PALEOTECHNICS

WORKSHOPS

with Tamara Wilder
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2008

click here to download pdf of Spring 2008 Class schedule
  • seminars are held at a variety of locations, so please use the contact info listed after each class description to register or get more information.
  • if you wish to speak directly with the instructor email Tamara at ts@paleotechnics.com
  • this list is long so you can either scroll through to browse all the workshops scheduled or use the topic and calendar guides to go directly to what you are looking for.

Topic Overview Guide
click on topic/location for details:

Workshop Calendar Guide 2008
click on date for details:

April 26: Friction Firemaking
Pt Reyes

May 3: Family Day Skills Overview
Forestville

May 10-11: Braintanning
Pt Reyes

May 17-18: Primitive Skills Overview
Willits

May 23-26: Mid-kids Program
Laytonville

June 1: Family Day Skills Overview
Pt Reyes

June 7-8: Braintanning Buckskin
Willits

June 14: Ancient Living Skills Overview
Hopland

June 24-27: Family Camp Overview Nicasio

June 24:
Cordage & Netmaking & Firemaking Nicasio

June 25:
Stone Beads & Rawhide Projects Nicasio

June 26:
Hunting Tools & Hoop/Pole Game Nicasio

June 27: Uses of Plants/Wild Foods Nicasio

August 23-24:
Animal Processing Overview Willits

TBD in Fall: Utilitarian Uses of the Deer
Pt Reyes

TBD in Fall: Cordage & Netmaking
Pt Reyes

TBD in Fall: Earth Pigments
Pt Reyes

Old Ways Living Skills
Primitive Technology Overview
Family Day
Saturday, May 3, 2008
10am - 4pm

at Calfornia School of Herbal Studies
in Forestville, CA

For Adult and Kids (9 and older)
$85 per adult, $25 per child 9 and up
(Includes Materials Fee)

A fun and unique hands-on introduction to old ways living skills. Make a necklace from sticks, seeds and stones by drilling holes in soapstone with sticks spun between the hands, grinding pine nuts into beads, and making string from natural fibers.

Additional activities will include fire making by friction and if time allows, throwing and shooting a variety of hunting weapons like spearthrowers (atlatls), bows and arrows and rabbitsticks.

For more information or to register:
cshs.com website
Mailing address: PO Box 39, Forestville, CA 95436
Physical address: 9309 Highway 116, Forestville
Phone: (707) 887-7457
Email: cshs@cshs.com
PRIMITIVE LIVING SKILLS OVERVIEW WEEKEND
May 17-18, 2008
Saturday & Sunday

at Third Rock Ranch
near Willits, CA

Join us as we explore universal hunter gatherer skills used by humans all around the world and spend some time learning basic and essential living skills through hands-on activities.

  • Make fire with handdrill and bowdrill fire kits
  • Process dogbane fiber and make string
  • Learn how to make a knotted net
  • Practice with hunting tools, including throwing rabbitsticks & spearthrowers, shooting bow & arrow, and playing hoop & pole game
  • Learn basic stone and woodworking techniques through beadmaking, shaping and polishing stone, and grinding nuts

In this longer weekend format we will also have a chance to discuss a wide variety of other primitive technologies as well as some of the uses of local plants. This will be an incredible opportunity to move a step closer to self-sufficiency and to an understanding of how humans have survived for tens of thousands of years with primitive technologies (the first technologies) as their tools.

  • $120 (includes seminar, Saturday night dinner and overnight camping).
  • $140 also includes hand-made netting shuttle & measure to take home to complete netting project
  • Some work trade is available in the weeks before the workshop. Please inquire if interested.

To register:
Please make checks out to Sue Morganti and send to
Sue Morganti, P. O. Box 887, Willits CA, 95490.
A 50% minimum deposit
reserves your place in the workshop.
Please pre-register so we can prepare ahead of time.

Location: Third Rock Ranch,
west of Willits on Sherwood Rd (Third Gate),

Sue Morganti 707/459-5495.
Please call with any questions.

NCWHS - Northern CA Women's Herbal Symposium
May 23-26, 2008 (Session 2)

at Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville, CA

The Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium

Over 50 classes are offered throughout each session, including six four-hour intensives, covering many different aspects of Herbalism and sustainable lifestyles. Topics include: Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Flower Essences, Herb Walks, Herbal Crafts, Herbal Cultivation & Propagation, Magical Herbs, Herbal Treatments for Specific Disorders, Women's Health, and much more. Session 3 also offers Sustainable Living classes, including: Alternative Vehicle Fuels, Natural Building Techniques, Permaculture, Solar Energy, and much more.

general info and registration at website
womensherbalsymposium.org

Contact info:
PO Box 599 Sebastopol, CA 95473, tel. 707-824-1429
email NCWHS@monitor.net

Registration fee is $250-$350 sliding scale.
This fee includes all classes, meals, camping, and events.
There are a limited number of spaces for young women, ages 13-20,
and Elders, ages 60 and over, at a special rate of $100 if needed.
Children 12 and under are free.

click here to go to the registration form

click here to download flyer (pdf)

Tamara will be offering a mid-kids program at the Symposium this year and will not be teaching any adult level classes.

