Primitive Skills Workshop, Sat. Nov. 12th, Dec 3., Athens, GA

[Tha Wookie]

I assume I can pay when I get there.

Rock,

You can pay at the gate. I have it under "SGT Rock and his two boys".
I look forward to it. I just collected a red cedar that has been seasoning on my old rental property for 7 years. Should make a nice (and beautiful) bowdrill kit for ya'll each to take home with you. The elkskin should be here today or tomorrow.

As I mentioned, you should bring flixed-blade knives for carving. A small wood blade might help, but I will be bringing enough to get by on. There are restrooms but you might want to bring water even if the fountain's working.

Also, I just thought that it would be great to bring something to take notes. We will be covering some things that you can practice at home, that we won't have time to completely do in class. I'll need to tell what I did to prepare the wood, and some of the best ethnotechnologies (PC word for Primitive skills) are very precise and refined (over 10,000 years at least).

TW

[Bassline]

Hey man, I think I will drive up for this. I will make my reservations when I figure out if my friend can go with me. It is all good.

Bassline

[Smile]

How filled is the Dec 3 date? May want to sign up for 2, hotels nearby, may also camp at your place if invitation still stands ;-)

[Bianchi Veloce]

Got registered this AM. Looking forward to the education. Hike on.

Band Saw

[jsarrel]

Is the one week pre-registration for the course or the campsite? I would love to come this weekend (12th). If it's for the campsite I guess I'll just make other arrangements, if it's for the course, I'll pay whatever and just take home the knowledge. If it's a problem I'll just make my reservations for the 3rd.

Jason

[Tha Wookie]

Is the one week pre-registration for the course or the campsite? I would love to come this weekend (12th). If it's for the campsite I guess I'll just make other arrangements, if it's for the course, I'll pay whatever and just take home the knowledge. If it's a problem I'll just make my reservations for the 3rd.

Jason

I can override the one-week reservation. How many people with you?

There are still 4 spots I believe. You can pay at the gate. I can make reservations for you, just PM me your name and of others and I'll make a call.

the course is $8 for out-of-towners (cause we pay local taxes I guess), and the camping is $10 per night, I think that will be additional. They have really cool AT-style mini-shelters by the lake and room for tenting. Our space, the Wren's Nest, will be available and that thing is up there with the Ed Garvey Shetler. Don't forget this place was partially designed by Walt Cook. It's not huge, but very sweet.

Looks like this will be a very good class! i'm sure we'll all experience some great lessons! I do every time I practice primitive skills.

Much like hiking, sometimes the value is not where you get, but how you get there.

Make that 3 spots left!

REview this thread to see what you need to bring.

I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone here to dress for the weather!

[Tha Wookie]

Hey man, I think I will drive up for this. I will make my reservations when I figure out if my friend can go with me. It is all good.

Bassline

Which weekend? Let me know soon in it's for this one... it's filling up fast. I can call it in for you if you have any problems.

[Tha Wookie]

How filled is the Dec 3 date? May want to sign up for 2, hotels nearby, may also camp at your place if invitation still stands ;-)

it almost filled with a Cub Scout group, but we are scheduling them their own event now. So I think it is around 4-5 signed up now. I know people here in town who say they will, but who knows.

the farm is open for primitive skills students (Dec 3rd workshop only), overnight! We have not used the campfire pit yet....

[Smile]

Yes, for students of the psworkshop overnight for camping, thanks! I wasn't really clear, don't just want to camp any old time ;-)

[Tha Wookie]

Is the one week pre-registration for the course or the campsite? I would love to come this weekend (12th). If it's for the campsite I guess I'll just make other arrangements, if it's for the course, I'll pay whatever and just take home the knowledge. If it's a problem I'll just make my reservations for the 3rd.

Jason

I got your PM and just signed you up!


For everyone else:
There are 2 spots left for this weekend! There are still more for the Dec 3rd.

[Tha Wookie]

The first class is now full. If you are interested in coming, please get a spot while they last in the Dec. 3rd course.

Thanks for all the interest. It will be a great time. See you all there.

TW

[SGT Rock]

Rock,
As I mentioned, you should bring flixed-blade knives for carving. A small wood blade might help, but I will be bringing enough to get by on. There are restrooms but you might want to bring water even if the fountain's working.

What size blade are you thinking would be good? I don't suppose a lock blade is what you are talking about. Currently I have either small lock blades for work - like my Gerber, and big knives - like my K-Bar. I was thinking that the right kind of knife for this class might make a good birthday present to go with the class for my son.

