Reclaiming the Art of Local Craftsmanship

What is Re-skilling?

Our ancestors, perhaps only a few generations back, were able to make what they needed for daily life or trade for what they needed with a skilled neighbor.  

In this modern culture, most of us have lost the skills of basic craftsmanship. As we transition away from global consumerism and towards localized, earth-friendly economies, we need to reclaim these skills for ourselves and for our community.

Many of us have already started to re-skill around food — growing fresh vegetables in the backyard or cultivating a plot at a local community garden. This self-sustaining practice is deeply satisfying, and in the Bay Area there is a vibrant local economy around food that supports local farmers, garden teachers, restaurants, and burgeoning new vegetable landscaping businesses.

The Re-skilling Series

The Re-Skilling Series at RDI was inspired by our greater community's interest in learning more craftsmanship skills. Beyond growing our own vegetables, we can start re-skilling around food preservation, clothing, personal care products, furniture, and other needs of daily life.

Re-skilling requires that we connect more deeply to the natural world. It involves cultivating (or foraging) plants for basketry, building materials, medicine, general body care, dyes, food and clothing. It invites us into a closer relationship with domestic and wild animals, and asks that we pay more attention to the changing of the seasons and the cycles of the natural world. It also fosters a deeper gratitude for all that nature continues to provide us.

Re-skilling is happening all over the world — especially within communities engaged in the Transition Town movement. Now is the time to reclaim these basic skills of local craftsmanship! We believe that joy of reclaiming these skills will increase our self-sufficiency and meet the growing needs for a local, regenerative economy.

Spring 2012 
Re-skilling Schedule

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Fiber Arts Series

March 3 & April 7
The Art & Craft of Natural Dyes
Instructor: Rebecca Burgess

March 10, April 1 & May 6
From Sheep to Shawl:
Creating Beautiful Garments from Raw Wool
Instructors: Mimi Luebbermann, Marlie de Swart & Heidi Paul

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Herbal Healing & Body Care

March 4
Soapmaking Basics
Instructor: Allysyn Kiplinger

3-class Series: March 31, April 14 & May 5
Medicinal Botany
Instructor: Tellur Fenner

June 2
Herbal Skin Care: 
Creams, Toners, Scrubs & More
Instructor: Rachel Berry

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Traditional Food & Culinary Arts

March 10
Cook Wild
Instructors: Nele Trpin and Maria Hoffmann

June 2
The Wild Forager:
Gathering the Abundance of Nature
Instructor: Matt Berry

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