The Country Living Class Series is geared to fit the age-old concepts of the Grange, which promotes country living, protecting family farms, and the environment while building strong communities. These classes will provide island residents with solutions to rising food and fuel prices, food insecurity and environmental challenges by resurrecting some long lost skills, as well as, some new innovative ideas.
The Grange Committee is soliciting feedback for ideas for classes and also volunteer instructors or workshop leaders. You can make your suggestions to: Randy Smith at aubreypub@mac.com, Candy Jones at drwdj@comcast.net, Pam Miller at pamanne3@gmail.com, Jo Ann Philpot at jophilpot@mac.com, or Leslie Dempsey at leslie@limpidarts.com.
Here are some of the ideas we received so far:
Starting plants,
Spouting,
Back yard chicken raising,
Starting a garden,
Worm bins
Butchering a chicken
Cidering
Some of these will be open to large groups. Others, like canning workshops, might be limited to 4-6 people.
If you see something missing, let us know. If you see a class you would like to lead or have another idea, let us know.
We actually workshops scheduled. On March 10 I’ll lead a workshop at my house on where you can learn how to make potting soil, bokashi, fertilizer and compost tea. In addition, Nancy Ging will be doing a class on “How to Eat Local” sometime in March.
Look for more information on this blog, the Grange website and Nextdoor.
All of these classes lead up to the harvest season in Sept/October. The harvest season will kick off with a parade on Sept. 2 at 5pm followed by a barbecue at the Grange. We will end the first year of the Country Living Series with a Harvest Festival scheduled for Oct. 12/13/14. There will be cider pressing, displays and competitions for such things as the largest pumpkin, best canned goods, tastiest pies, etc.
Please consider helping us by leading or teaching a class. You don’t have to be an expert; just need to know how to do something that others are unfamiliar with. Think of it as “show and tell” and volunteer.
How about water barrels?
Randy, the interest and creative endeavors you are pursuing through the Grange seem to be affecting people. I printed out a Grange membership application from the Grange website for an island friend, who now wants to join.
Ed, that would be a gratfiying result (to add new members). Hopefully, existing members will step up to lead some workshops. About to announce three more workshops: Nancy Ging on Eating Local, Mary Stack on Cheese Making and Mike Skehan on Testing Water. The Grange web site should be a big help in encouraging membership as well.
Myra, the whole concept of Water Cachement is one I will work on scheduling.
[...] There’s been a really positive reaction to the announcement of the Lummi Island Grange’s Country Living Series Workshops. [...]