End of the Year

In May we completed the 2012-13 Yearlong groups. We had two homeschool groups, an afterschool group, and a series of teen workshops. We had a great time, working with over fifty students. We played games, told stories, and worked on TONS of skills. Thanks to all students and families for a great year.

Here are the skills we worked on:

• Knife Safety
• Stalking and movement
• Food processing
• Cordage
• Coil Baskets
• Archery
• Traps
• Slings
• Atlatl
• Throwing Stick
• Tomahawk throwing
• Earth Camouflage
• Firemaking
• Awareness
• Flint and steel
• Bowdrill
• Handdrill
• Knife sheaths
• Candle dipping
• Pottery
• Plant gathering
• Quickie bows
• Coal burning
• Twined baskets
• Knot tying
• Tracking
• Edible Plants
• Blow guns and darts
• pack baskets
• Stone tools
• Rabbitsticks
• Spoon carving
• Bowmaking
• Herbalism
• Bolas
• Bark baskets

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  Earth Camouflage-how many people are in this picture? Shadow Walkers

  
  

  

  Oops! Monster Zucchini. Wednesday Homeschool

  
  

  

  Archery. Wednesday Homeschool

  
  

  

  The Bows and Bowyers. Youth Bowmaking

  
  

  

  Outdoor Candledipping. Wednesday Homeschool

  
  

  

  Straightening Blow Guns. Thursday Afterschool

  
  

  

  Flintknapping tools and points.

  
  

  

  Twined Basketry. Friday Homeschool

  
  

  

  Pots prefiring.

  
  

  

  The finished pots. They all survived! Wednesday Homeschool

  
  

  

  Fletching an Atlatl Dart. Four Seasons

  
  

  

  Tracking Expedition. Four Seasons

  
  

  

  Tracking and Wilderness Navigation. Four Seasons

First Foraging Class

Last month we had the first class of our Hands-on Foraging Series. Wendy, our wonderful guest instructor, passionate about all things wild and tasty, led us on a wildcrafted culinary adventure. We began by identifying several local plants-- not too many, because she believes it is better to get to know a few plants well than hundreds vaguely. Her goal throughout the class was to show us how to incorporate wild foods into our daily routine. We found dock, cattail, currant flowers, pineapple weed, stinging nettle, penny cress, blue mustard and spruce tips. For the second portion of class, the feasting began. Wendy prepared nettle "party dip", which also included toasted wild onions; a Moroccan chickpea and greens dish using dock; strawberry and dock compote; nettle "saag paneer"; hoary cress as broccoli rabe; teas incorporating nettle, dandelion and pineapple weed; compound salts and sugars.

One of the most satisfying aspects of the class was how empowered all of the participants felt at the end. We went home and recreated almost every dish we learned, as well as started preserving wild plants for the winter and adding the plants we learned into other dishes.

My mouth is already watering as we are gearing up for the next class, this Sunday, June 16th. I have heard rumors that new and varied tasty treats are in store, including Korean and Persian dishes using wild greens, cattail kimchi, cattail pollen pancakes, natural sodas using wild plants. Oh, and kids are welcome, if they bring an adult along.

These class are not to be missed for anyone interested in food or wild plants. Check it out at our website www.laughingcoyoteproject.org. Hope to see you there.

~Neal

Wendy showing cattail shoots. They taste just like cucumber

Checking out mustards

Penny Cress

More mustards

In the nettle patch

Nettle "Party Dip" with pita chips

Gathering around the table, talking plants and food

Dandelion sun tea

Cooking up wild edibles

Maggie dishing up Moroccan-style chickpeas and dock

Pineapple weed