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Offering a Complete Curriculum in Agriculture, Traditional Crafts, and other Essential Self-Sustaining
Devil's Gulch Ranch Educational Services provides camps, workshops, seminars, formal classes, and internships in the areas of Agriculture, Appropriate Technologies, Traditional skills, and Aboriginal Skills for learners of all ages.
Wet Scraped Brain Tanned Buckskin
$120 (includes camping Saturday night)
Instructor(s): Tamara Wilder
Brain tanned buckskin is a beautiful, soft, durable, and washable leather which is made using the same natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable methods employed by most Native American groups.
In this two day class, participants will partake in the whole process—from scraping the hide to smoking the softened buckskin. The group will tan one deer hide for every four people and, if all goes well, each person should take home about quarter of a finished buckskin. Rabbit skins will also be available.
Traditional Twined and Plaited, and Coiled Basketry
Instructor(s):
Before the day of zip-loc bags, Tupperware and the cardboard box, baskets was how we stored, carried or organized. In this one day class students will have the opportunity to make twined and plaited and coiled baskets.
Family Camp and Aboriginal and Traditional Skills Workshops
See registration form for pricing
The following Aboriginal and Traditional Skill workshops are included during the 2007 Family Camp where you and your family can enjoy what Devil's Gulch Ranch has to offer, including access to lifeguard protected reservoir, crafts, photography, ceramics, equestrian training, repelling, archery, and guided hikes.
These following workshops can also be taken separately from Family Camp. The prices are shown below are for those that are not attending Family Camp.
picNative american basket
Traditional Cordage & Net Making From Local Plants
Instructor(s): Tamara Wilder
The knowledge of how to make string is one of the most basic and important of human life skills. Cordage (string & rope) has been used by humans for ages as a tool in fishing and hunting, for carrying burdens, constructing shelters, in textiles, for tying bundles of possessions together, and so on.
Plants that yield good fiber will be identified and participants will learn about extraction and
processing methods. Techniques of plying the fibers into cord will then be explored. Time permitting, we will also cover knotted netting and rope making using a rope walk.
Materials from Tamara Wilder
photo courtesy of Tamara Wilder
Friction Fire Making
Instructor(s): Tamara Wilder
Make fire by friction with your own hand drill fire making kit made from local native materials. Both hand drill and bow drill techniques will be explored and you will have ample opportunity to practice making fire. Time permitting, we will try other fire making techniques and discuss fire building and uses of fire.
photo courtesy of Tamara Wilder
Introduction to Ancient Uses of Plants
Instructor(s): TAMara Wilder
Get to know a variety of the wild plants found in the local fields and forests. We will discuss identification and gathering of a selection of foods including manzanita berries, bay nuts, pine nuts, greens & roots, play with some of the methods used to process this abundance into a ready to eat food, and sample many of these wild flavors. We will also shape elderberry sticks into small containers, learn how to process Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) into fiber and string, discuss other fiber plants, and try our hand at making fire by friction using local native materials. We will also discuss the variety of woods that work well for making friction fire.
photo courtesy of Tamara Wilder
photo courtesy of Tamara Wilder
Aboriginal Hunting Tools forTarget Practice & Hoop/Pole Game -- Stone Bead Making & Rawhide Projects
Instructor(s): Tamara Wilder
Hunting Tools for target practice: hand spear, atlatl (spear thrower), bow & arrow, rabbit stick.
Hoop & pole game.
Soapstone bead drilling, shaping & polishing using horsetail (Equiseta) as sandpaper. Rawhide projects: mini drum, rattle, vial or box.
photo courtesy of Tamara Wilder
Earth Pigments and Natural Binders
Instructor(s): Tamara Wilder
Explore the preparation and use of mineral pigments like yellow & red ochre, some non-mineral paints, and natural binding materials like hide glue & egg yolk. We will decorate objects made of wood, bone and hide, and you should take home some sort of simple paint container
photo courtesy of Tamara Wilder
Utilitarian Uses of the Deer
Instructor(s): Tamara Wilder
For traditional peoples, animals that are depended upon for food also offer a virtual hardware store of other essential materials. With the lower legs of deer providing our raw material, we will explore methods of processing animal products into useful items. Particulars that are not actually done in class will be discussed and many finished items will be available for viewing. Projects will include skinning, bone working, hoof removal, and, time permitting, sinew processing. People particularly interested in making a good string out of their processed sinew fiber are encouraged to take the Cordage seminar.
Traditional Dutch Oven Cooking
Instructor(s): Tom Burns
Learn to prepare main dashes, breads, and desserts over an open fire using traditional ingredients.
What You Need to Know About Tipi Living
Instructor(s): Tom Burns
Learn what to look for in a tipi, learn how setup, and how to live in a tipi
Traditional Blacksmithing: Forging High Carbon Steel
Instructor(s): Brian King
The student will shape a period 18th century tool of high carbon steel using heat from a hand crank forge. The tools used in this class are 18th century tools and methods.
Traditional Blacksmithing: Tempering High Carbon Steel
Instructor(s): Brian King
In order for a tool to be useful it must keep its shape or hold an edge but not be too brittle for the application that the tool is to be use. Tempering allows the blacksmith to balance the tools toughness and hardness. The participant will learn how to temper steel for various uses. The students will use 18th century tools and methods.
Traditional Blacksmithing: Case Hardening Steel
Instructor(s): Brian King
The student will case harden malleable carbon steel to make it both colorful and hard. The students will use heat, hides, and bone to add carbon to the "skin" of a malleable steel object so that it is hard on the outside and tough on the inside. Case hardening also gives steel a mottled with purple to gray colors. Case hardened projects will not be ready to pick-up until the next day.
Working with Horn and Bone
Limited to 5 students
Instructor(s): Brian King
Until the development of plastic, horn was used to make many objects of everyday life including combs, containers, rims on glasses, handles on tools, buttons, and objects of art. The student will prepare raw cow or goat horn, shape, steam bend, finish, and perform scrimshaw. Antler was used for tools, tool handles, buttons, objects of art. Student will learn to shape, finish, mount, and scrimshaw bone (deer antler).
Traditional Goat Milk Soap Making
Instructor(s): Brian King
With the coming of fall each year one of the tasks that was done on the family homestead was the making of soap. The students will participate in the making of soap using goat's milk, herbs, flowers, and wood ashes.
*Those that register for the week camp can attend these classes at no charge.