JUNE INTERN & WORKTRADE (also see July through September below)
Welcome to this years’ activities ~ joyfully weaving nature & people.
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FEATURED CLASSES ! Scroll down for ALL events.
- May 13, Agro-Forest PERMABLITZ !
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MAY 14 FORAGED BRUNCH
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MAY 28 FAMILY ADVENTURE DAY
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JUNE 17 & 18 EARTH OVEN WORKSHOP
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JULY 1 – 9, 2017 9 Day NATURAL BUILDING SKILL BUILDER
More Classes & Activities BELOW !
* Tours
* Other – Schedule an event for Your Group.
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Bonfire
FULL MOON Potlucks Mark your calendars !
This is a free Community Event. Families & children welcome.
Click here for details and to RSVP
| Apr. 11 Tues | Pink Moon | 6p Tour, 7p Potluck/bonfire |
| May 10 Wednesday | Flower Moon | 6p Tour, 7p Potluck/bonfire |
| June 9 Friday | Strawberry Moon | 6p Tour, 7p Potluck/bonfire |
| July 9 Sunday | Buck Moon | 6p Tour, 7p Potluck/bonfire |
–Full Moon Potluck dates for the rest of 2017.
2017 monthly INTERNSHIPS & Worktrade
Attend 1 month or more.
April thru September 2017 & Jan 2018
CONNECT to the land, learn sustainable skills, work with natural materials, live & build in community ! Each month includes a wide range of activities & a rich opportunity !
Attend as an Intern, 1/2 Pay Worktrader or Wwoofer ! Details here
2017 monthly EVENTS
APRIL INTERNSHIP & Worktrade
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May 10 – Full Moon Potluck Click here for details and to RSVP
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APRIL 16, 2017 The JOY OF FORAGING Sunday 1-5:30p
Spring foraging for wild plants for food and medicine. 
Enjoy a day on the land, getting to know a wide range of edible and medicinal plants that grow commonly in this region.
Early Bird Special $25. Bring a Friend Discount …another $5 off. After April 1 the price is $35 per person+ bring a friend discount available. Limit 15 folks. Register now 🙂 Optional: Free plants to dig and take home. ***
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April 21-23 2017 MI Earth Day Fest Downtown Rochester
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MAY INTERNSHIP & Worktrade
May 10 – FULL MOON POTLUCK Wed. 6p tour, 7p potluck & bonfire. Click here for details and to RSVP
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May 13, Agro-Forest PERMABLITZ ! Saturday 1-5p followed by pizza party.
Join Deanne Bednar and Jared Bogdanov-Hanna for a spring afternoon of permaculture design in action. We will be working on agri-forest areas~ pruning, fertility and mulching of the berry bonfire pit plantings; processing biomass for fertility management; and mulching coppice trees. Jared will discuss fertility management techniques and permaculture design. The day will be followed by Pizza in the Earth Oven! Please bring gloves, and any tools (digging fork, shovel, pick axe, loppers, saw, hatchet). No charge for this event.
Please e-mail Jared Bogdanov-Hanna at jcbogdanov@gmail.com if you have any further questions and to RSVP. Location: Strawbale Studio 2691 Noble Rd. Oxford, MI 48370
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MAY 14, 2017 FORAGED BRUNCH ! Sunday 9a – 3p
Forage, then cook a meal on the Outdoor Rocket Cooker !
Join teachers Deanne Bednar & Kelly as we explore the lawns, field and woods at Strawbale Studio, finding delicious nutritious edibles for our green-foraged local-egg omelet brunch ! Click on link for details, pictures and a video !
Schedule: Forage 9-11a , Brunch 11a-1p. Forage some more in the woods 1-3p. Optional: Free plants to dig and take home. ***
After May 1 the price is $45 per person. Limit 12 folks. Register now 🙂
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MAY 28, 2017 FAMILY ADVENTURE DAY ! Sunday 2-6 p
Family Adventure Day A wonderful day in the outdoors for children & adults alike! Learn about natural building & sustainability by touring the grounds… and having hands-on interactions with nature: make an earth sculpting mix, create a fairy house, and more. Adult $30 Youth $15 Early bird and Family Discounts. Limit of 15 folks. Register now 🙂 Click for more info & pics.
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*** U-DIG. Free PLANTS to take Home ~ There are many plants on the land that would love to go home with you. Very easy to grow. Free to class participants, or By Donation.
Siberian Iris, 
Day Lillie ,
Myrtle, evergreen ground cover. 
Astilbe 
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JUNE INTERNSHIP & Worktrade
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June 9 – Full Moon Potluck Friday. 6p tour, 7p Potluck & bonfire. Click here for details and to RSVP
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JUNE 17 & 18, 2017 EARTH OVEN WORKSHOP !
Kensington Metropark Earth Oven
Saturday 9-6 ish, Sunday 1-6p Hands-on construction of an earth oven at Wild Apple Farm in Dexter, MI near Ann Arbor ! Everything you need to know to make one at home. Visit the Facebook Page for this Earth Oven event. You can register there or see the info below !
Host Amy Ramsey writes: Ecobuilding Expert, and owner of Strawbale Studio in Oxford, Michigan, Deanne Bednar, will be joining us at Wild Apple Farms to teach a 2-day class on the earth building technique of Earth Ovens.
We will, together, build a functioning earth oven, from the ground up! If you’ve ever wanted to learn cob architecture or earth building, now is your chance!
The 2-day class is $125. Dress for getting dirty and bring a sack lunch. Contact Amy at www.wildapplefarms.com website to register.
