Directory of Hands-On Learning
Collection of local and small-town workshops
Get no results? Take a look at our Categories list. Know of a school not listed? Submit a recommendation.
Featured School
The Fiber Loft
Location: 9 Mass Ave, Rte. 111, Harvard, MA 01451
Description: The Fiber Loft was started in 1975 by Reba Maisel as a small weaving studio. It has since expanded to become a full-service knitting, spinning, dyeing, felting, and weaving shop. We carry an extensive selection of gorgeous yarns, representing most of the small and large manufacturers. We also carry local handspun and hand-dyed yarns and spinning fibers as well as unique yarns from across the country.
Contact: http://www.thefiberloft.com/, yarn@TheFiberLoft.com, 978-456-8669
Category: weaving, fiber arts, spinning, crochet/knitting,
Search Results for: animal
Nifty Homestead
Location: 900 1st Ave South, Suite 205A Seattle, WA 98134
Description: Nifty Homestead was founded to help aspiring and expert homesteaders learn and grow. We post resources on gardening, raising animals, natural building, sustainable energy, and tons of other topics related to homestead living.
Contact: https://www.niftyhomestead.com/, hello@niftyhomestead.com ,
Category: Milling , Carpentry, gardening, Urban Farming, Off the Grid, Plant ID, Aquaponics, Poultry, Beekeeping, Goats, Permaculture, Soapmaking, Quilting, Knit, Fiber arts, Weaving
Owl Ridge Homestead - Homesteader's club of CT
Location: 06010
Description: The Homesteading Club brings together a community of like-minded people who are living, or aspire to live, a more self sufficient lifestyle. The club fosters a support system where ideas, projects and experience can be shared in casual conversation. The club is a steady growing group of Homesteader's that have a wide range of skills and experience that we share with each other. We run workshops, talks, and organize tours of farms, homesteads, breweries, and wild edible forages. We have lots of plans for the upcoming fall and winter!
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/groups/238004919636636/, 860-508-0552
Category: beekeeping, animal husbandry, foraging, gardening, wine/beer/cider, fiber arts, off the grid, survival , permaculture, land surveying
The Farm School
Location: 488 Moore Hill Road, Athol, MA, 01331
Description: A highly immersive and exclusive class to learn agricultural techniques for aspiring farmers, educators and community leaders
Contact: http://farmschool.org/learntofarm/, admissions@farmschool.org,
Category: forestry, animal husbandry, carpentry, homesteading, cooking, organic, sustainable agriculture
The Organic Farm School
Location: PO Box 837 Freeland, WA 98249
Description: An experiential training program designed for aspiring farms to learn and practice the skills they need to run a small-scale organic farm.
Contact: https://organicfarmschool.org/,
Category: Gardening, Pest Control, Carpentry, Animal husbandry, Beekeeping, soil management
Beginning Farmers
Location: NA
Description: An online reference for all types of farming
Contact: http://www.beginningfarmers.org/,
Category: Homesteading, Urban Farming, animal husbandry, sustainable Agriculture
Cornell Small Farms Program
Location: 15A Plant Science, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY 14853
Description: Online courses for aspiring, new and experienced farmers looking to start a farming business.
Contact: http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/, smallfarmsprogram@cornell.edu, 607-255-9227
Category: Animal husbandry, Beekeeping,gardening, farming, sustainable agriculture
Practical Farmers
Location: 600 Fifth Street, Suite 100 Ames, IA 50010
Description: Strengthening farms and communities through farmer led investigation and information sharing
Contact: http://www.practicalfarmers.org, info@practicalfarmers.org, 515-232-5661
Category: Animal husbandry, gardening
Pennsylvania State University
Location: The Pennsylvania State University, 323 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802
Description: An online reference and course listing for all types of farming.
