Practical Sustainability Courses Autumn 2010
Photo: Nick Hermann
Building on Bushcraft Skills (residential)
An advanced weekend of bushcraft and wilderness living skills. This course is aimed at those with some experience of bushcraft and wilderness living skills. It will revisit the basics of fire, shelter, food and camp craft with the aim of deepening these skills at a more advanced level across the course. Day One will cover fire, shelter (modern techniques) and cordage. Day Two will cover foraging, plant ID and natural glue making. Participants will be sleeping under a tarp in the woods and all meals will be cooked together on an open fire. You may bring your own tent or tarp, sleeping bag and insulation mat though Stoatwood Bushcraft has tarps and mats that can be used for free. Stoatwood also have sleeping bags to hire (£10 per person) if required. An opportunity to consolidate existing skills and try sleeping out under a tarp. Participants need to bring: suitable outdoor clothing. Facilitator: Stoatwood Bushcraft
Autumn and Winter Herbal Remedies
A day incorporating a practical component and focussing on late summer plants available within the Denmark Farm site. There will be a chance for you to make a simple herbal remedy (e.g. elderberry rob or spicy tonic wine, depending on what we find on the day) to take away and to discuss and learn about the medicinal uses of these and other plants. Learn how to keep yourself well through the winter with Kate Butler – a local and qualified medicinal herbalist, with an extensive knowledge of medicinal herb plants and a keen interest in foraging for these plants from the surrounding countryside. Participants need to bring: packed lunch and suitable outdoor clothing. Facilitator: Kate Butler
Peg Loom Weaving
Learn to measure warp and to prepare a loom ready to weave. Using jute or cotton warp, you will learn the basics of how to weave in a simple and meditative way, using sheep fleece to create a seat pad or small rug. Not only will you leave with a beautiful handmade item from natural materials, but you will also have the knowledge needed to use this wonderful technique at home for your own projects. Participants need to bring: packed lunch. Facilitator: Hannah Cutler
Half Term Programme: Tools for Stools
Two full-on days for young people (aged 12+) and adults to learn how to use various woodcraft tools and make their own stool or chair to take away! Have a go at using a shave horse, draw knife, spoke shave, brace and bit, dowelling and drilling. Wood will be cut from local sustainably managed woodland. Tony Eames is a local, skilled woodcraftsman with several years experience of working with groups at Denmark Farm. Participants need to bring: packed lunch, raincoat and strong footwear. Facilitator: Tony Eames
Half Term Programme: Forest Fun
A special, highly creative day for 8-12 year olds, allowing young people to truly experience the outdoors and learn through experimentation. The day will help them to develop their self esteem and build confidence in their own abilities. Activities include whittling sticks, making pencils and beads, creating dream catchers, building shelters, creating and listening to stories. Weather permitting, there's even the possibility of enjoying an open fire, lit with a spark from a natural flint. Always an entrancing and unforgettable moment. This has always proved to be a very special and unique day. Participants need to bring: packed lunch, raincoat and strong footwear. Facilitator: Gyles Morris/Naturesbase
From Fleece to Felt
A one-day workshop suitable for beginners. Learn how to make felt using a wet felting technique. Beginning with an introduction covering the origins of felt as a textile, qualities and sources of fleece and a demonstration using washed and combed fleece to create a sheet of felt. Participants can then choose between a number of templates – mobile phone cover, purse, passport holder – to make themselves, with expert guidance from Lorraine. Leave with a useful item and a whole lot of inspiration for Christmas presents and other projects. All materials are provided and the wool used is from UK farms. Participants need to bring: packed lunch. Facilitator: Lorraine Pocklington
DIY Microhydro installation
Another acclaimed course from Navitron's training partner, Epogee. You will learn everything you need to know about assessing, setting up or specifying your own micro hydro system. Topics include: uses and types of hydro turbines; how to assess your site's suitability; methods to measure head and flow; calculating potential power and losses; choosing and installing a suitable turbine; dam/water diversion; differences between battery and mains systems; how to deal with problems and regulations; potential grants and new feed-in tariff. Time allowed for your own site-specific questions. Participants need to bring: packed lunch. Facilitator: Epogee