The 8th Annual Groundnut
Western MA Earth Skills Gathering in Montgomery, MA, Oct. 4-5, '25
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Join us for a regional Earth living skills gathering this fall in the beautiful woods and meadows of Montgomery MA! For our 8th year, we'll gather once again to learn, teach and share timeless skills. Practiced by peoples on all continents, skills like animal tracking, hide tanning, friction fires, storytelling and others connect us to each other, the land, and our shared origins.
The gathering runs Saturday morning, 10/4, through Sunday afternoon, 10/5. Camping is available and encouraged. There will be 5 workshop blocks, time to work on and share personal projects, trade items, potluck meals and community building. Proceeds support the planting and maintenance of public food forests across Western MA through Help Yourself Edibles as well as the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council and other local Nipmuc organizations. |
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TICKETS FOR SALE AUGUST 2025
TICKETS
SOLD OUT 1 Day Attendance (SAT 10/5)
$60.00 - $90.00
(ONE DAY ATTENDANCE: SATURDAY, 10/5/2024)
Leapfrog Programs strongly believes in the importance of making our events affordable and accessible for all. Please use the sliding scale below to select a price that best works for you and or your family’s financial situation and needs.
Payments towards the higher end allow us to offer lower cost tuition to people and families with less resources. After operating costs, proceeds from this event supports the planting and maintenance of public access orchards in communities across Western MA. We thank you for your support.
** Kids under 6 are free! Kids over 6 will need their own ticket and will have full access to the kids programming.**
High
- I am in a comfortable position where I can easily fulfill all my basic needs.
- Debt I may have does not prevent me from meeting my basic needs.
- I either own my home or property, or I rent a higher-end property.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs.
- I have regular access to healthcare.
- I have access to financial savings.
- I have disposable income.
- I can always afford to buy new items.
- I can afford to take an annual vacation or take time off without financial strain.
- I may benefit from systemic privilege based on my race, ethnicity, or other cultural factors, and do not routinely experience racism or prejudice.
Middle
- I may experience some stress about meeting my basic needs but generally succeed in fulfilling them.
- I may have some debt, but it doesn't prevent me from meeting my basic needs.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed.
- I have access to healthcare.
- I have access to some financial savings.
- I have some disposable income.
- I can afford to purchase some new items and also shop at thrift stores.
- I can go on a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden.
Low
- I experience stress about meeting basic needs, and often fail to meet them have debt, which sometimes prevents me from meeting my basic needs.
- I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing.
- I do not have a car or have limited access to one, and I struggle to afford gas.
- I am unemployed or underemployed.
- I qualify for government assistance, including food stamps and healthcare.
- I have no access to savings.
- I have little to no disposable income.
- I rarely buy new items due to financial constraints.
- I cannot afford a vacation or take time off without facing financial burden.
- I may lack systemic privilege based on my race, ethnicity, or other cultural factors, and may instead face racial prejudice or hardships.
SOLD OUT 1 Day Attendance (SUN 10/6)
$60.00 - $90.00
(ONE DAY ATTENDANCE: SUNDAY, 10/6/2024)
Leapfrog Programs strongly believes in the importance of making our events affordable and accessible for all. Please use the sliding scale below to select a price that best works for you and or your family’s financial situation and needs.
Payments towards the higher end allow us to offer lower cost tuition to people and families with less resources. After operating costs, proceeds from this event supports the planting and maintenance of public access orchards in communities across Western MA. We thank you for your support.
** Kids under 6 are free! Kids over 6 will need their own ticket and will have full access to the kids programming.**
High
- I am in a comfortable position where I can easily fulfill all my basic needs.
- Debt I may have does not prevent me from meeting my basic needs.
- I either own my home or property, or I rent a higher-end property.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs.
- I have regular access to healthcare.
- I have access to financial savings.
- I have disposable income.
- I can always afford to buy new items.
- I can afford to take an annual vacation or take time off without financial strain.
- I may benefit from systemic privilege based on my race, ethnicity, or other cultural factors, and do not routinely experience racism or prejudice.
Middle
- I may experience some stress about meeting my basic needs but generally succeed in fulfilling them.
- I may have some debt, but it doesn't prevent me from meeting my basic needs.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed.
- I have access to healthcare.
- I have access to some financial savings.
- I have some disposable income.
- I can afford to purchase some new items and also shop at thrift stores.
- I can go on a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden.
Low
- I experience stress about meeting basic needs, and often fail to meet them have debt, which sometimes prevents me from meeting my basic needs.
- I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing.
- I do not have a car or have limited access to one, and I struggle to afford gas.
- I am unemployed or underemployed.
- I qualify for government assistance, including food stamps and healthcare.
- I have no access to savings.
- I have little to no disposable income.
- I rarely buy new items due to financial constraints.
- I cannot afford a vacation or take time off without facing financial burden.
- I may lack systemic privilege based on my race, ethnicity, or other cultural factors, and may instead face racial prejudice or hardships.
SOLD OUT Full Weekend Attendance!
$120.00 - $180.00
(FULL WEEKEND ATTENDANCE: SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 10/5-10/6 2024)
Leapfrog Programs strongly believes in the importance of making our events affordable and accessible for all. Please use the sliding scale below to select a price that best works for you and or your family’s financial situation and needs.
Payments towards the higher end allow us to offer lower cost tuition to people and families with less resources. After operating costs, proceeds from this event supports the planting and maintenance of public access orchards in communities across Western MA. We thank you for your support.
** Kids under 6 are free! Kids over 6 will need their own ticket and will have full access to the kids programming.**
High
- I am in a comfortable position where I can easily fulfill all my basic needs.
- Debt I may have does not prevent me from meeting my basic needs.
- I either own my home or property, or I rent a higher-end property.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs.
- I have regular access to healthcare.
- I have access to financial savings.
- I have disposable income.
- I can always afford to buy new items.
- I can afford to take an annual vacation or take time off without financial strain.
- I may benefit from systemic privilege based on my race, ethnicity, or other cultural factors, and do not routinely experience racism or prejudice.
Middle
- I may experience some stress about meeting my basic needs but generally succeed in fulfilling them.
- I may have some debt, but it doesn't prevent me from meeting my basic needs.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed.
- I have access to healthcare.
- I have access to some financial savings.
- I have some disposable income.
- I can afford to purchase some new items and also shop at thrift stores.
- I can go on a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden.
Low
- I experience stress about meeting basic needs, and often fail to meet them have debt, which sometimes prevents me from meeting my basic needs.
- I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing.
- I do not have a car or have limited access to one, and I struggle to afford gas.
- I am unemployed or underemployed.
- I qualify for government assistance, including food stamps and healthcare.
- I have no access to savings.
- I have little to no disposable income.
- I rarely buy new items due to financial constraints.
- I cannot afford a vacation or take time off without facing financial burden.
- I may lack systemic privilege based on my race, ethnicity, or other cultural factors, and may instead face racial prejudice or hardships.
WORK TRADE
The Groundnut Gathering is made possible with the help of its amazing Worktraders! Thank you for your interest in contributing your hands and heart to helping make this event happen! Please click here to fill out a work trade application. Space is limited. Applications deadline is 9/15.
SCHEDULE
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Friday:
⛺ Camping arrival: 5:30 *Arrive by 7:00 pm* NO POTLUCK |
Saturday:
Arrival/parking: 7:45-8:30 Opening Circle: 9:00 Block 1: 9:30-11:30
Lunch & Lamb Roast 11:30-12:45 Block 2: 1:00-3:00
Block 3: 3:15-5:15
Potluck Dinner 5:30 🔥 Fire, Music, Song Circle, and Story time! 6:30 🔭 Open Telescope: 8:00-9:30 Check out the planets! |
Sunday:
Potluck Breakfast 7:45-8:30 Arrival and Parking: 7:45-8:30 Opening Circle: 9:00 Block 1: 9:30-11:30
Lunch & Trade Blanket 11:30-12:45 Block 2: 1:00-3:00
Block 3: 3:15-5:15
Closing Circle: 5:20 |
Class Descriptions
Mushroom Mysteries - Dean Colpack
Join us in exploration of the mysteries of woodland mushrooms, and the mysteries of connection with each other. We will explore how one gets to know mushrooms of all kinds—edible, medicinal, poisonous, slimy, fragrant, and just-plain-beautiful—through the lens of how we get to know other humans. Be prepared to use all of your 5 senses and to play some unique and revealing games.