Facebook Wild Apple Farms 2701 N Dancer Rd, Dexter, Michigan 48130
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JULY INTERNSHIP & Worktrade
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July 9 – Full Moon Potluck Click here for details and to RSVP
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July 1 – 9, 2017 9 Day NATURAL BUILDING SKILL BUILDER
Gain hands-on experience in the many different natural building skills necessary to create a snug, beautiful cottage from local natural materials. This is an excellent workshop to take if you are considering building your own home, cottage or shed. Instructors: Deanne Bednar of Strawbale Studio and Chris Mcclellan of Uncle Mud.
This unique class includes a wide range of Hands-on experiences & Shade-tree lecture sessions,
Workshop fee includes all meals (vegan friendly) and camping with some indoor spaces/beds available. Indoor showers are available and there is room for you to park your RV if you want to bring one. We offer some discounts for couples, families and groups. The Straw Bale Studio is a very family friendly place so plan on bringing the kids. Some Work-Trade positions are available. Click here for details. Please contact us at info@naturalcottageproject.com or 440-682-0502 for more details.
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AUGUST INTERNSHIP & Worktrade
SEPTEMBER INTERNSHIP & Worktrade
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September 23 weekend, 2017 Strawbale Studio 20th CELEBRATION !
The Original Core Team: Gregie Mathews, Deanne Bednar, owner Fran Lee & Carolyn Koch !
Yes, 20 years ago the Strawbale Studio was begun !
By September 1997 there was a beautiful stone foundation and fabulous round pole frame on the land, thanks to the Core Team, many volunteers, John Eisley, stone mason who taught us techniques…and a framing crew !
We will be preparing for this event throughout this year…including the finishing projects and generally rounding up the energy to celebrate this adventure, co-created by so many!
Consider being part of this process. Help finish a structure, or lend a hand to the planning or hosting of some aspect of the event. MORE DETAILS TO COME. 🙂 Contact Deanne if you want to help in some way.
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October 20-22, 2017 DETROIT BIONEERS CONFERENCE.
Strawbale Studio will be co-hosting a panel discussion “Retro-fitting with Natural Materials! Stay tuned for more info about this local”satellite” conference and check out the national conference at bioneers.org !
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December 9, December 10, 2017 CANDLE MAKING & Holiday Gifts
DECEMBE
R 9, 2017
Saturday, 1-5:30p
DECEMBER 10, 2017
Sunday, 1-5:30p
This is the same class offered 2 times. Enjoy making hand-dipping bees wax candles, sculpting candle stick holders and decorating matchboxes ! Holiday glow and sweet smells waft in the kitchen of the main house ~ as we relax and enjoy the process. Local natural materials make great gifts & an enjoyable adventure ! Join in, and bring a friend to share the day. $35 Early Bird Special. After December 1 the price is $45. **Bring-a-Friend Discount -$5. Family rates, too. Class size limit 12. Register now 🙂
See 2018 PROGRAMMING at the bottom of this page.
JANUARY 2018 WINTERNSHIP
Other 2017 WORKSHOPS BEING PLANNED. Let us know if you are interested!
Fermentation ! Kombucha, Sour Dough Wraps, Butter & more.
Traditional Crafts Weekend? Wood Carving & Fermenting and more +++ 2 1/2 day Retreat !
Rocket Stove Class – hands mock-up of the combustion unit, principles and design.
U-Dig Lovely Plants to take Home ~ There are many plants on the land that would love to go home with you. Very easy to grow. By donation.
Siberian Iris, Day Lillie ,
Myrtle, evergreen ground cover. Astilbe
Strawbale Construction Basics
This class is for folks that are considering building with a strawbale wall system. Day 1 Design Principles & considerations, bale selection. Day 2 Hands -on ~ how to re-size bales, mix and apply earth plasters.
Contact Deanne 248 236 5432 an ecoartdb@gmail.com to indicate interest, and suggest some available dates
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DO YOU HAVE OTHER IDEAS?
Another great meal!
Do you have ideas for Upcoming Classes you’d like to see happen? ….Contact Deanne
DETAILS of all workshops: Some classes have live links to a detail page. Others, do not, and all the information is on this calendar page.
DISCOUNTS: Pre-pay early to assure your place in the class, and give security to the Strawbale Studio.
Also see Family and Group rates. Registration
UPDATES: Check back for future additions to the calendar such as “Foraged Brunch”, Fermenting Class & more.
CONTACT: What classes do you want offered? Questions or requests?
Call, text or email Deanne. cell 248 628 1887 ecoartdb at gmail.com
* Regional Events presented by friends in the area.
2018 Programing starts with the Winternship !
+ 4 weekend workshops for the Public.
A month long live-in program from Jan 7 to Feb 7, 2018. Tentative dates.
This unique & fun course will in
clude
4 Weekend Workshops for Wintern and the Public Thatching Jan 13 & 14. Round Pole Jan 20+21, Rocket Stove Jan. 27 & 28, Earth Plaster & Sculpting Feb 3 & 4.
Community Events
Jan 10 Permaculture Meetup, Jan 31 Full Moon Potluck and Bonfire.
During the week : Natural Building & Sustainability Activities + 2 days off.
Check out previous years Winternship ! 2016 Winternship Activities List Winternship 2016: Thatching Winternship 2016: Week 1 2015 Winternship Outline & Schedule Winternship 2015 Blog & Pics Pictures below are from previous years’ adventures.
2018 Spring, Summer & Fall Programing will include Internships, WorkTrade, Wwoofing and a variety of 1 day to 9 day-long classes. Stay tuned.
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