Homesteading Workshops at the Homestead Hideaway!

Coming Summer 2024, the Homestead Hideaway at Freedom Forest Farm will be offering an expanded array of workshops for those interested in the self-sufficient lifestyle and traditional skills.

Our workshops are designed for individuals of all levels who are enthusiastic about mastering the art of homesteading. The lineup of classes now includes:

• Intro to Organic Gardening: Dive into the fundamentals of growing your own food organically, understanding soil composition, composting, and natural pest management.
• Beekeeping Basics: Learn about the essentials of apiculture, hive management, and the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. This includes honey extraction and the basics of colony health.
• Preserving the Harvest: This extensive workshop covers various preservation methods such as canning, water bathing, drying, fermenting, to ensure you can enjoy your harvest throughout the year.
• Artisanal Bread Making: Discover the process of creating rustic and flavorful loaves from scratch. This includes making your own sourdough starter and principles of kneading and baking.
• Cheese Crafting from Scratch: Understand the techniques required to turn fresh milk into a variety of cheeses, the importance of cultures and rennet, and the aging process.
• Animal Husbandry: Explore the management and care of farm animals for optimum health and productivity, focusing on sustainable and ethical practices.
• Goat Milking and Goat Milk Soap: Gain hands-on experience in milking goats and learn the process of making nourishing goat milk soap.
• Goat Milk Cheese: Delve into specific techniques for crafting cheese from goat milk, including the nuances that differentiate it from cow milk cheese.
• Raising Backyard Chickens: Discover how to keep chickens in an urban or rural setting, including coop construction, feed, care, and egg collection.
• Processing Meat Birds: Learn how to humanely and safely process poultry for meat, from field to table.
• Processing Pigs: Understand the complete process involved in pig butchering and the various cuts of pork, as well as safety and sanitation procedures.
• Herbal Medicines: Create tinctures, salves, and other natural remedies using common herbs, learning the basics of herbal medicine and its applications.
• Creating an Herbal Tea Garden: Cultivate a garden of herbs specifically for making a range of herbal teas, understanding the properties and benefits of each herb.
• Sewing and Crocheting: Develop skills in these traditional handicrafts, creating practical and decorative items for your homestead or as gifts.
• Woodworking for Beginners: Learn the foundational woodworking skills, including tool use, material selection, and crafting simple wood pieces.
• Sustainable Foraging: Learn to identify and ethically harvest wild edibles, understanding the balance between foraging and preserving natural ecosystems.
• Sourdough Bread Making: Go beyond the basics, experimenting with advanced techniques and recipes to perfect your sourdough bread.
• Cut Flowers: Learn how to start your own cut flower garden, make beautiful bouquets, and dry flowers for home decor.
• Workshops for Youth: There will be an array of cooking, baking, gardening, animal keeping and more workshops for kids and teens to join in too! We believe in the importance of involving the youth in all aspects of homesteading. After all, they are the future!

These workshops are designed not only to provide practical hands-on experience but also to foster a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for sustainable living and traditional crafts. All workshops will be taught by experienced homesteaders passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills. Keep an eye out for additional offerings and prepare to embrace the comprehensive homesteading experience with Homestead Hideaway at Freedom Forest Farm.