Ecoprinting with fall leaves - Jean Bergstrom
Colors, tannins and acids, many leaves create beautiful prints with their hidden constituents. Join Jean to learn this unique way of dying with plants. We will print a bandana with leaves that you find or that Jean has gathered. She will provide the pre treated (with mordant) bandana and the supplies to make your creation. You’ll learn what leaves are good printers, how to make the prints, experiment with design, and then apply steam heat. Surprises await you in the finished product!
Bird Language - Jean Bergstrom
Let the birds be your guides to what is happening in the forest around you. Movements and communication among the birds can tell you if there is a predator approaching, and who it might be. By listening to their calls you can know when all is well in the forest, or key into their distress and find out what all the fuss is about. You will see more wildlife on your forays into the woods and fields by observing the birds and learning from them. We’ll cover the basics of bird language, identify some birds by ear, and spend some time learning from our teachers.
Grow your own Mushrooms - Deborah Chamberlain
Mushrooms and fungi are an amazing, mysterious and abundantly useful kingdom of life. Though closely related to animals, they often lurk out of sight, underfoot, and are far less familiar to us than the typical leaves, nuts and fruits popularly foraged. In this hands-on class, we'll learn the basics of at-home mushroom cultivation, covering tools, species, materials and care. We'll harvest beech logs and inoculate them with lion's mane and shitake spawn, demonstrating how accessible and rewarding this practice can be!
Complete Sheep Butchering - Felix Lufkin
Learn how to skin, dress, quarter and butcher sheep! In these workshops, we'll learn about skinning, butchering and anatomy as we transform an animal into food, and prepare a yearling ram for the annual Groundnut sheep roast! The slaughter will be an optional, though encouraged part of this experience. All parts of this animal will be used, including organ meats, bones and blood. We'll also learn to use the sinew for string, hooves for glue how to begin tanning the hide. Roll up your sleeves and participate, or stand back at a comfortable distance and watch. All this will be done in the respectful context of interdependence and gratitude.
Cordage Class - Sadie Ranen
Making cordage, or string out of fibrous plants, or animal parts, is a very ancient skill. Used in countless other tools and crafts, making quality thread from wild plants is the is a skill that is both a foundation of human survival, and a great way to get to know the species around you. In this class will explore different plants, and how to extract their fiber, and the techniques for making them into thread, as well as crafts that use cordage, such as weaving and nets.
Bittersweet Basketmaking - Anya Klepacki and Kokoro Bensonoff
Our surroundings are so lush this time of year! But what’s that vine that seems to be everywhere we look? In this workshop, we’ll learn a bit about Asiatic Bittersweet (a non-native aggressive/imbalanced vine), consider some history of how plants make their way around the globe, and learn to weave a simple bittersweet basket! Bring your own clippers and awl if you have them.
Bark tanning demonstration and workshop - Graham Skorupa
In this class I will be showcasing my skills in bark tanning. In the first course I will demonstrate brewing tan liquor; explaining the chemistry on why we do what we do and when; and demonstrate the membraning process on an in-process hide. For the second course I will demonstrate finishing techniques of currying a hide; greasing and slicking; how to make fat liquor, and when to apply it. At the end of each course I would love to help workshop anyone’s in progress tans!
Introduction to the Art and Science of Tracking - Walker Korby
Delve into the deepest recesses of our shared humanity to remember an essential practice that reveals the connections between us and the other beings with whom we share this planet. We'll explore animal gaits and movement, learn some core practices, and begin to learn how to interpret the world through the senses of a tracker. Whether this is the beginning of your tracking journey or you are a life-long tracker, you're sure to come away with inspiration and insight!
Fire by Friction - Cameron Johnson
Fire has served as a critical tool throughout human evolution and continues to perform its age old role as an essential anchor of homes and communities across cultures. Skills for making and maintaining fire are as diverse as humanity while being universal to human experiences for generations. Means of ignition presented will be with bow drill and hand drill, but I encourage you to bring your own means of primal fire creation along to include in the conversation.
The Tenth Moon - Healing, Tending and Nourishment in the Postpartum Days - Elise Thomson
Around the world, the postpartum time is known by many names: Ansei in Japan, La Cuarentena in Latin America, Omugwo in Nigeria and and Wochenbett in Germany, among many others. All these postpartum traditions share common threads and practices that are rooted in supporting the body’s physiologic design. Through these traditional physiologic-centered practices and proper care, the postpartum time can be one of health, vitality, nourishment and ease. In this class, we will explore these main pillars of traditional postpartum care, learning how we can support the physiologic design of both the birthing person and baby to support optimal healing and well-being of mothers, parents and families.
Lyme and Tick Borne illnesses - Bonnie Bloom
We will discuss prevention and protection and the details of what we are dealing with. What to
do with the tick and for the person if bitten to achieve the best plan for treatment and successful
treatment outcomes, using herbs and supplements as well as antibiotics effectively. There will
be time for questions.
Discover Fly Fishing - Ned Phillips-Jones
Alight into your ancient senses: stalk the rivers for the dappled fish of old. Would you like to be able to provide yourself with fresh, tasty trout dwelling in majestic waters all over the world? In this session you'll learn core elements of fly fishing from a passionate teacher. We'll cover equipment, casting techniques, how to read the water, and how to prepare your catch for dinner. Together we'll begin rousing our primordial predator instincts via teachers like the heron. Participants in the class are welcome to bring fly fishing equipment but this is not at all required. Our group will be sharing a rod and reel and everyone will have a chance to practice casting and receive personal guidance on technique.
Cattail Berry Baskets - Zoe Weizenbaum
Learn to weave your own cattail berry basket from scratch! We will begin with a basic basket tutorial and, once folks have begun to weave, will continue with a discussion of the process behind harvesting, drying and soaking cattails for weaving. Participants will walk away with their own completed baskets and the knowledge to recreate, with their own foraged materials, the same basket at home.
Wild Edibles Walk (Sunday) - Felix Lufkin
We will set out on a wild food and medicine walk where we will learn to ID, prepare and honor the bounty under our feet! Only recently has our relationship to wild food and medicine been snuffed out creating a devastating loss of connection between land and human. Reclaim the birthright that is yours, your biological need to be connected to the Earth as we meet and great more than a dozen species.
Wild Edibles Walk (Saturday) - Aidan Hawkowl
On this walk, everyone will learn the important things to know about wild foods growing on the land. Learn how to identify, harvest, prepare, and eat each plant. You will also learn where and when to find them, and how to harvest sustainably - so there will still be plenty in the years to come.
Bone needles - Neill Bovaird
In this class we will take pieces of deer bone and abrade them down using stone tools to create sewing needles.
Composite fish hooks - Neill Bovaird
In this class we will take a variety of materials and fashion them into sturdy, beautiful and functional fishhooks. This class will require students to bring a knife. 8 Students max.
The $0.00 Food Forest - Davis Wang
Ever feel like you’d love to plant a food forest, but can’t afford all the plants you want? Come learn from a nurseryman how to gain tremendous plant wealth without spending a cent. In this class we will take a plant list for an imaginary food forest, and strategize how to lay out a nursery bed in your garden to start everything from scratch—by way of seed starting, grafting, cuttings, layering, and division. Tips for where to source free plant material, how to graft onto wild trees, stratifying and protecting seeds, how to keep it all organized, and more! You will leave this class as a more self-sufficient plantsperson.