BUCKSKIN TANNING
June 7-8, 2008 (9am)
Saturday & Sunday

at Third Rock Ranch
near Willits, CA

Brain tanned buckskin is a beautiful, soft, durable and washable leather which is made using the same natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable methods employed by most Native American groups.

In this two day class, participants will partake in the whole process—from scraping the hide to smoking the softened buckskin.

The group will tan one deer hide for every four people and, if all goes well, each person should take home about quarter of a finished buckskin.

COST:
$120
(includes seminar, Saturday dinner,
materials and overnight camping)

To register:
Please make checks out to Sue Morganti and send to
Sue Morganti, P. O. Box 887, Willits CA, 95490.
A 50% minimum deposit
reserves your place in the workshop.
Please pre-register so we can prepare ahead of time.

Location: Third Rock Ranch,
west of Willits on Sherwood Rd (Third Gate),

Sue Morganti 707/459-5495.
Please call with any questions.

ANCIENT LIVING SKLLS
OVERVIEW WORKSHOP
June 14th, 2008
10am - 4pm
$105

Solar Living Institute
in Hopland, CA

more info at Solar Living Institute website

Join us as we explore universal hunter gatherer skills used by humans all around the world. You will learn basic and essential living skills through the following hands-on activities:

  • Make fire with handdrill and bowdrill fire kits
  • Process dogbane fiber and make string
  • Practice with hunting tools, including throwing rabbitsticks & spearthrowers, shooting bow & arrow, and playing hoop & pole game
  • Learn basic stone and woodworking techniques through beadmaking, shaping and polishing stone, and grinding pine nuts.

You will also have a chance to see examples of a wide variety of other primitive technologies. This will be an incredible opportunity to move a step closer to self-sufficiency and to an understanding of how humans have survived for thousands of years with primitive technology.

Solar Living Institute
707-744-2017
To register for a workshop by mail, print and fill out the registration form and send it with payment (workshop fee plus $10 registration fee) to:

Solar Living Institute
13771 S. Hwy. 101
P. O. Box 836
Hopland, CA 95449

ANIMAL PROCESSING OVERVIEW
August 23rd & 24th

$130

at Third Rock Ranch
near Willits, CA

Topics: killing, bleeding, skinning, gutting, gut processing (heart, liver, kidney, intestine, stomach, bladder), brain extraction & preservation, jaw & tongue extraction, meat cutting & preservation, fat rendering, broth-making, sausage making, hoof and sinew extraction, skin preservation, bone working & preservation

To register:
Please make checks out to Sue Morganti and send to
Sue Morganti, P. O. Box 887, Willits CA, 95490.
A 50% minimum deposit
reserves your place in the workshop.
Please pre-register so we can prepare ahead of time.

Location: Third Rock Ranch,
west of Willits on Sherwood Rd (Third Gate),

Sue Morganti 707/459-5495.
Please call with any questions.

MAPOM (Miwok Archaeological Preserve of Marin)
"Old Ways" Seminar Series
Kule Lohklo, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pt. Reyes, CA
These "Old Ways" seminars are held annually, so if the date has passed look again for the next class at about the same time the following year.

For more info/to register for Pt Reyes classes:
Contact Sylvia Thalman 415-479-3281,
check their website: www.mapom.org or email: info@mapom.org
or write: MAPOM PO Box 481 Novato, CA 94948
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April 26, 2008

FIREMAKING $75  
Saturday, April 26, 2008
at Kule Loklo
(Pt. Reyes National Seashore, CA)

Make fire by friction with your own hand drill firemaking kit made from local native materials. Both hand drill and bow drill techniques will be explored and you will have ample opportunity to practice making fire.

Time permitting, we will try other firemaking techniques and discuss fire building and uses of fire.

MAPOM class (see info above)

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May 10-11, 2008

BRAINTANNING BUCKSKIN $110
May 10-11, 2008
at Kule Loklo
(Pt. Reyes National Seashore, CA)

Braintanned buckskin is a beautiful, soft, durable, and washable leather which is made using the same natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable methods employed by most Native American groups.

In this two day class, participants will partake in the whole process—from scraping the hide to smoking the softened buckskin. The group will tan one deer hide for every four people and, if all goes well, each person should take home about quarter of a finished buckskin.

MAPOM class (see info above)

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June 1, 2008

 FAMILY DAY
Living Skills Overview
$50/family
+ $5 materials fee/person
Sunday, June 1, 2008
at Kule Loklo
(Pt. Reyes National Seashore, CA)

New! A hands-on introduction to old ways living skills for kids & parents alike. In order to make a necklace from sticks, seeds and stones, we will drill holes in soapstone with sticks spun between the hands, grind pine nuts into beads, and make string from natural fibers. Additional activities will include making fire by friction, throwing and shooting a variety of hunting weapons like spearthrowers (atlatls), bow & arrows and rabbitsticks. Games will include hoop & pole and black walnut dice.
Parents need to be present with their children to help the program run smoothly.
Ages 8-14.