[Tha Wookie]

What size blade are you thinking would be good? I don't suppose a lock blade is what you are talking about. Currently I have either small lock blades for work - like my Gerber, and big knives - like my K-Bar. I was thinking that the right kind of knife for this class might make a good birthday present to go with the class for my son.

I use a 4 inch Mora. The great thing about moras is the wide bevel, which tends to hold a lower angle edge better than the more common double-bevel (like buck knives).

I would say 3-4 inches, fixed, with a sheath. It's too late for it, but Ray Jardine has a handle/blade kit on his site. Great project!

You can always buy a blade with a handle and put a homemade handle on later.

[justusryans]

I use a 4 inch Mora. The great thing about moras is the wide bevel, which tends to hold a lower angle edge better than the more common double-bevel (like buck knives).

I would say 3-4 inches, fixed, with a sheath. It's too late for it, but Ray Jardine has a handle/blade kit on his site. Great project!

You can always buy a blade with a handle and put a homemade handle on later.

Best knife I ever made was out of a old file. MAN,that thing would take an edge!

[Tha Wookie]

Hello,

First of all, I consider myself a student as well. All three of us instructors do, and have come together because we are not complete masters of primitive skills, but together can combine our best skills to be able to present to you a full introductory package of basic skills that will stay with you for a lifetime. Yesterday, I was amazed at my counterparts' knowledge of wild edibles. I will be taking lots of notes too!

We scouted out the site yesterday for the first time together, and are almost ready for the class. We still have some work to do cutting out the blanks for the bow drill kit and the elk skin for the thong (means strip of leather or hide). The site is really a special place. I do hope some people decide to camp.

The reason I am writing this is I want everyone from out of town to consider that there is a MAJOR college football game going on in town Auburn/GA that night. There will be considerable traffic heading into town that day. Please plan accordingly, and add an hour to your expected drive time to be safe.

DO NOT drive through the heart of downtown unless you don't mind gridlock. Fair warning!

If anyone wants to come tomorrow night and stay at the farm to avoid traffic on Sat., please let me know. If you do, note that the farm will not be available for camping Sat night, since I won't be here.

Luckily, Sandy Creek Park is outside of town, but there will still be some heavy traffic along GA 316 and 441 as you near Athens.

Also, if you planned on getting a hotel, you might want to call ahead of arrival. Most places will be booked.

We look forward to you!

[Tha Wookie]

Thank you every one who attended the first workshop of our Athens Root's Farm and Culture Series. It was a great success!

It was a real pleasure to meet Sgt. Rock and his boys. He is an even nicer and more outstanding person in person! Can you believe that? What a guy! It was a real honor for me. He even gave a stove making demonstration to some of the students before we started. Thanks for coming, Rock.

It was also great to meet Bassline, who I can tell is hungry for more knowledge and miles. I wanted so much to have more time to sit and talk with him about how these skills can be applied on LD hiking. They really have added so much to the value of the experience for me.

I look foreward to meeting the others coming for the next course, which incidentally, is now full.

We have had a huge response in interest for the course, and based on participant feedback, we plan on extending the timeframe to a full day, weekend, or even week-long courses.

While I still think a short session is invaluable to many people, just for sake of introduction, a more fully developed course is needed for people to really be able to apply these skills in the field.

There are other courses out there, but they are very expensive. I'm sure the costs can be justified, but I know I can't afford them.

If you are interested in taking a course, please notify me and I will add to the list of names for the waiting list.

This is KEY to getting the funding from the county to able to make it possible. So let me know if you want to be added.

[SGT Rock]

Again, thanks Wookie for setting that whole thing up. It was a great learning expereince and it will only get even better with time as y'all perfect the system of instruction. My boys talked about it all night until I made them go to bed, and this morning again as we packed up.

Tell all your friends thanks again as well, and maybe this spring I can get to one of those longer they told me about.

For everyone else, the next class is already full, so when Wookie does another call, you better get in quick.

[Tha Wookie]

If you are attending the workshop this weekend, please let me know either here or via Personal Message.

Please, everyone remember to bring a sharp knife!

wookie

[Bianchi Veloce]

I will be there for the Dec 3 workshop.

[Tha Wookie]

I will be there for the Dec 3 workshop.

Great. can you email me a # where I can reach you?

Wook