Tracking the Menstrual Cycle - Martha Hoffman
Come learn how to track and support the menstrual cycle, as humans have been doing for generations. We will cover reproductive anatomy, basic hormones, methods of tracking, and holistic cycle support. We will close with an open conversation among all participants. Open to all bodies and ages!
Cheese Making - Kalyn Campbell
Kalyn Campbell is a homesteader in Central Vermont working to reduce her need for the industrial system by making and growing her own food and clothes. This includes all things dairy! She has 10+ years experience milking cows and goats and making cheese with the milk both commercially and on a home scale. She hopes to encourage others to join her on this journey towards self-reliance and healthy land stewardship. You can see more of what Kalyn does at The Handspun Cow Educational Homestead
Butter Making - Kalyn Campbell
Come learn how easy it is to make cultured butter. Take turns churning the butter and learn how to clean it. This class is taught by Kalyn Campbell is a homesteader in Central Vermont working to reduce her need for the industrial system by making and growing her own food and clothes. This includes all things dairy! She has 10+ years experience milking cows and goats and making cheese with the milk both commercially and on a home scale.
Basket Weaving - Erica Martenson
Basket weaving is an ancient and beautiful skill. Come learn how to make a simple coil basket! We will work with a variety of materials and discuss the sequence of identifying, harvesting, and processing the fibers. Our hands love making beauty, and this is a wonderful way to do so!
Salve Making - Gina Shvartsman
Salve making is an important homestead skill. These easy to craft, topical herbal medicines, based on oil and wax, are handy to have around for scrapes, sprains, strains, infections, cuts, splinters, burns and stings. In this class we will cover basic salve recipes and learn a handful of easily identifiable medicinal plants critical to the home first aid kit. Walk away with your very own salve!
Wild Meads and Wines - Dan Bensonoff
Sugars are abundant in nature and given the right circumstances they will turn into alcohol. With some basic techniques and tools we can help maneuver this natural process into deliciously fermented boozy beverages that capture the terroir and season. In this class we'll explore how to make wild meads and wines using locally available and foraged ingredients. We'll sample a few drinks and make a few batches to try next year.
Ghosts of The Ice Age - Felix Lufkin
The more we learn about the living landscapes that we live in and support us, the more we appreciate our nonhuman relations and feel connected to them. As we get to know the wild plants and animals of the Northeast, we build a mental web of organisms and their many interconnections. Expanding on this knowledge from the perspective of deep time, we awaken to a staggering expanse of natural history stretching over many geologic ages - and how this contextualizes our own evolution and that of other species today. We'll learn about the recently extinct large animals of our area, who lived here until the end of the last Ice Age and how they've left a lasting impact on trees, plants, and other animals still alive today - including ourselves!
Buckskin Pouch Making - Little Dog
In this class we will learn several techniques to sew with sinew. Sinew is the fibrous tendon of an animal, in this case a deer. When it is dried it can be shredded and used as thread to sew with. In this 2 hour class we will cut and sew a small pouch out of Braintan Buckskin and stitch it together with sinew.
Story Weaving - Djeli Celestia
Go beyond just memorizing stories and tap into the elements that connect all things in a creative healing journey. In this workshop we will be weaving words and movement.
Forest Games for Adults! - Eliza Hollister
Sometimes in the midst of our busy adult lives, we forget to play. When was the last time you stealthily hid under a pile of leaves poised to pounce on an unsuspecting companion, or ran for your life from a pool-noodle wielding adversary? Play is a way for children to learn, and for us adults, it is a way to remember. In this class we will get into our bodies, attuning to ourselves, to our surroundings, and to each other through play. If you could use some levity and connection, or need an excuse to unabashedly run around, come join in!
Boning up on Mammal Skulls - Kathryn Dean
In this hands-on workshop, we will begin with a discussion of skull anatomy and how that
relates to animals’ natural history including their sensory adaptations and behavioral
tendencies. Participants will then be guided in seeking out the identity of skulls using their
newfound skull “tracking” skills. Multiple species of mammal skulls will be on hand as well as
some reference materials. People are also encouraged to bring animal skulls from their own
collections if they choose.
Knot Your Average Class - Mitch McConnell
Mitch is a dedicated State Park Ranger with a deep-rooted passion for the wilderness. Growing up in the rugged landscapes of Alaska, Mitch has honed his expertise in wilderness survival and outdoor skills. With experience as a Wilderness Survival Instructor and certified Wilderness First Responder, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Mitch’s interests in hunting, fishing, and archery reflect his profound connection to nature and his love for exploration. He is excited to share his insights and experiences to inspire others to embrace and respect the great outdoors.
Skill of the Knife - Frank Grindrod
There's a reason why folks say 'your knife is your life!' In this class, we'll explore the importance of knives in a survival context. We'll go over knife anatomy, important safety fundamentals, carving techniques and when and how to sharpen. Discover how your knife can be used as a multi-tool. We'll also explore the spiritual significance of knives, and why they've been called 'the tooth of the Earth.'
Seed Saving in the Time of Climate Change - Connor Stedman
Come learn the basics of seed saving and seed keeping, including techniques for bringing climate adaptive traits back into the populations of the crops we depend on and love. The workshop will focus on staple starch and protein crops but will be relevant to vegetable growing as well. We will have plenty of seeds and stories to share!
Acorn Processing workshop - Ellie Fuller
Join us learning to work with Acorns - staple food of our ancestors. We share modern and traditional methods and are passionate about sharing how acorns can become part of life in practical and simple ways.
In this workshop we will learn how to harvest, dry and store acorns. We’ll spend time together cracking, shelling and grinding acorns into flour. Together we will learn different ways to leach out the tannins, and the many uses of acorn in cooking. We will finish our workshop with something delicious we’ve made (acorn truffles or acorn burgers) and a song for the Oaks!
The Art of Tai Chi - Thomas Matherly
Tai Chi is a great way to set yourself up for success for the day, every day! We will get warm, loosen up and get grounded together with some basic Tai Chi warm ups and principals. We’ll learn a Tai Chi walking form and finish off our time with partner drills . No prior experience with Tai Chi is necessary to participate but we will be continuing to learn the form on Sunday so Saturday is recomended (but not required) as a prerequisite for Sunday.
Eat More Bugs! - Felix Lufkin
Join us in exploration of the mysteries of woodland mushrooms, and the mysteries of connection with each other. We will explore how one gets to know mushrooms of all kinds—edible, medicinal, poisonous, slimy, fragrant, and just-plain-beautiful—through the lens of how we get to know other humans. Be prepared to use all of your 5 senses and to play some unique and revealing games.
Ecoprinting with fall leaves - Jean Bergstrom
Colors, tannins and acids, many leaves create beautiful prints with their hidden constituents. Join Jean to learn this unique way of dying with plants. We will print a bandana with leaves that you find or that Jean has gathered. She will provide the pre treated (with mordant) bandana and the supplies to make your creation. You’ll learn what leaves are good printers, how to make the prints, experiment with design, and then apply steam heat. Surprises await you in the finished product!
Bird Language - Jean Bergstrom
Let the birds be your guides to what is happening in the forest around you. Movements and communication among the birds can tell you if there is a predator approaching, and who it might be. By listening to their calls you can know when all is well in the forest, or key into their distress and find out what all the fuss is about. You will see more wildlife on your forays into the woods and fields by observing the birds and learning from them. We’ll cover the basics of bird language, identify some birds by ear, and spend some time learning from our teachers.
Grow your own Mushrooms - Deborah Chamberlain
Mushrooms and fungi are an amazing, mysterious and abundantly useful kingdom of life. Though closely related to animals, they often lurk out of sight, underfoot, and are far less familiar to us than the typical leaves, nuts and fruits popularly foraged. In this hands-on class, we'll learn the basics of at-home mushroom cultivation, covering tools, species, materials and care. We'll harvest beech logs and inoculate them with lion's mane and shitake spawn, demonstrating how accessible and rewarding this practice can be!