Contact: https://extension.psu.edu/, https://extension.psu.edu/contacts, 877-345-0691
Category: animal husbandry, Foraging,farming, Forestry, Pest Control, soil management
Stockbridge School of Agricutlure. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Location: 208 Paige Laboratory, 161 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA, 01003
Description: Online certificate program for the small farming demographic
Contact: https://stockbridge.cns.umass.edu/SFF-Certificate, abthorpe@umass.edu, 413-545-2222
Category: farming, Homesteading, Pest Control, Organic, Gardening Beekeeping, Animal husbandry, Poultry, soil management
Tufts University's Sustainable Farming Project
Location: 45 Merrimack St, 5th Floor, Lowell MA 01852
Description: A curriculum geared towards beginner farms that are looking to start or have already starting their farming business.
Contact: https://nesfp.org/, nesfp@tufts.edu, 978-654-6745
Category: Animal Husbandry, Land Surveying, Gardening, Farming
Stone Soup Institute
Location: 298 Allen Point Road, Harpswell, ME 04079
Description: An international school offering courses of study integrating traditional and contemporary practices and knowledge in the agrarian arts and sciences, crafts and fine arts.
Contact: http://stone-soup-institute.org207-833-2884, mail@stone-soup-institute.org, 207-833-2884
Category: Animal Husbandry, Homebuilding, Fiber arts, Gardening, Farming, Forestry, sustainable agriculture
Wolfes Neck Farm
Location: 84 Burnett Road, Freeport, ME, 04032
Description: A two year residential organic dairy research and farmer training program
Contact: https://www.wolfesneck.org, general@wolfesneck.org, 207-865-4469
Category: Organic, Dairy animals, Gardening, Farming
Hannaford Career Center
Location: 51 Charles Ave, Middlebury, VT , 05753
Description: Our mission is to provide educational experiences that prepare secondary and adult students with the knowledge and skills to enter the workforce in careers that are high skilled, high demand, and that pay a livable wage and to continue their education. Including adult education courses.
Contact: http://www.hannafordcareercenter.org, jbosworth@pahcc.org, (802) 382-1012
Category: welding, cooking, animal husbandry, plant ID, poultry, gardening, organic, composting, sustainable agriculture, cooking,
Ten Apple Farm - Living with Goats
Location: 241 Yarmouth Road Gray, Maine 04039
Description: We try to do several workshops in basic homesteading skills each season, to share what we have learned, or are in the process of learning. Workshops include Basic Home Cheesemaking, Baking, Poultry Slaughter & Processing, and Preserving & Canning. In some cases, we lead the workshops ourselves, in other cases we may invite fellow homesteaders or skilled members of the greater food, farming and homesteading community to be a guest workshop leader.
Contact: http://www.livingwithgoats.com, info@tenapplefarm.com , 207.657.7880
Category: homesteading, Cheese making,cooking, Poultry, butchering, food Preservation, farming , animal husbandry, permaculture
Cluck!
Location: 399 Broadway, Providence Rhode Island 02909
Description: cluck! is a small, woman-owned business founded in 2013 to serve urban agriculturalists and gardeners in and around Providence, Rhode Island. cluck!'s goods and services focus on small-scale food production, backyard small animal husbandry (especially chickens and bees) and homesteading-based self-reliance. We have the tools, supplies, ideas and education you need to grow, raise and preserve your own food while helping to keep your community healthy and beautiful. We've also got unusual, thoughtful gifts for all ages. We run year-round classes, workshops, readings, and family-friendly programs and maintain a teaching garden of edibles and habitat-supporting native plants. We also keep bees and raise chickens.
Contact: http://cluckri.com/, drake@cluckri.com, (401) 274 1160
Category: poultry, gardening, urban farming
Prepper Camp
Location: 460 Orchard Lake Rd, Saluda, NC 28773
Description: An annual event where vendors and attendees alike can learn preparedness skills.
