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The 2019 REPORT includes
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Gratitude to all the volunteers, donors, and”gifters” that make this place, and programs possible !Thanks to SEEDS for Fiduciary SponsorshipTeacher – Deanne Bednar unless otherwise noted. |
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| Jan 5 – Feb 5, 2019 | Winternship 2019 included the 4 workshops below, held for the public as well as the intern. | Month-long Onsite internship / worktrade BLOG | |
| Jan 12-13, 2019 | Thatching & Reed Collection 2-day workshop |
For Intern & public. See Blog above. | |
| Jan 19-20, 2019 | Round Pole Framing Basics 2-day workshop |
For Intern & public. See Blog above | |
| Jan. 26-27, 2019 | Fire Workshop: Rocket Stove, Earth Oven |
Guest Teacher: Chris McClellan | |
| Feb 2-3, 2019 | Earth Plaster 2-day workshop | East Wing mural. See Blog above | |
| Mar 23, 2019 | Fermenting Fun Class | Sourdough wrap, kraut, butter + | |
| Mar 24, 2019 | Fermenting Class (repeated) BLOG |
mead, vinegar & kombucha | |
| April 1-30, 2019 | April Internship |
Interns, 12 Pay worktrade, Wwoof. | |
| Apr 3, 2019 | Baker College Architectural Ann Jacob’s Design Class |
Tour buildings & grounds re sustainable design. | |
| April 11, 20219 April 30, 2019 |
Detroit Waldorf Field Trip Justin Trombly’s Class Upland HIlls School Field Trip 5th grade class of Michael Mallon |
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| May 1-30, 2019 | May Internship / Worktrade | Natural Building, classes, re-skilling | |
| May 2019 | Strawbale Bench at MSU – Collaboration of Pekham, RCAH & Strawbale Studio. | Steve Baibak’s Project with technical support from Deanne | |
| May 5, 2019 | Joy of Foraging Class / log demo | Deanne Bednar & Kelly Theide | |
| May 17, 2019 | Joy of Foraging Plants & Mushroom | Deanne Bednar & Kelly Theide | |
| May 18, 2019 | Joy of Foraging & Full Moon | Deanne Bednar & Kelly Theide | |
| May 20, 2019 | Detroit Waldorf School. Cob Bench Construction – Justin Trombly’s class. |
Deanne teaches 3rd graders Cob mixing & sculpting on their bench. | |
| May 23-25, 2019 | Memorial Day Weekend Living Roof, Rocket Stove, Earth Plaster, Strawbale. | Students camped & learned a variety of natural building techniques. | |
| Jun 10-15, 2019 | Minna Hokka Finnish Instrument maker |
Guest artist visit, teaches skills. | |
| June 14-15, 2019 | Rocket Mass Sauna Heater Workshop | Chris McClellan, lead teacher | |
| Jun 1, 2019 | Sense of Place – Permaculture Workshop | Bridgette O’Brien, Dr. Charlie Brennan | |
| Jun 4, 2019 | Oakland University Student Organic Farming Class of Fay Hanson, Jared Bogdonov Hanna |
Tour of buildings & grounds with a sustainable design focus. | |
| Jun 25, 2019 | UHS Fieldtrip 4/30/19 Teacher, Michael Mallon | Deanne Bednar | |
| Jun 29, 2019 | Strawbale & Earth Plaster Wksp | ||
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 Steps in the Cob Wall |
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| July 1-31, 20219 | July Internship / Worktrade | ||
| July 21-27, 2019 | Strawbale Build in Chelsea, MI led by Andrew Morrison. Hosted by Selena Lucas. |
Deanne + other workshop participants installed the strawbale wall system on her new home. | |
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| Jul 28, 2019 | Natural Dye Shiboro Workshop led by Corinne Denomme & Gaylyn Kaufman | Dyeing of cloth with plants, some foraged from the land. | |
| Aug 1-30, 2019 | August Internship / Worktrade | ||
| Aug 14, 2019 | Oakland County Permaculture Meetup + Full Moon Potluck | Strawbale Studio hosts these 2 events on Aug. 14th. | |
| Aug 18, 2019 | Strawbale Studio Exhibit at Hazon Food Fest, Eastern Market | SBS exhibit table, hands-on cob sculpting at this amazing fest. | |
| 08/24-25/2019 | Healing Self – Healing Land | Facilitators Bridget O’Brien, Charlie Brennan Ph.D | |
| Aug 30, 2019 | Phragmite Sculptures Consultation for Sarah Kavage. |
Environmental grant from the National Wildlife Foundation | |
| Sep 1-30, 2019 | September Internship / Worktrade | Natural Building & Sustainable Skills | |
| Sept 6-8, 2019 | Twigloo Natural Building for Kids at The Herb Faire, Chelsea Michigan | Youth enthusiastically made structures of sticks and found natural items ! | |
| Sep 28, 2019 | Renaissance Wedding hosted on the land for the marriage of William & Alezandra Carter | Guest & wedding party dressed in Renaissance theme clothing ! | |
| Oct 19, 2019 | Fermenting Fun & Food Preservation Class | Make and taste Kimchi, Butter, Sour Dough Wraps! | |
| Oct 20, 2019 | Fab Ferment Class – a repeat of Oct 19 class. | See demo & taste test Kombucha, Fruit Scrap Vinegar, Mead | |
| Nov 14, 2019 | Strawbale Bench MSU (see May) Earth Plastering | One-day hand-on help from Deanne | |
| Dec 7, 2019 | Candle & Holiday Gifts Class | Hand-dipped bees wax candles & more | |
| Dec 8, 2019 | Candle-making & Holiday Gifts Class (repeat) | + decorated matchbox & candle holder – local nature. | |
| COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS | |||