Complete Sheep Butchering - Felix Lufkin
Learn how to skin, dress, quarter and butcher sheep! In these workshops, we'll learn about skinning, butchering and anatomy as we transform an animal into food, and prepare a yearling ram for the annual Groundnut sheep roast! The slaughter will be an optional, though encouraged part of this experience. All parts of this animal will be used, including organ meats, bones and blood. We'll also learn to use the sinew for string, hooves for glue how to begin tanning the hide. Roll up your sleeves and participate, or stand back at a comfortable distance and watch. All this will be done in the respectful context of interdependence and gratitude.
Cordage Class - Sadie Ranen
Making cordage, or string out of fibrous plants, or animal parts, is a very ancient skill. Used in countless other tools and crafts, making quality thread from wild plants is the is a skill that is both a foundation of human survival, and a great way to get to know the species around you. In this class will explore different plants, and how to extract their fiber, and the techniques for making them into thread, as well as crafts that use cordage, such as weaving and nets.
Bittersweet Basketmaking - Anya Klepacki and Kokoro Bensonoff
Our surroundings are so lush this time of year! But what’s that vine that seems to be everywhere we look? In this workshop, we’ll learn a bit about Asiatic Bittersweet (a non-native aggressive/imbalanced vine), consider some history of how plants make their way around the globe, and learn to weave a simple bittersweet basket! Bring your own clippers and awl if you have them.
Bark tanning demonstration and workshop - Graham Skorupa
In this class I will be showcasing my skills in bark tanning. In the first course I will demonstrate brewing tan liquor; explaining the chemistry on why we do what we do and when; and demonstrate the membraning process on an in-process hide. For the second course I will demonstrate finishing techniques of currying a hide; greasing and slicking; how to make fat liquor, and when to apply it. At the end of each course I would love to help workshop anyone’s in progress tans!
Introduction to the Art and Science of Tracking - Walker Korby
Delve into the deepest recesses of our shared humanity to remember an essential practice that reveals the connections between us and the other beings with whom we share this planet. We'll explore animal gaits and movement, learn some core practices, and begin to learn how to interpret the world through the senses of a tracker. Whether this is the beginning of your tracking journey or you are a life-long tracker, you're sure to come away with inspiration and insight!
Fire by Friction - Cameron Johnson
Fire has served as a critical tool throughout human evolution and continues to perform its age old role as an essential anchor of homes and communities across cultures. Skills for making and maintaining fire are as diverse as humanity while being universal to human experiences for generations. Means of ignition presented will be with bow drill and hand drill, but I encourage you to bring your own means of primal fire creation along to include in the conversation.
The Tenth Moon - Healing, Tending and Nourishment in the Postpartum Days - Elise Thomson
Around the world, the postpartum time is known by many names: Ansei in Japan, La Cuarentena in Latin America, Omugwo in Nigeria and and Wochenbett in Germany, among many others. All these postpartum traditions share common threads and practices that are rooted in supporting the body’s physiologic design. Through these traditional physiologic-centered practices and proper care, the postpartum time can be one of health, vitality, nourishment and ease. In this class, we will explore these main pillars of traditional postpartum care, learning how we can support the physiologic design of both the birthing person and baby to support optimal healing and well-being of mothers, parents and families.
Lyme and Tick Borne illnesses - Bonnie Bloom
We will discuss prevention and protection and the details of what we are dealing with. What to
do with the tick and for the person if bitten to achieve the best plan for treatment and successful
treatment outcomes, using herbs and supplements as well as antibiotics effectively. There will
be time for questions.
Discover Fly Fishing - Ned Phillips-Jones
Alight into your ancient senses: stalk the rivers for the dappled fish of old. Would you like to be able to provide yourself with fresh, tasty trout dwelling in majestic waters all over the world? In this session you'll learn core elements of fly fishing from a passionate teacher. We'll cover equipment, casting techniques, how to read the water, and how to prepare your catch for dinner. Together we'll begin rousing our primordial predator instincts via teachers like the heron. Participants in the class are welcome to bring fly fishing equipment but this is not at all required. Our group will be sharing a rod and reel and everyone will have a chance to practice casting and receive personal guidance on technique.
Cattail Berry Baskets - Zoe Weizenbaum
Learn to weave your own cattail berry basket from scratch! We will begin with a basic basket tutorial and, once folks have begun to weave, will continue with a discussion of the process behind harvesting, drying and soaking cattails for weaving. Participants will walk away with their own completed baskets and the knowledge to recreate, with their own foraged materials, the same basket at home.
Wild Edibles Walk (Sunday) - Felix Lufkin
We will set out on a wild food and medicine walk where we will learn to ID, prepare and honor the bounty under our feet! Only recently has our relationship to wild food and medicine been snuffed out creating a devastating loss of connection between land and human. Reclaim the birthright that is yours, your biological need to be connected to the Earth as we meet and great more than a dozen species.
Wild Edibles Walk (Saturday) - Aidan Hawkowl
On this walk, everyone will learn the important things to know about wild foods growing on the land. Learn how to identify, harvest, prepare, and eat each plant. You will also learn where and when to find them, and how to harvest sustainably - so there will still be plenty in the years to come.
Bone needles - Neill Bovaird
In this class we will take pieces of deer bone and abrade them down using stone tools to create sewing needles.
Composite fish hooks - Neill Bovaird
In this class we will take a variety of materials and fashion them into sturdy, beautiful and functional fishhooks. This class will require students to bring a knife. 8 Students max.
The $0.00 Food Forest - Davis Wang
Ever feel like you’d love to plant a food forest, but can’t afford all the plants you want? Come learn from a nurseryman how to gain tremendous plant wealth without spending a cent. In this class we will take a plant list for an imaginary food forest, and strategize how to lay out a nursery bed in your garden to start everything from scratch—by way of seed starting, grafting, cuttings, layering, and division. Tips for where to source free plant material, how to graft onto wild trees, stratifying and protecting seeds, how to keep it all organized, and more! You will leave this class as a more self-sufficient plantsperson.
Tracking the Menstrual Cycle - Martha Hoffman
Come learn how to track and support the menstrual cycle, as humans have been doing for generations. We will cover reproductive anatomy, basic hormones, methods of tracking, and holistic cycle support. We will close with an open conversation among all participants. Open to all bodies and ages!
Cheese Making - Kalyn Campbell
Kalyn Campbell is a homesteader in Central Vermont working to reduce her need for the industrial system by making and growing her own food and clothes. This includes all things dairy! She has 10+ years experience milking cows and goats and making cheese with the milk both commercially and on a home scale. She hopes to encourage others to join her on this journey towards self-reliance and healthy land stewardship. You can see more of what Kalyn does at The Handspun Cow Educational Homestead
Butter Making - Kalyn Campbell
Come learn how easy it is to make cultured butter. Take turns churning the butter and learn how to clean it. This class is taught by Kalyn Campbell is a homesteader in Central Vermont working to reduce her need for the industrial system by making and growing her own food and clothes. This includes all things dairy! She has 10+ years experience milking cows and goats and making cheese with the milk both commercially and on a home scale.
Basket Weaving - Erica Martenson
Basket weaving is an ancient and beautiful skill. Come learn how to make a simple coil basket! We will work with a variety of materials and discuss the sequence of identifying, harvesting, and processing the fibers. Our hands love making beauty, and this is a wonderful way to do so!
Salve Making - Gina Shvartsman
Salve making is an important homestead skill. These easy to craft, topical herbal medicines, based on oil and wax, are handy to have around for scrapes, sprains, strains, infections, cuts, splinters, burns and stings. In this class we will cover basic salve recipes and learn a handful of easily identifiable medicinal plants critical to the home first aid kit. Walk away with your very own salve!
Wild Meads and Wines - Dan Bensonoff
Sugars are abundant in nature and given the right circumstances they will turn into alcohol. With some basic techniques and tools we can help maneuver this natural process into deliciously fermented boozy beverages that capture the terroir and season. In this class we'll explore how to make wild meads and wines using locally available and foraged ingredients. We'll sample a few drinks and make a few batches to try next year.
