Spring is an explosion of life in the North! Discovering the birds, wildflowers, insects and more of this dynamic and rich northern landscape is the focus of this festival. Participation in the festival is open to anyone interested in hands-on learning and curious about the dynamics of the northern landscape.

Schedule of Events

9am-5pm: Welcome to Blacksmithing

Course Overview
The Blacksmith Shop at North House has a charisma that can’t be denied: the ring of the hammer and the roar of fire reels in people like a siren’s song. For those who have been drawn in but wondered if they might not have the stamina to stand at a forge all day in a hot and physically intense environment, we offer this introductory course. Longtime teacher Michael Jones will teach the basics of forging at a slow pace, taking breaks for exploration of the history of the craft, and simply relaxing and enjoying good conversation: all at the root of folk school learning. Students will choose from a variety of introductory projects, but the main emphasis here will be on getting comfortable with the tools of the trade, and exploring metalwork in a safe and supportive environment, regardless of physical ability. This course is open to ages 16+. Youth ages 14-15 are welcome to register with a full-paying adult. Youth registrants will receive a 25% intergenerational discount; call to register.

Required Tools
Safety glasses (provided, but you may wish to bring your own)
Ear protection (provided, but you may wish to bring your own)
Leather gloves
Jeans
Cotton shirts (no nylon clothing)
Leather shoes
Clothing comfortable to be outdoors

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9am-1pm: What's This Rock 3? Southern North Shore’s Geological Story

Course Overview
How many times have you walked along a cobbled beach or a rocky ledge along the North Shore and wondered, “What’s this rock? Where did it come from? Why is it here?” Lace up some sturdy footwear and head into the field to be immersed in the fascinating geology of the southern part of Minnesota's North Shore with University of Minnesota Duluth emeritus geology professor Jim Miller. This is a third part of the “What's This Rock?” series* that will focus on “reading the rocks” between Silver Bay and Two Harbors. Like the other What's This Rock courses, the geology of this area tells the 1.1 billion-year-old story of fire and ice that created the Lake Superior basin. An introductory lecture on Friday evening (at the Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center) will introduce you to basic geologic terms and principles that will help us interpret the geologic story of the area. On Saturday, we will visit various rock exposures between Two Harbors and Silver Bay that illustrate the story of lava eruptions that spilled across a vast barren landscape over one billion years ago. We will also investigate sediments and landforms formed by enormous continental glaciers that carved out the Lake Superior basin over the past two million years. On Sunday morning, we hike around Tettegouche State Park and examine its diverse geology. Students aged 16+ may register for this course independently. *The three courses in the "What's This Rock?" series do not need to be taken sequentially nor are they prerequisites to each other. Students aged 8-15 may register with a full-paying adult. The youth student will receive a 25% intergenerational discount; call to register.

This course will not be based at North House Folk School. Instead, the instructor will meet the students at Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center, which will serve as the homebase for the course. Students are encouraged to make lodging arrangements in the Tofte/Silver Bay/Two Harbors area. The class will carpool to sites in the area.

Ability/ Skills required: Most of the field trip stops for WTR3 will be visiting roadcuts along Highway 61 or rock exposures along or near the shore. Most of these stops involve short hikes, less than 1/4 mile, along gravel footpaths with mild to moderate inclines, on irregular bedrock surfaces, or along cobbled beaches. The Sunday morning field trip involves a more challenging terrain. We will make a 2-mile hike along the shoreline between Shovel Point and the mouth of the Baptism River that involves significant changes in elevation (+/- 500’). Because of the rigor of many of these field trip stops, sturdy footwear is strongly recommended and people with physical mobility issues are discouraged from enrolling.