Contact: http://www.preppercamp.com/, SurvivorGarden@att.net,
Category: Aquaponics, Beekeeping, Hunting, Survival, Cooking, Blacksmithing, Beer, Wine, Cheese making, Food Preservation, Camping, Gardening, Animal Husbandry, Fiber Animals, Firearms, Off the grid, Trapping, Foraging, Plant ID
Haute Goat
Location: 1166 5th Line Port Hope, Ontario L0A 1J0
Description: Haute Goat Farm is a breathtaking 200 acre farm located just outside historic Port Hope, Ontario where you can discover the magic of our Nigerian Dwarf goats, alpacas, chickens and horses and take a stroll through the shiitake forest! Fun for the whole family! Take some time to stroll the property and breathe the fresh country air. Shop for handmade premium goat milk goodies Goat Butter Caramel Corn and Decadent Goat Buttercrunch to luxurious skin care products such as Raw Goat Milk soap bars, Facial Milk Cleanser, Lip Balms and more in our farm gate store.
Contact: https://hautegoat.com/, debbie@hautegoat.com, 416 402-8144
Category: animal husbandry, dairy animals, fiber animals, soap making,
Earthwise Farm and Forest
Location: 341 Macintosh Hill Rd, Randolph, VT 05060
Description: Earthwise Farm and Forest is a certified organic, draft-animal powered family farm located in Bethel, Vermont, and operated by Carl Russell and Lisa McCrory. We produce and sell certified organic Raw Milk, poultry (Chicken and Heritage Turkey),Beef, Garlic, vegetables, Flowers, and non-organic (though non-GMO) eggs & Pastured Pork, Pottery, and lumber. The emphasis of our farming enterprise is to function as a self-sufficient 'whole farm organism', applying ecological principles of Holistic Management, Biodynamics, Dowsing, motive (animal) power, and renewable energy to create healthy vibrant food and forest products for our family and our local community.
Contact: http://www.earthwisefarmandforest.com/, Earthwise@myfairpoint.net , 802-234-5524
Category: horse, forestry/milling, dairy animals, cheese making, animal husbandry, sustainable agriculture, off the grid, soil management,
The Roving Butcher
Location: Berkshires, Hudson Valley, and the Pioneer Valley
Description: The Roving Butcher was founded because nose-to-tail butcher Jake Levin saw that there is a lot of high quality pastured animals being raised in the Berkshires, Hudson Valley, and the Pioneer Valley. There is also a lot of enthusiasm and desire on the part of farmers, chefs, and homesteaders to get those animals onto their plate. We want to make the process transparent and give people the tools they need to navigate the process. We work closely with farmers, restaurants and individuals to help figure out all and any parts of that system that they want learn.
Contact: http://therovingbutcher.com/, therovingbutcher@gmail.com,
Category: butchering, cooking, food preservation
Sanborn Mills Farm
Location: 7097 Sanborn Road Loudon, New Hampshire 03307
Description: Sanborn Mills Farm is a traditional New Hampshire farm and nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainability, creativity, and preserving folklife and agricultural knowledge so that the best of the past can help shape our future. Our workshops are offered from April to early November. If the workshops in the UPCOMING EVENTS are full, check out our CALENDAR for more listings.
Contact: http://www.sanbornmills.org/, info@Sanbornmills.org, (603) 435-7314
Category: blacksmithing, horse, fiber arts, animal-other, animal husbandry,
Washington State University Extension
Location: 1919 NE 78th St Vancouver, WA 98665
Description: A series of college programs geared towards individuals who wish to expand their knowledge on many farming practices
Contact: http://extension.wsu.edu/, zena_edwards@wsu.edu, 360-397-6060
Category: Food Preservation, Soil Management, Pest Control, Sustainable Agriculture, Gardening, Animal Husbandry, Forestry/Milling, Fishing, Land Surveying
The Livestock Institute of Southern New England
Location: PO Box 879 Westport, MA 02790
Description: Seminars and an annual conference for established livestock farmers, backyard and small scale farmers, beginning and youth farmers and the general public
Contact: https://www.thelivestockinstitute.org/, Gena@thelivestockinstitute.org, 443-527-0408
Category: Animal Husbandry, Dairy Animals, Fiber Animals, Butchering
Sutter Meats
Location: 65 King Street, Northampton MA 01060
Description: Sutter Meats’ mission is to bring back the neighborhood butcher with an emphasis on whole animal butchery, education, and the creation of community. We use the term “nose-to-tail” as a reference to the unique way that we source and use our products that differentiates our business model from all of our local competition and all but a few businesses across the country.