Ghosts of The Ice Age - Felix Lufkin
The more we learn about the living landscapes that we live in and support us, the more we appreciate our nonhuman relations and feel connected to them. As we get to know the wild plants and animals of the Northeast, we build a mental web of organisms and their many interconnections. Expanding on this knowledge from the perspective of deep time, we awaken to a staggering expanse of natural history stretching over many geologic ages - and how this contextualizes our own evolution and that of other species today. We'll learn about the recently extinct large animals of our area, who lived here until the end of the last Ice Age and how they've left a lasting impact on trees, plants, and other animals still alive today - including ourselves!
Buckskin Pouch Making - Little Dog
In this class we will learn several techniques to sew with sinew. Sinew is the fibrous tendon of an animal, in this case a deer. When it is dried it can be shredded and used as thread to sew with. In this 2 hour class we will cut and sew a small pouch out of Braintan Buckskin and stitch it together with sinew.
Story Weaving - Djeli Celestia
Go beyond just memorizing stories and tap into the elements that connect all things in a creative healing journey. In this workshop we will be weaving words and movement.
Forest Games for Adults! - Eliza Hollister
Sometimes in the midst of our busy adult lives, we forget to play. When was the last time you stealthily hid under a pile of leaves poised to pounce on an unsuspecting companion, or ran for your life from a pool-noodle wielding adversary? Play is a way for children to learn, and for us adults, it is a way to remember. In this class we will get into our bodies, attuning to ourselves, to our surroundings, and to each other through play. If you could use some levity and connection, or need an excuse to unabashedly run around, come join in!
Boning up on Mammal Skulls - Kathryn Dean
In this hands-on workshop, we will begin with a discussion of skull anatomy and how that
relates to animals’ natural history including their sensory adaptations and behavioral
tendencies. Participants will then be guided in seeking out the identity of skulls using their
newfound skull “tracking” skills. Multiple species of mammal skulls will be on hand as well as
some reference materials. People are also encouraged to bring animal skulls from their own
collections if they choose.
Knot Your Average Class - Mitch McConnell
Mitch is a dedicated State Park Ranger with a deep-rooted passion for the wilderness. Growing up in the rugged landscapes of Alaska, Mitch has honed his expertise in wilderness survival and outdoor skills. With experience as a Wilderness Survival Instructor and certified Wilderness First Responder, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Mitch’s interests in hunting, fishing, and archery reflect his profound connection to nature and his love for exploration. He is excited to share his insights and experiences to inspire others to embrace and respect the great outdoors.
Skill of the Knife - Frank Grindrod
There's a reason why folks say 'your knife is your life!' In this class, we'll explore the importance of knives in a survival context. We'll go over knife anatomy, important safety fundamentals, carving techniques and when and how to sharpen. Discover how your knife can be used as a multi-tool. We'll also explore the spiritual significance of knives, and why they've been called 'the tooth of the Earth.'
Seed Saving in the Time of Climate Change - Connor Stedman
Come learn the basics of seed saving and seed keeping, including techniques for bringing climate adaptive traits back into the populations of the crops we depend on and love. The workshop will focus on staple starch and protein crops but will be relevant to vegetable growing as well. We will have plenty of seeds and stories to share!
Acorn Processing workshop - Ellie Fuller
Join us learning to work with Acorns - staple food of our ancestors. We share modern and traditional methods and are passionate about sharing how acorns can become part of life in practical and simple ways.
In this workshop we will learn how to harvest, dry and store acorns. We’ll spend time together cracking, shelling and grinding acorns into flour. Together we will learn different ways to leach out the tannins, and the many uses of acorn in cooking. We will finish our workshop with something delicious we’ve made (acorn truffles or acorn burgers) and a song for the Oaks!
The Art of Tai Chi - Thomas Matherly
Tai Chi is a great way to set yourself up for success for the day, every day! We will get warm, loosen up and get grounded together with some basic Tai Chi warm ups and principals. We’ll learn a Tai Chi walking form and finish off our time with partner drills . No prior experience with Tai Chi is necessary to participate but we will be continuing to learn the form on Sunday so Saturday is recomended (but not required) as a prerequisite for Sunday.
Eat More Bugs! - Felix Lufkin
Teacher Bios
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Davis Wang: The $0.00 Food Forest
Davis Wang runs Humble Abode Nursery in Ashfield, MA. He grows thousands of plants every year and sends them out all over the country. His nursery focuses on hardy edible perennial plants for all layers of the food forest. Davis enjoys sharing his self-taught knowledge of plant propagation with others, so that they may turn some seeds and twigs into their own bountiful landscape. |
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Dean Colpack: Mushroom Mysteries and Mushroom Walk
Dean moved to Western MA when he was eighteen and has since fallen in love with wild nature. He currently leads walks through Leapfrog Programs that explore how to get to know the natural world and other human animals. Dean's teachers include Dianna Smith, Gerald Neary, and Scott Gaynor. |
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Felix Lufkin: Wild Edible Plants, Complete Sheep Butchering, Ghosts of the Ice Age & Eat More Bugs!
Felix works with K-12 and adult students at a number of programs in the Valley. His teachers include knowledgeable staff and mentors at nature education organizations where he has also worked, including Wolf Tree Programs (Neill Bovaird), the Vermont Wilderness School (Bob Etzweiler), and Earthwork Programs (Frank Grindrod), whose teaching descends in part from Jon Young, the Wilderness Awareness School and Eight Shields/Coyote Mentoring approach, as well as Mass Audubon, the New England Aquarium and the Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies. He completed a three year apprenticeship at the Clearpath School of Herbal Medicine with Chris Marano, and has learned from the writings of wild plant scholars like Arthur Haines and Samuel Thayer. His interest in butchering is largely self-taught, from years of on-site butchering services offered in the region. He also directs Help Yourself, inc and Leapfrog Programs. |
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Deborah Chamberlain: Mallets, Wedges, and Stakes: Knives in Action
Deborah's career in education started with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School leading 30 day river trips with youth at risk some 30 years ago. She was lucky enough to work and travel from the Florida swamps to the hills of Wales and the streets of NYC. Deborah studied bushcraft in the UK with West Yorkshire Bushcraft, Michael Armstrong as lead instructor, in the US at the Tracker School and Mountainsong Expeditions. She also studied at the Blazing Star Herbal school with Gail Ulrich. I am so happy to be bringing my skills in progress to the Groundnut Gathering! |
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Kokoro Bensonoff: Bittersweet Basket Making
Kokoro has over a decade of experience with seat weaving. She enjoys tending her backyard full of vines, leaves and planted willow. First basketry class Kokoro attended was led by Mark Young (Wells, ME) and Karen Sullivan (Ashfield, MA) has been her basketry mentor. |
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Martha Hoffman: Tracking the Menstrual Cycle
Martha is a fertility awareness educator, full-spectrum doula, and massage therapist. They have a decade of experience in outdoor education, leading extended expeditions in Maine and Ohio, teaching wilderness first aid, and working for Leapfrog Programs. They hold a decade-running wilderness first responder certification. Martha's ancestors lived in the Outer Hebrides, Sweden, Appalachia, and Utah, and she now calls the Connecticut River Valley home. Martha prioritizes consent, feedback, and curiosity in everything they do. You can learn more about their work at Marthahoffman.com, or on IG @martha_body. |
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Walker Korby: Introduction to the Art and Science of Tracking
Walker began his tracking journey in the late 80's as a Boy Scout in Central NJ. In high school he discovered the Wilderness Awareness School in his hometown and realized that his life path was going to be centered around reconnecting people with the rest of the natural world. He studied and taught with Wilderness Awareness School as well as The Tracker school, and Vermont Wilderness School. He's been an instructor and facilitator for the Art Of Mentoring programs across the country as well as in Europe for over 20 years, and and adjunct instructor in the Human Ecology program at Greenfield Community College. He obtained a Masters in Geography at UMass and currently runs a successful land stewardship company out of Montague MA. |
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Anya Klepacki: Bittersweet Basketmaking
