About us
The main purpose of this group is to share traditional “back to the land” skills and develop a greater connection to and appreciation for our Earth, while having fun and making connections with others in the general eastern MN and western WI area.
In addition to "skills", this site is also a format for posting earth connecting events....like solstice celebrations, raptor center bird releases, earth day happenings, and farm/earth based festivals and gatherings.
Please post any classes, workshops, or gatherings, that you would like to offer or know about that fit this group's theme. there is really a shortage of people willing to teach. so if you have something to offer, please consider sharing.
“Back to the land” skills are referred to by various names, such as Folk-Green-Traditional-Nature-Wilderness-Earth-Primitive-Survival-Native-Homesteading Skills. If you are interested in being more connected to nature, sustainability, self sufficiency, and have ever wanted to learn about: edible wild plants, tanning hides, wool spinning/felting, flintknapping, mushrooms, making fire without matches, maple syruping, cheese making, basket making, bee keeping, hunting/fishing, gardening + seed saving, canning+food preservation, homemade soap, raising animals, natural building, knitting/sewing, wood working, herbal medicine, etc and too many others to list. then please join and lead or attend a class/workshop.
This group is intended to have an emphasis on honoring and connecting to Earth (the plants, animals, water, air, and soil) by raising awareness of our relationship with nature, and how the Earth provides so abundantly for us, nourishing our body, mind, and spirit.
In addition to learning skills, may we have gratitude and honor for all the earth gifts that provide life.
If you RSVP for a class, but later decide not to attend, please un-RSVP as that is considerate and helpful for whoever is leading the class.
*Any children present at a Meetup event must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
Upcoming events
3
- $25.00
Poisonous Plant Pals Webinar
·OnlineOnlineAbout This Event
Many people treat poisonous plants with fear and revulsion, but with a slight shift in perspective you can learn to appreciate their power and beauty. Join Maria Wesserle of Four Season Foraging as we learn about noteworthy poisonous plants (and a few mushrooms!) of the Upper Midwest. The focus will be on Minnesota species, though most folks living in the eastern and central regions of the US and Canada will benefit from this knowledge. We will discuss identification and toxicity, and go over edible species that are considered “look-alikes.” Covered species will include poison hemlock, water hemlock, poison ivy, destroying angel, deadly galerina, and more.This live virtual class will be taught over Google Meet and requires a strong internet connection and access to a device with audio and video capabilities. You do not need a Google account to join with a computer.
This class will be recorded and sent to students afterwards, along with a link to the slide deck. Students must consent to being recorded to take part in the class live.
Please note that times are in Central Daylight Time.
Sliding scale $20 - $30.
For more details, please email info@fourseasonforaging.com or call 612-440-5958.
Registration
Space is limited to better encourage participatory learning. Please register by Monday, April 20th at 6pm. Each attendee should register separately for the purpose of signing consent forms and gaining access to the live webinar.1 attendee - $125.00
Track and Sign Practice Assessment
Minneapolis, MN, 222 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, USAbout This Event
Join the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project for this two-day long “mock evaluation” of your track and sign interpretation skills! Modeled on the CyberTracker Certification system, this Practice Assessment offers a low-cost, low-pressure opportunity to learn in a supportive environment, receive detailed feedback, and get a sense of how you may perform on a CyberTracker Certification should you choose to take one.Expect an immersive experience; there will be around 50 questions at one or more locations in and around the Twin Cities Metro Area from approximately 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Sunday. Like in CyberTracker Certifications, rulers and field guides can be consulted in between rounds of questions, but not while actively working to identify track and sign. The process is not typically physically demanding, but plan to be outside during the entire assessment and possibly walk up to 2 or 3 miles each day. Dress for the weather and pack whatever you need to support your comfort and learning in the field (food and water, an outdoor cushion to sit/kneel on if you wish, pencil and notebook, etc.)
If you have never participated in a CyberTracker Certification, you may wish to read this description and this FAQ on the Tracker Certification North America website. This Practice Assessment is NOT a CyberTracker Certification, and participants will not receive any type of certificate. This is a practice opportunity.
Participants who do exceptionally well on the Practice Assessment will be offered a scholarship for a future CyberTracker Certification.
Registration
Registration is limited to 10 participants. We will select applicants whose participation we believe will advance the club's mission to promote the art and science of wildlife tracking. We are interested in applicants who are new to the CyberTracker teaching and assessment style; as well as those actively involved with the club. We encourage everyone who is interested to apply.To apply for a spot in the Practice Assessment, please fill out this form. For full consideration, please complete this application by April 27. We will begin accepting applicants and sending confirmations the following week. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis after April 28 until the certification is filled.
Tuition will be due two weeks after you receive confirmation. This program is offered on a sliding tuition scale of $100 - $150. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Facilitator Bios
Jonathan Poppele holds CyberTracker Track & Sign Specialist certificates in two regions: Southern California and Central Minnesota. He is the founder of the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project and author of Animal Tracks of the Midwest and Bird Tracks: A Guide to 55 North American Species. Jon has participated in 24 CyberTracker Track & Sign Certifications with eleven different evaluators on two continents.Maria Wesserle is a forager and wildlife tracker from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has spent over 15 years organizing and teaching nature programs in the Upper Midwest. Through her business Four Season Foraging, she offers foraging and tracking workshops, creating spaces where people can learn to interact with urban and rural environments in meaningful and sustainable ways. She holds certificates for Level III Trailing and Professional Track & Sign from CyberTracker North America.
Kirsten Welge is a shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) guide and wildlife tracker. After over a decade of professional work in healthcare, wildlife tracking, and training in the nonviolent, meditative martial art of Ki-Aikido, she stands at the intersection of public health, body-mind practice, and nature connection, and teaches workshops that help people reconnect to their bodies, one another, and nature in the city through her business, Natural Awareness. She holds CyberTracker certifications of Track & Sign III and Wildlife Trailing III. She is a charter member of the MWTP, and the first person to receive a 100% on a Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project Practice Assessment.
1 attendee - $230.00
Foraging Camp
Avon Hills Folk School, 31335 Kalla Lake Rd, Avon, MN, USAbout This Event
Join Ariel and Maria for a weekend of foraging fun at the Avon Hills Folk School! Mushroom expert Ariel will lead hands-on workshops on mushroom foraging, getting creative with mushrooms, and how to participate in citizen science mycology. Plant forager Maria will hold engaging classes on culinary and medicinal herbs and natural dyeing. There will also be joint foraging walks led by both instructors. Campers will go home with a better knowledge of the world around them and handcrafted goods. Rustic camping is provided onsite.Registration
This event is being held in partnership with Avon Hills Folk School. Please visit their website to register, see the full schedule of events, and explore camping and lodging options.Tuition: $215
Materials: $15Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided Saturday. Breakfast and lunch are provided on Sunday.
This course is for students 18+.
1 attendee
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