts, burnishing, and natural paints. Pots are fired at the beach with seaweeds and other natural materials. We'll experiment together with materials like salt, banana peels, cow manure, and any other materials you bring. Take home a finished product!
Cattail Adventure
Cattails were a staple of life for the indigenous peoples in the Bay Area - providing shelter, food, fire, cordage, baskets, dolls, decoys, visors, mats and many other items. In this course, you'll learn how to gather cattails with primitive tools, when to gather, and what they can be made into. We will be making simple cordage and constructing visors and or bags, and a functional piece of art to take back home. View a preview of the identification and uses of cattail.
Wild Fermentation, Plum Mead and More
Local Bay Area Wild foodie Kevin Feinstein will join Matt Berry in a day of fermentation skills. Wild plums are one of the most abundant wild foods in the Bay Area, often making a mess of themselves on sidewalks, trails, and lawns. In this class, you'll learn how to use and preserve this amazing surplus by making plum mead and other plum delicacies. We will also cover general beer/wine making basics as well as the ins and outs of preserving wild foods.
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