Anya has a background in environmental science, native plant landscaping, invasive plant management, and is a lifelong Western Mass resident. They experiment with primarily invasive plants like bittersweet, glossy buckthorn, autumn olive, and more towards reopening space in pressured ecosystems, relocating ourselves in context, and reviving practices in us. Some of her teachers include Zachary Rouda, co-teacher Kokoro Bensonoff, and inspiration from many friends and baskets themselves. |
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Neill Bovaird: Composite fish hooks, Bone needles and Evening Storyteller
Neill Bovaird has been practicing and teaching wilderness skills since 1998. He has a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation from UMass Amherst and holds a Track and Sign Professional certification and a Trailing Level III certification through the CyberTracker Conservation. Neill has been a facilitator at Art of Mentoring since 2001 and has studied under Jon Young, Mark Elbroch, Errett Callahan, and Steve Watts. In addition to being the founder and director of Wolf Tree Programs LLC, Neill has taught wilderness skills at countless private and public schools, nature centers, museums, conferences, elder hostels, and camps. Neill’s passions include flintknapping, bow making, hide tanning, tracking, megalithic construction, hunting and wandering in the wilderness. |
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Bonnie Bloom - Lyme and Tick Borne illnesses
Bonnie is a clinical herbalist and has been working with plant medicine for twenty five years, Working as staff herbalist for Sojourns Community Health Clinic in Vermont for 15 years and the founder of Blue Crow Botanicals, local organic herbal extract company and farm. She has a clinical herbal practice in Gill, MA. |
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Zoe Weizenbaum: Cattail Berry Baskets
Zoe manages a small diversified farmstead in Amherst, MA. Zoe learned to work with cattail from basket maker Katie Grove. |
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Elise Thomson: The Tenth Moon: Healing, Tending & Nourishment in the Postpartum Days
Elise is a midwife, bodyworker and tender of the heart, the womb and the land. Her practices are rooted in connection with the earth and an embodied and integrative approach to wellness. Her work is centered in pelvic and womb health with a vision to support women in reconnecting to their body and innate wisdom. Learn more about her work on IG @sacredsisterholistics or at sacredsister.com |
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Dan Bensonoff: Wild Meads and Wines
Dan Bensonoff has spent most of his adult life studying and practicing land-based resiliency skills. He is an educator with a focus on sustainable food production, permaculture, food preservation, foraging, and other crafts that are rooted in "the old ways". His life revolves around his collective homestead which he shares with a motley crew of kids, adults, chickens, and plants. He currently works as coordinator of the UMass Permaculture Initiative at UMass Amherst. Dan gives thanks to all his former fermentation teachers including Greg Maslowe, Jereme Zimmerman, and Sandor Katz. |
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Kayln Campbell: Cheese Making and Butter Making
Kalyn Campbell is a homesteader in Central Vermont working to reduce her need for the industrial system by making and growing her own food and clothes. This includes all things dairy! She has 10+ years experience milking cows and goats and making cheese with the milk both commercially and on a home scale. She hopes to encourage others to join her on this journey towards self-reliance and healthy land stewardship. Visit www.thehandspuncow.wordpress.com to see more. |
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Graham Skorupa: Bark tanning demonstration and workshop
Graham has been hide tanning for 5 years. He taught himself how to bark tan in 2020. Herding goats and sheep back then, the necessity came up to use the whole animal and making a product more applicable than brain tan sparked his interest. Now, no more herding, Graham still tans hides in his garage in Great Falls from locally sourced deer or animals he slaughters for friends' small homesteads. |
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Erica Martenson: Basket Weaving
Erica grew up in a nature focused community, which allowed her to explore her passions of basketry, singing, fire making, foraging, and much more. She lives in a tiny house with her partner on Brook's Bend Farm, where she runs nature programs for girls through Wolftree Programs. She has 3 beautiful cows, a happy flock of chickens, and bees. |
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Forest Games for Adults: Eliza Hollister
Eliza is a lifelong lover of tiny curiosities - greeting what lives under rocks from a nose length away, singing to the trees and listening to their songs, pretending to be a tiny creature at eye level with the moss. Eliza is enlivened by making music and crafts, cooking for crowds, and deepening her connection with the natural world and the people in it. She has a background in nature education, and currently works with Wolf Tree Programs and Western Massachusetts Wilderness Rites. She aims to bring love and kindness and deep listening wherever she goes. |
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Knot Your Average Class: Mitch McConnell
Learn the foundational skills of knot tying in this hands-on workshop. Whether you're into outdoor activities, sailing, climbing, or just want to have practical knowledge for everyday life, knowing how to tie essential knots is a crucial skill. In this class, we will cover five common and versatile knots that everyone should know - the square knot, bowlines, clove hitch, monkey fist and fisherman's knot. You’ll learn how to tie them, understand their applications and ensure you're prepared for various real-world scenarios. All experience levels are welcome! |
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Kathryn Dean: Boning up on Mammal Skulls
Kathy Dean has worked in the field of outdoor education since 1983 as a wilderness guide, rock climbing instructor and teacher of animal tracking, bird language and nature awareness. In addition to working with a variety of nature education centers, through Trotting Fox Programs she offers wildlife tracking courses, birding by ear walks, custom-tailored programs and one-on-one nature mentoring. Kathy is the author of Abbreviated Field Guide to Mammal Behavior: New England Region and is certified CyberTracker Conservation as a Track and Sign Specialist. She lives in a small hill town in Western Massachusetts and is blissfully surrounded by woodlands, wetlands and wildlife. |
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Djeli Celestia- Storyweaving
Djeli (pronounced: Jelly), a brown-skinned descendant of enslaved Africans and indigenous Americans, is a story weaver who helps transform overwhelm to overjoy. Ki uses oral and written traditions, including poetry, to create an atmosphere of curiosity and dialogue, even around difficult topics. Ki helps others breathe life into their own stories as part of a healing process by speaking from the heart. |
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Littledog (AKA Aaron Foster): Buckskin Pouch Making
Littledog has been learning and teaching outdoor skills for 30 years. His background in art and design has helped him pursue his varied interests in carpentry, sewing, gardening and homesteading. He first learned how to braintan over 25 years ago. Over the years he has developed techniques to improve his leather tanning and is interested in teaching his techniques to others. He learned his sewing skills from his mother, who taught him to sew by hand and machine when he was a young boy. As his interests grew in historical and “primitive” skills he applied these interests to his craftwork. Littledog makes everything from modern clothing sewn on industrial sewing machines, to hand-sewn leather work. He has many teachers. He is a constant student. However, his main teachers have been his Mother and Father, his mentor Mark Humpal and the countless generations of human beings who carved lives from wild nature. He lives in Western MA with his Wife and Son on a 3 acre homestead in a house he built himself (with lots and lots of help). He works as a Handyman/Carpenter. When he isn’t designing, building, sewing and crafting he is fishing, hunting, foraging and occasionally sleeping! |
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Sadie Ranen: Cordage 101
Sadie enjoys spending time in the outdoors, cooking with wholesome and local ingredients, and feeling nourished and held by the gifts of the land and the Earth as a whole. She loves the ocean, connecting with and learning more about animals and plants, and learning about the wisdom and practices of our ancestral cultures - and how they can heal us in the present. |
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Gina Shvartsman: Salve Making
Gina is an Earth lover, often covered in dirt or plant matter. Passionate about living in rhythm with the seasons, she has a strong curiosity for how people lived in pre-industrial times. Her herbal education was at Clearpath Herbals and Vermont Center of Integrative Herbalism and is ongoing with the plants. She is a farmer, community herbalist, shiatsu practitioner, wildcrafter and the herbal-artist of Radical Rose Botanicals, a compilation of herbal remedies with a focus on practical daily plant supports. |
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Jean Bergstrom: Eco Printing with Fall Leaves and Bird Language
