What we’re about
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 (4+)
See all- Fruit and Herb Foraging 2Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis, MN$40.00
About This Event
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to travel to rural areas to forage! The urban environment contains a diverse (and delectable!) array of wild edibles. Join Maria Wesserle and Four Season Foraging as we learn about common wild fruits and herbs that grow in urban areas, including mulberries, raspberries, yarrow, and wild bergamot. If we’re lucky, we may get to harvest some fruit together! We will also discuss other wild edibles found along the way.The exact location for this event will be sent to registrants in an email. It will be in the city of Minneapolis.
Accessibility: This event will include walking on uneven ground, going up and down hills, and stepping over obstacles like logs and rocks. Total distance traveled will be around one mile.
Sliding scale $30 - $50.
For more details, please email info@fourseasonforaging.com or call 612-440-5958.
Registration
Space is limited to better encourage participatory learning. Please register before Wednesday, July 17th, 6:30pm. - Forest Foraging JulyHoneycomb Cottage MN, Stillwater, MN$60.00
About This Event
Take a trip out to the countryside for some forest foraging! Join Maria Wesserle and Four Season Foraging to learn about wild harvesting of plants and mushrooms in rural areas. We will discuss laws and ethics around foraging, as well as identification, harvest, and preparation of edible species. Plants and mushrooms that we may find include milkweed, stinging nettle, chanterelles, chicken of the woods, and more! If we’re lucky, we may even get to harvest some mushrooms. There will also be some opportunities to sustainably pick greens and flowers.This class will require a lot of walking since things are more spread out in rural areas. Suggested age 14 and up (those under 18 should be accompanied by an adult.)
This event will take place at Honeycomb Cottage, which is approximately 15 minutes north of Stillwater and 40 minutes northeast of Minneapolis.
Accessibility: this event will be held on and off trail and will require bushwhacking, going up and down hills, and walking over logs and other obstacles. Total distance traveled will be about 3 miles.
Sliding scale $50 - $70.
For more details, please email info@fourseasonforaging.com or call 612-440-5958.
Registration
Space is limited to better encourage participatory learning. Please register before Saturday, July 19th, 10am. - Summer Foraging at Wargo Nature CenterWargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes, MN$40.00
About This Event
Wild edibles grow all around us, you just have to know what to look for! Bring your basket and join Maria Wesserle of Four Season Foraging as we hike around the forests, fields, and wetlands of Wargo in search of wild edibles. We’ll discuss identification, sustainable harvesting methods, and preparation. This class will be held rain or shine, so please dress for the weather.Registration
This class is being held in partnership with Anoka County Parks. Please register on their website.Cost is $40.
- WAITLIST - Track and Sign Practice AssessmentMinneapolis, MN, Minneapolis, MN$125.00
About 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.The Practice Assessment is currently full. To get on the waitlist, please fill out this form.
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 a Professional Track & Sign certification from CyberTracker North America.
Bill Kass holds a CyberTracker Track & Sign Professional certification and Tracker Level II in the US. He also has Tracker Certifications in Kenya and South Africa and has tracked animals in Canada, Poland, and the UK. He also spent time with the Master Trackers of the Kalahari, observing first-hand the incredible skills of San people that led to the development of the CyberTracker evaluation system. Outside of combing the banks of the Mississippi in Mpls, Bill spends a lot of time in Northern Minnesota and Colorado looking for signs of wolf, moose, bear, elk, and mountain lions.