Contact: http://www.suttermeats.com/, info@suttermeats.com, 413.727.3409
Category: butchering,
Thorncrest Farm and Milk House Chocolates
Location: 280 Town Hill Road PO Box 3
Description: A family farm that specializes in chocolates and all sorts of treats. Each class gives you the opportunity to experience an authentic culinary journey in the art of cheese making
Contact: https://milkhousechocolates.net/, tcfarmllc@optimum.net, 860-307-6644
Category: Dairy Animals, Cheese making
Woodcrest Farm School
Location: 5604 Dairyland Rd Hillsborough, NC 27278
Description: A family farm that finds great joy in sharing the heritage of the land, breeds and skills unique to the Orange Grove area
Contact: http://www.woodcrestfarmnc.com/, info@woodcrestfarmnc.com, 919-933-5105
Category: Cheese making, Blacksmithing, Crochet / Knitting, Quilting, Dairy Animals, Homesteading
Boston School of Herbal Studies
Location: 12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington, MA 02476
Description: The Boston School of Herbal Studies (BSHS) is committed to providing high quality, affordable herbal education in an urban setting. We believe that health care must consider the whole person; body, mind, spirit, environment and community. BSHS promotes the world of healing plants in our urban community. In so doing, we support rehabilitation of plant and animal species in order to restore the integrity of our bioregion.
Contact: http://bostonherbalstudies.com/bostonherbalstudies.com/Home.chtml.html, herbalstudies@gmail.com, 781-646-6319
Category: plant ID, essential oils,
Shroeder Shearing
Location: Boyds, Maryland
Description: I have been shearing since 2004, and fell in love with the craft right away. I shear sheep, angora and pygora goats, alpacas, and llamas (and clip the occasional pony if asked!). I believe in a gentle, and low-impact approach to shearing so that both owners and animals do not suffer stress. When I come to your farm, my primary concern is your animals’ welfare and a clean and painless harvesting of their fiber.
Contact: http://shroedershearing.com/, anne@shroedershearing.com , 301-755-8400
Category: shearing
South County Museum
Location: 115 Strathmore St, Narragansett, RI 02882
Description: Come to the South County Museum, where Rhode Island’s coastal legacy has been celebrated since 1933. Here you can explore a rich heritage of rural and coastal life. Our beautiful seven-acre campus is in a 174-acre town park that was the 19th-century estate of Rhode Island’s Civil War-era governor and postwar senator, William Sprague. Explore history in the one-room schoolhouse, carriage barn and carpentry shop. Watch artisans at work in the blacksmith shop and print shop. Wander through the Canonchet Estate stable ruins, visit the Rhode Island Red heritage flock and our other farm animals. Our grounds feature heirloom flower and herb gardens, and they are bounded by woods, meadows, and salt marshes accessible on marked walking trails.
Contact: http://southcountymuseum.org/adult-programs/, info@southcountymuseum.org,
Category: blacksmithing
Wolfe's Neck Center
Location: 184 Burnett Road Freeport, Maine 04032
Description: Situated on over 600 acres of preserved coastal landscape in Freeport, Maine, Wolfe’s Neck Center uses its setting to connect people of all ages to the food they eat and where it comes from.
Contact: https://www.wolfesneck.org/, info@wolfesneck.org, 207-865-4469
Category: Dairy Animals, Farming, Gardening, Pest Control, Animal Husbandry, Poultry Care, Sustainable Agriculture,
Rural Heritage
Location: Online
Description: A bi-monthly magazine and online site offering resources to promote self-sufficiency and back to the land living
Contact: https://www.ruralheritage.com/new_rh_website/index_green.shtml, 319-362-3027
Category: Forestry, Milling, Horse, Animal Husbandry, Trades - Other, Homebuilding
Join the Modern Self-Reliance Community
What you'll get:
- Full reviews of classes we take
- Updates on our directory of hands-on learning