Jean is a lover of Nature and has spent most of her life filled with curiosity, wonder and learning about the world around her. She has been a wilderness guide, a park service ranger, a naturalist, herbalist, Plant Spirit Medicine Healer and business owner. She is the primary guide/mentor for Her Wild Roots ( Home | herwildroots) which leads nature experiences for women. Her teachers include Kate Gilday, Eliot Cowan, Felix Lufkin and countless UMass botany professors a long time ago. She has studied birding with Scott Surner, Bird Language with White Pine School of Trackings and teachers and colleagues through the Hampshire Bird Club. Her Animal Tracking mentors are Sue Morse, George Leoniak, Kathy Dean and the critters themselves. She has been learning online and from books about ecoprinting and natural dying and has been experimenting with our New England plants and mushrooms learning what colors and surprises they have to offer. Jean is happiest when she is wandering in the woods, learning new things, creating art and sharing these experiences with others. |
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Ned Phillips-Jones: Discover Fly Fishing
Ned founded the Hampshire Food Forest (Greenwich Forest Garden) at Hampshire College. His interests include design, Welsh language and heritage, rhetoric, conservation, and dogs. |
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Cameron Johnson: Friction Fire
Hey! You can call me Cameron. I've lived my whole life in New England and since childhood have spent much of my time appreciating and learning about the place where I live. A critical part of my connection to where I live is fire and fire making. These skills and others like them have been powerful drivers of both personal and of interpersonal growth in my life. I'm excited to share and to learn with you! |
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Frank Grindrod: Skill of the Knife
Wilderness Guide and Survival Instructor, Frank Grindrod has been dedicated to teaching earth skills since founding Earthwork Programs in 1999. His focuses include nature awareness, tracking, wilderness living skills and earth philosophy. He is a graduate of Greenfield Community College's nationally-recognized Outdoor Leadership Program. Frank maintains his own education studying with respected mentors; Tom Brown, Jon Young, Paul Rezendes and others. He has been trained as a Wilderness First Responder and is a certified facilitator for the Nurtured Heart Approach. As an Advance Trainer of the Nurtured Heart Approach, Frank has studied with national trainers including Gabrielli Lachiara, LSW., Lisa Bravo, Tom Grove and Howard Glasser, MA. He is recognized as an advanced trainer and coach with energy parenting and Howard Glasser's Inner Wealth Initiative and the Children's Success Foundation. Frank is currently working as a professor at Smith College, a lead facilitator of wilderness education programs and the Nurtured Heart Approach, as well as consulting for camps, museums, conferences, schools and environmental education centers throughout New England. |
Aidan Hawkowl: Wild Edible Plant Walk (Saturday)
Aidan is a nature and foraging enthusiast who lives in Western Massachusetts. He learned to harvest and eat dandelions and other wild greens at one and a half years old. He learned a lot about wild foods and led his first wild food walk at age five. Since then, he has led four wild food walks every year. He continues to be fascinated by wild plants, animals, and fungi. He is 15 years old.
Aidan is a nature and foraging enthusiast who lives in Western Massachusetts. He learned to harvest and eat dandelions and other wild greens at one and a half years old. He learned a lot about wild foods and led his first wild food walk at age five. Since then, he has led four wild food walks every year. He continues to be fascinated by wild plants, animals, and fungi. He is 15 years old.
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Connor Stedman: Seed Saving in the Time of Climate Change
Connor Stedman is a climate educator, farm planner, and ecological designer with 20 years experience in agriculture and food systems. He speaks, teaches, and consults on climate adaptation and mitigation strategy around the Northeast and the US. |
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Ellie Fuller: Acorn Processing
Ellie is an experienced nature mentor and wilderness skills facilitator. Her passion is supporting people to connect with the natural world in reciprocal, fun and adventurous ways. She is dedicated to remembering the old ways and exploring ancestral skills such as acorn processing, bark-tanning, fire making, foraging, and more; learning the old wisdom and stories held within traditional crafts and ways of life. At this time of year she loves nothing more than sharing her love of acorns and Oaks! |
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Thomas Matherly: The Art of Tai Chi
Tom has been learning and practicing martial arts their entire life and has found the most joy and presence in the disciplines of Tai Chi, Chinese Kung Fu, Wing Chun and Qi Kung. They love sharing these practices and firmly believe that even the most basic practice of any of these arts greatly enhances ones experience of life and good health! |
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting a ticket:
What are the dates of the 2024 gathering?
Oct 5-6
Can children and teens attend?
Yes! There are programs for kids ages 6-13. Kids under 6 attend for free.
Is the gathering accessible to those with disabilities?
Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your access needs and we would be happy to see if we can accommodate them. The physical nature of the event grounds do limit our capacity to make this event physically accessible for those who have difficulty traversing gravel, uneven and potentially muddy terrain.
I can’t afford a ticket, what options do I have?
We have a work trade program and a scholarship fund. If you are unable to participate in the work trade program and are interested in a scholarship please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]
I purchased my pass, when will I receive a ticket and welcome letter?
We are a small non profit that is in the office 2x/week, we will send you your pass and welcome letter as soon as we get into the office! Thanks for your patience!
What is the refund policy?
We do not offer refunds. If you are unable to attend you can transfer your ticket to someone else.
Packing/prep:
Are any local accommodations (besides camping) available?
Yes there are Air b and bs and hotels in the neighboring towns.
Can I bring my dog?
As much as we love pups we have a strict NO DOG (and pet) policy. Thanks for understanding!
Is carpooling available?
Yes, and we highly encourage it! Head to the Groundnut Carpooling to coordinate carpooling!
Will I need cash at the event?
Some classes require a materials fee which must be paid in cash to the teacher before the class starts. Info on which classes require a materials fee will be in the welcome letter. There is will also be perennial plants and Groundnut Merchandise for sale which will need to be paid for in cash.
What else should I bring?:
Water Containers & Sun Protection: Please carry water bottles at all times and protect yourself from the sun. Young children need a tote bag with these items, especially if they are getting involved with the kids programs.
Food: We provide a community primitive kitchen (cooking over fire) for your cooking pleasure. Please remember to pack your own food, cookware and dishware. You can also cook at your campsite on a small propane camp stove, if you’d like. **Meals are not provided for.** There will be a potluck on Saturday evening for dinner and a Sunday morning potluck for breakfast (details below and in welcome letter).
Rain Gear: Come prepared and you will be much more comfortable. Bring a rain jacket, extra tarps for your sleeping area, umbrellas, something to sit on when the ground is wet, a small plastic bag to keep your notebook and headlamp in, and shoes that you’ll be comfortable in when they get wet (like sandals or muck boots).
What if it rains?
The Groundnut Gathering is held rain or shine. There is no provision for a rain date, and no refunds are given on account of inclement weather. Bring your rain gear and plenty of warm, non-cotton socks and under layers to stay warm even when you’re wet.
Crafts for gifting or trading: Bring special items if you would like to join the trade blanket on Sunday afternoon!
Hygiene: There are handwashing stations available and folks are encouraged to wash hands regularly and thoroughly. These are not for washing bodies. There is a river for swimming and freshening up. There are NO showers. Come prepared to keep yourself and your family clean. Soap is not allowed in the river or stream.
Minimize Trash: The Groundnut is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out event. This means we do not have community garbage cans. If you bring a bunch of stuff that will have to get thrown away, you will have to lug it around with you quite a bit. Please plan for a low-waste event, and come prepared with vessels or bags to gather and pack out your trash.
What are the potluck meals all about?
There is a potluck dinner on Saturday and a potluck breakfast on Sunday morning. Please bring a dish for 10-15 people. There will be cards to write ingredients on a a potluck manager organizing the meals.
Arrival:
How do I get to the gathering?
The gathering will take place in Montgomery MA and detailed directions will be sent closer to the Gathering to all ticket holders.
Carpooling:
We highly encourage carpooling! Head HERE !!!to find a carpool crew!