Required Tools
Sturdy footwear
Rain gear
Hat
Water bottle
Lunch for Saturday
Optional Tools
Camera  
For safety reasons, rock hammers are not allowed
All participants will be given a high-visibility orange vest to wear during highway field stops  

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9am-5pm: Wool: The Full Experience

Course Overview
Wool is an incredibly versatile, durable, and beautiful fiber that is surprisingly easy to make into fabric. Start at the very beginning of the process in this team-taught class, as we shear sheep from Prairie Willows Farm and then go through processing wool, step by step together; shearing, skirting, washing, drying, carding, making batts, spinning, and finally felting. Once the wool is processed and divided amongst the class, we will practice the very foundation of making fabric; spinning fibers, which leads to knitting and weaving.  We will also work on the ancient method of making fabric, wet felting.

Wet felting wool pre-dates weaving and knitting and has recently seen a resurgence of popularity, as it is relatively easy and extremely versatile. Students will go home with new skills and one substantial wet-felted project. The course will be led by two fiber experts: Elise Kyllo, a former artist in residence at North House Folk School, specializing in wet felting, and Heidi Quist, a shepherdess from central Minnesota who raises sheep and is in charge of bringing and shearing the wooly guests of honor. This is a unique opportunity to immerse fully in wool craft and connect directly to the source. This course is open to students ages 12+ if accompanied by an adult. A 25% tuition discount applies to the youth registrant when registering with a full paying adult; call to register.

Required Tools
2 large towels
Clothes that can get dirty/wet or an apron
Plastic bags to bring your wet projects home
Optional Tools
Feel free to bring your favorite tools and whatever materials you might feel appropriate for this course. Apron, rubber gloves, etc. If you have your own carders and spinning tools you may bring them. Also, feel free to bring your own raw wool that may be processed and felted with, if suitable for felting.

Register here

9am-5pm: Foundations in Woodturning: Developing Finesse and Skill

Course Overview
This four-day course provides an opportunity to dive deep into woodturning, focusing on how to design, turn, and finish elegant side and end grain items on the lathe. Matt Monaco, a master production woodturner, will share some of his most effective methods for cutting side and end grain based on his formative years spent training as a working professional trade turner. Students will learn about the advantages of using both green and dry materials and how specifically focused practice and efficiency at the lathe directly mirrors the process of producing beautiful works. Matt will help students build their tool control and fine technique, showing them how correct body mechanics and a basic tool set can produce exceptional results. For those ready to elevate their turning, this class will offer ample individual instruction and opportunity for group learning. This course requires some prior experience in woodturning, but is open to those working at a beginner level.

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9am-12pm: The Beekeeper’s Pantry-Making the Most of Honey in the Kitchen

Bees are an essential player in world culinary history, pollinating an abundance of plants we rely on and creating honey, one of the first luxury foods in the ancient world. Beekeeping is having a renaissance, with the distinct flavor nuances of different honeys being seriously appreciated in cooking, baking, and cocktails—for both sweet and savory recipes. This workshop will explore the world of honey, beginning with a tasting of regionally produced honeys and comparing them to some of the world’s most renowned honeys. We’ll talk about how to buy well and sustainably if you don’t keep your own hives. Then tie on an apron and learn how to infuse honey with spices and herbs, use honeycomb and bee pollen, create unique cocktail syrups, and you’ll make your own jar of lemon-garlic fermented honey. Phyllo-wrapped baked feta with honey, hot honey marinated chicken, grilled brussels sprouts with honey-balsamic glaze, fingerling potato salad with honey-thyme vinaigrette, and lavender honey shortbread are on the menu. In addition,there will be time to discuss using honey in home remedies, such as honey face masks and honey-ginger cough syrup. Students age 12+ may register for this course.

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9am-4pm: Lichens and Mosses of the North Woods

Course Overview
Often overlooked and clearly underappreciated, our lichens and mosses are wonderfully diverse and surprisingly beautiful. We will explore habitats from the shore of Lake Superior to inland forests and rocky outcrops. Practice with tools and techniques that will catapult you from nerdy novice to local respected authority. Bring a camera, notebook, and curiosity. Casual strolls through the park will never be the same again. Joe remarks, "I love lichens and mosses; so will you!!" Steady-footing will be required for uneven and potentially slippery walking surfaces.

Required Tools
Comfortable shoes
Clothing layers for any weather
Rain gear if needed
Water
Snacks

Register Here