| Monthly | Full Moon Monthly POTLUCK & BONFIRE | Family-Friendly Community Event | |
| June – September | Friday morning gardening at East River Farm |
We had a “working CSA Share”, paying a discount rate for a weekly box of food from the farm | |
| New Media | Strawbale Studio 3 min Vimeo is created | by Sarah Angelini | |
| New Media | Midwest Natural Building Facebook Group | Created by Matthew McCoul 361 members | |
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| GUEST TEACHERS | Chris McClellan, Bridget O’Brian & Charlie Brennan, Kelly Theide, Gaylyn Kaufmann, Corinne Denomme, Minna Hokka. | Much thanks for your teaching and the joy of your presence. | |
| CONSULTATIONS / GUEST ARTIST | — Strawbale Bench at MSU/ for Steve Baibak. — Reed Sculpture Consultation for Sarah Kavage — Waldorf School Strawbale / Cob Bench |
Deanne gave technical assistance and teaching support for these projects. | |
| WINTERNSHIP | |||
| Jan 7 – Feb 7, 2019 | Pascal Huynh | Montreal, Ontario Ca | |
| Jan 7 – Feb 7, 2019 | Sarah Kavage | Seattle, Washington | |
| Jan 7 – Feb 7, 2019 | Robert Zverina | Seattle, Washington | |
| Jan 7 – Feb 7, 2019 | Stephanie Blessing | Jefferson, Ohio | |
| Jan 7 – Feb 7, 2019 | Ronnie Cain | White Lake Michigan | |
| April – Sept INTERN | |||
| April – June, 2019 | Jim Bremmer | New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| April, 2019 | Lena Maude | Mohawk, Michigan | |
| April, 2019 | Eben Gardner | Rockford, Michigan | |
| May 6, 2019 | “How Sustainable” Eben’s Blog |
Thanks Eben | |
| June, 2019 | Stephanie Sykes & Malte Johns | Germany / Wisconsin | |
| Blog by Stephanie and Malte | Germany / Wisconsin | ||
| May 28 – June 12 | Louie Pella | Michigan | |
| July 1 – Oct 15 | Jacob Gnath | Brighton, Michigan | |
| September, 2019 | Meghan Ancari | Stelle, Illinois | |
| September, 2019 | Jeff Tenza | Ann Arbor, Michigan | |
| 2019 DONORS | Thanks again for financial support, gifts & volunteering! | ||
| 2019 BUILDING PROJECTS | |||
| Getaway Cabin Windows | IMPROVEMENTS – Infrastructure | ||
| New hinged windows & screens ! Openings cut to fit antique windows, window frames constructed & hinged. Screens hand-made. Frames sanded and stained ! | Gene Vilenni, brought his tools and lead the way, teaching woodworking skills to intern ! | ||
| “Skill Building” reinforced. | |||
| With a large roof & small wall system, this little practice structure built by intern in 2018, needed more stability. | Gene Vilenni initiated the project and lead the way, with intern assisting. | ||
| Bog Bench Surface Oiling | |||
| Continued oil applications are making this unprotected outdoor Earthen Cob Bench survive the winter freeze | and thaw cycles. Interns applied oil patiently ! | ||
| Sleeping Loft – West Wing | |||
| Nate Fisher & Mark Reynolds, Wintern, designed & constructed the loft & ladder ! The cantilevered plywood sleeping deck is supported by | round pole braces constructed with notches, wooden pins during the Round Pole Class. The lashed ladder is great. | ||
| RESKILLING PROJECTS | |||
| Wood carving, wood chopping, sourdough, kimchi, cording, Rocket Cooker and Mass Heater earth oven | & haybox & solar cooking. Fiber harvesting, cording, Lashing, lashed ladder. | ||
| Land Clearing by Peace Pole | |||
| Wow, the fallen-down crab apple area became very wild with volunteer plants. The wood was cut up, plants and | roots dug out, the area covered with a tarp. Paul Beaudet, Spencer Price, Shannon & Drew ! | ||
| Shiitake Mushroom Logs | |||
| Living Oak Trees are harvested. Cit to 30 “ lengths. A few weeks later, holes are drilled and mushroom spore inoculated plugs are tapped in & sealed with wax. | Mathew McCoul leads out on this project, bringing his chain saw and doing all parts of the process: | ||
| LIVING ROOF CONSTRUCTION! A layered roof was put on the Skill Building, using a membrane of black plastic | followed by cardboard, old straw, =leaves, composted horse manure, soil, gravel for the drain area, and plants. | ||
| AGRO-FOREST trees protection. New metal cages & mulch, replaced the initial Tree Tubes. | Stephanie & Maite did this project along with an amazing GRAPHIC SIGN shwoing the location & names of all trees. | ||
| VISITORS | Stardust Emily back from Alaska, Marybeth and her dog, plus friends Chris and Yo, all from Chicago. Sheryl Netsky and friends Taran & Samit Gehlot from Kenya. Adela & Maina from Detroit, Natural Healing & Arts. Tom Hoyt, gets rocks, Matt McCoul, help on the land and counsel with Deanne. Paul Beaudet and Spencer Price, harvest apples, make sauce, & apple crisp, carve a spoon blank. Justin, Aria, Esme Trombly from Detroit Waldorf school & friend Mike, get poles for earth bench project at the school. Minna Hokka, from Finland, 4 day visit. Lois Robbins and friends, tour. | ENRICHMENT 4/15/1 Intro to Non-Violent Communication. Novi Library. Katie Testa. instructor, Deanne, Cassidy, Jim. Also there, Dougg and Kat, Mitchell. 02/16/19 Basket Making at Debbie’s lead by Corinne. 02/16/19 Fay’s Valentine Party |