What is the parking situation?
There is limited parking and we encourage carpooling. There will be folks and signs showing you where to park upon your arrival.
Can I arrive evening before my ticket starts?
Yes, you can arrive Friday between 4-7:30.
When can I arrive?
For the Weekend: Between 4-7:30 pm On Friday 10/7 or Saturday morning between 7-9 am. If you are only coming for Sunday you can arrive between 8-9 am on Sunday morning.
At the gathering:
What is the camping set up like?
There is a large mowed field where you can set up your tent.
What amenities are available?
Well water for drinking and there are composting toilets.
When do I sign up for classes?
Saturday's classes will be posted right before opening circle on Saturday morning and Sunday's classes will be posted right before opening circle on Sunday morning.
Worktrade:
Why does the Groundnut require an attendance fee and refundable work trade deposit?
The $5 attendance fee is for all participants and is paid directly to the land owners. The refundable work trade deposit provides the best assurance of accountability. We will keep your deposit only if you don’t show up or don’t complete your hours for a reason we deem unacceptable. You will be refunded by 10/15.
When will I hear about the status of my work trade application?
By 9/15
Can my children hang out with me while I work trade?
If they are 12+
How many hours do work traders have to do for full tuition to the Groundnut?
6.5
Are partial work trade positions available?
No
What are the dates of the 2024 gathering?
Oct 5-6
Can children and teens attend?
Yes! There are programs for kids ages 6-13. Kids under 6 attend for free.
Is the gathering accessible to those with disabilities?
Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your access needs and we would be happy to see if we can accommodate them. The physical nature of the event grounds do limit our capacity to make this event physically accessible for those who have difficulty traversing gravel, uneven and potentially muddy terrain.
I can’t afford a ticket, what options do I have?
We have a work trade program and a scholarship fund. If you are unable to participate in the work trade program and are interested in a scholarship please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]
I purchased my pass, when will I receive a ticket and welcome letter?
We are a small non profit that is in the office 2x/week, we will send you your pass and welcome letter as soon as we get into the office! Thanks for your patience!
What is the refund policy?
We do not offer refunds. If you are unable to attend you can transfer your ticket to someone else.
Packing/prep:
Are any local accommodations (besides camping) available?
Yes there are Air b and bs and hotels in the neighboring towns.
Can I bring my dog?
As much as we love pups we have a strict NO DOG (and pet) policy. Thanks for understanding!
Is carpooling available?
Yes, and we highly encourage it! Head to the Groundnut Carpooling to coordinate carpooling!
Will I need cash at the event?
Some classes require a materials fee which must be paid in cash to the teacher before the class starts. Info on which classes require a materials fee will be in the welcome letter. There is will also be perennial plants and Groundnut Merchandise for sale which will need to be paid for in cash.
What else should I bring?:
Water Containers & Sun Protection: Please carry water bottles at all times and protect yourself from the sun. Young children need a tote bag with these items, especially if they are getting involved with the kids programs.
Food: We provide a community primitive kitchen (cooking over fire) for your cooking pleasure. Please remember to pack your own food, cookware and dishware. You can also cook at your campsite on a small propane camp stove, if you’d like. **Meals are not provided for.** There will be a potluck on Saturday evening for dinner and a Sunday morning potluck for breakfast (details below and in welcome letter).
Rain Gear: Come prepared and you will be much more comfortable. Bring a rain jacket, extra tarps for your sleeping area, umbrellas, something to sit on when the ground is wet, a small plastic bag to keep your notebook and headlamp in, and shoes that you’ll be comfortable in when they get wet (like sandals or muck boots).
What if it rains?
The Groundnut Gathering is held rain or shine. There is no provision for a rain date, and no refunds are given on account of inclement weather. Bring your rain gear and plenty of warm, non-cotton socks and under layers to stay warm even when you’re wet.
Crafts for gifting or trading: Bring special items if you would like to join the trade blanket on Sunday afternoon!
Hygiene: There are handwashing stations available and folks are encouraged to wash hands regularly and thoroughly. These are not for washing bodies. There is a river for swimming and freshening up. There are NO showers. Come prepared to keep yourself and your family clean. Soap is not allowed in the river or stream.
Minimize Trash: The Groundnut is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out event. This means we do not have community garbage cans. If you bring a bunch of stuff that will have to get thrown away, you will have to lug it around with you quite a bit. Please plan for a low-waste event, and come prepared with vessels or bags to gather and pack out your trash.
What are the potluck meals all about?
There is a potluck dinner on Saturday and a potluck breakfast on Sunday morning. Please bring a dish for 10-15 people. There will be cards to write ingredients on a a potluck manager organizing the meals.
Arrival:
How do I get to the gathering?
The gathering will take place in Montgomery MA and detailed directions will be sent closer to the Gathering to all ticket holders.
Carpooling:
We highly encourage carpooling! Head HERE !!!to find a carpool crew!
What is the parking situation?
There is limited parking and we encourage carpooling. There will be folks and signs showing you where to park upon your arrival.
Can I arrive evening before my ticket starts?
Yes, you can arrive Friday between 4-7:30.
When can I arrive?
For the Weekend: Between 4-7:30 pm On Friday 10/7 or Saturday morning between 7-9 am. If you are only coming for Sunday you can arrive between 8-9 am on Sunday morning.
At the gathering:
What is the camping set up like?
There is a large mowed field where you can set up your tent.
What amenities are available?
Well water for drinking and there are composting toilets.
When do I sign up for classes?
Saturday's classes will be posted right before opening circle on Saturday morning and Sunday's classes will be posted right before opening circle on Sunday morning.
Worktrade:
Why does the Groundnut require an attendance fee and refundable work trade deposit?
The $5 attendance fee is for all participants and is paid directly to the land owners. The refundable work trade deposit provides the best assurance of accountability. We will keep your deposit only if you don’t show up or don’t complete your hours for a reason we deem unacceptable. You will be refunded by 10/15.
When will I hear about the status of my work trade application?
By 9/15
Can my children hang out with me while I work trade?
If they are 12+
How many hours do work traders have to do for full tuition to the Groundnut?
6.5
Are partial work trade positions available?
No
Groundnut Team
Testimonials:
"I went last year and I can say for certain it was nothing short of life changing for me -- a beautiful weekend outside, new experiences, real skills taught in a shared and humble way with patience and respect for the seriousness of the tools and resources in use, a central campfire flame kept alive all weekend to cook and share meals and meet around, and best of all being surrounded by people showing up to create community in real time. I was so amazed by the tightness of the community formed in just 2 days! It felt like such a blessing, and I walked away feeling more whole in myself and my abilities and more ready to engage with others and the earth. Ah I can't say enough!" - Anya Klepacki
"The Groundnut has been a wonderful yearly tradition for our family to go to! We have learned so much over the years and made wonderful friends!"- The Petersons
"The Groundnut was such a special time! I have so many memories - the fascinating classes, super good food, and just hanging by the fire. But my main take away was all the kindness I experienced, and the wonderful community that emerged. Like mushrooms after a rain." - Leon B.
"I went last year and I can say for certain it was nothing short of life changing for me -- a beautiful weekend outside, new experiences, real skills taught in a shared and humble way with patience and respect for the seriousness of the tools and resources in use, a central campfire flame kept alive all weekend to cook and share meals and meet around, and best of all being surrounded by people showing up to create community in real time. I was so amazed by the tightness of the community formed in just 2 days! It felt like such a blessing, and I walked away feeling more whole in myself and my abilities and more ready to engage with others and the earth. Ah I can't say enough!" - Anya Klepacki
"The Groundnut has been a wonderful yearly tradition for our family to go to! We have learned so much over the years and made wonderful friends!"- The Petersons
"The Groundnut was such a special time! I have so many memories - the fascinating classes, super good food, and just hanging by the fire. But my main take away was all the kindness I experienced, and the wonderful community that emerged. Like mushrooms after a rain." - Leon B.