MAPOM class (see info above)

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to be scheduled in Sept/Oct 2008

UTILITARIAN USES
OF THE DEER $75
to be scheduled in Sept/Oct 2008
at Kule Loklo
(Pt. Reyes National Seashore, CA)

For traditional peoples, animals that are depended upon for food also offer a virtual hardware store of other essential materials. With the lower legs of deer providing our raw material, we will explore methods of processing animal products into useful items. Particulars that are not actually done in class will be discussed and many finished items will be available for viewing. Projects will include skinning, boneworking, hoof removal, and, time permitting, sinew processing. People particularly interested in making a good string out of their processed sinew fiber are encouraged to take the Cordage seminar.

MAPOM class (see info above)

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to be scheduled in Sept/Oct 2008

EARTH PIGMENTS & NATURAL BINDERS $75
to be scheduled in Sept/Oct 2008
at Kule Loklo
(Pt. Reyes National Seashore, CA)

Explore the preparation and use of mineral pigments like yellow & red ochre, some non-mineral paints, and natural binding materials like hide glue & egg yolk. We will make and decorate objects made of wood, bone and hide, and you should take home some sort of simple paint container.

MAPOM class
(see info above)

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to be scheduled in Sept/Oct 2008

CORDAGE & NETMAKING
$75

to be scheduled in Sept/Oct 2008
at Kule Loklo
(Pt. Reyes National Seashore, CA)

The knowledge of how to make string is one of the most basic and important of human life skills. Cordage (string & rope) has been used by humans for ages as a tool in fishing and hunting, for carrying burdens, constructing shelters, in textiles, for tying bundles of possessions together, and so on.

Plants that yield good fiber will be identified and discussed while participants learn and practice fiber extraction and processing methods. Techniques of plying the fibers into cord will then be explored. Time permitting, we will also cover knotted netting using supplied netting shuttles & measures. Participants in the Uses of the Deer class can apply the principles learned to twist their processed sinew fiber into cord.

MAPOM class (see info above)

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FAMILY CAMP
Traditional Skills Workshops
June 24 - 27, 2008

in Nicasio, CA

In addition to the array of Aboriginal and Traditional Skill workshops during the 2007 Family Camp
you and your family can also enjoy what Devil's Gulch Ranch has to offer,
including access to lifeguard protected reservoir, crafts, photography, ceramics,
equestrian training, repelling, archery, and guided hikes.

Workshops can also be taken separate from Family Camp.
The prices are shown below are for those that are not attending Family Camp.

more info at Devil's Gulch website

Primitive skills week for the whole family.
click here for general camp info

click here to download 2007 camp newletter (large! 2MB pdf download)

To register:
click here to go to the registration form

Please send to Devil’s Gulch Ranch,
P. O. Box 557, Nicasio CA, 94946.

Mark & Myriam Pasternak 415-662-1099
Please let us know if you need a map.

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Camp registration includes your choice of these workshops

or

Workshops can be taken individually without attending the camp at the prices listed.

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June 24,
2008

Tuesday

Traditional Cordage &
Net Making From Local Plants

Traditional Friction Fire Making (eve)

June 24, Tuesday

$65 if not attending camp
10 am

The knowledge of how to make string is one of the most basic and important of human life skills. Cordage (string & rope) has been used by humans for ages as a tool in fishing and hunting, for carrying burdens, constructing shelters, in textiles, for tying bundles of possessions together, and so on. Plants that yield good fiber will be identified and participants will learn about extraction and processing methods. Techniques of plying the fibers into cord will then be explored. Time permitting, we will also cover knotted netting and rope making using a rope walk.

Devil's Gulch
Family Camp Workshop
click here for info

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June 25,
2008

Wednesday

Stone Bead Making & Rawhide Projects
June 25, Wednesday

$65 if not attending camp
10 am

Soapstone bead drilling, shaping & polishing using horsetail (Equisetum) as sandpaper.

Rawhide projects: mini drum, rattle, vial or box

Devil's Gulch
Family Camp Workshop
click here for info

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June 26,
2008

Thursday

Traditional Hunting Tools Target Practice & Hoop/Pole Game

June 26, Thursday

$50 if not attending camp
10 am

Hunting Tools for target practice: hand spear, atlatl (spear thrower), bow & arrow, rabbitstick.

Hoop & pole game.

Devil's Gulch
Family Camp Workshop
click here for info

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June 27,
2008

Friday

Introduction to Ancient Uses of Plants
June 27, Friday

$65 if not attending camp
10 am

Get to know a variety of the wild plants found in the local fields and forests.

We will discuss identification and gathering of a selection of foods including manzanita berries, bay nuts, pine nuts, greens & roots, play with some of the methods used to process this abundance into a ready to eat food, and sample many of these wild flavors. We will also shape elderberry sticks into small containers.

Devil's Gulch
Family Camp Workshop
click here for info

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contact us at ts@paleotechnics.com

PALEOTECHNICS
Steven Edholm & Tamara Wilder
PO Box 876 Boonville, CA 95415
voice mail 707-793-2287
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