The following courses are currently scheduled -
courses are listed alphabetically by title.

 
Catching Heat Waves - Building The Solar Oven
David/Lise Abazs
Session Options:
. . . 8/23/2008 - 8/24/2008
It tastes so sweet, feels so good, but don’t forget it can burn you.  Solar cooking is used around the world and is now making heat waves here in the Midwest.  In this course, you will learn the craftsmanship and techniques to build and use your very own solar oven. The solar oven you build in class is a large curved design to minimize dead spaces in the oven and sits in a stand so that it can be angled easily to maximize efficiency and holds two large pots - great for baked potatoes and onions! During breaks from the actual construction of your own solar oven, you will find yourself cooking some meals using different solar ovens (if sunny).  Even Minnesota winters can’t stop the solar oven!

We begin this workshop by examining numerous solar ovens from around the world, examining a variety of designs and materials.  We'll start a group lunch in a solar oven as we begin building.  The design for your solar ovens built in the class uses a double pain glass for the front panel that opens so that you can put the pots in.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150
. . . Materials Fee: Varies ($60-$95)
. . . Intergenerational Age: 14+
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Herbal Healthcare for Winter
Gigi Stafne
Session Options:
. . . 10/18/2008 - 10/19/2008
Discover holistic ways to deal with the chills and ills that accompany Old Man Winter and help ease discomforts associated with the common cold. Boost and build your immunity...naturally.  Learn about preparatory winter nutrition and cleansing/detoxifying of your body. There will be hands-on opportunities for making teas, restorative recipes and herbal remedies as well as tips on learning to listen to your body to determine what it needs. Get ready before the snow flies and go home well prepared and stocked for the coming winter season.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am - 4pm
. . . Tuition: $150      
. . . Materials Fee: $20
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Historic Medicines - Exploring An Alien Invasion
Teresa Wolfe
Session Options:
. . . 7/5/2008
Immigrants and settlers who traveled into the unfamiliar territory of the Midwest brought European plants with them as a traditional source of medicine.  Today, many of these plants are familiar lawn, field and roadside weeds.  Eco-herbalist Teresa Wolfe uses fascinating and intriguing stories and visuals to describe various historical medicinal, edible and other uses of these plants to help us understand how they arrived in our area.  The program will include a short ‘plant walk’ and each participant will make an herbal medicinal salve traditionally used for insect bites and stings.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 0.5
. . . Hours: 1pm-4pm
. . . Tuition: $60      
. . . Materials Fee: $7
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Natural Botanicals - Wild Medicine Workshop
Gigi Stafne
Session Options:
. . . 7/19/2008 - 7/20/2008
Shed your societal skin with this nature-based green medicine intensive.   You'll discover the bounty of foods and plants to use during the varying seasons and natural cycles of plant life to create your very own natural medicine kit including over 30 botanical and herbal mixes, and applications.  The course tailors to the individuals' needs as we investigate specific applications of green medicines that resonate with your body type.  Learn how the solar and lunar cycles affect optimal wellness and craft herbal blends for cleansing and detox purposes useful in the sauna or during meditation.  Both wild and cultivated plants will be covered.


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150      
. . . Materials Fee: $40
. . . Intergenerational Age: n/a
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Solar Hot Water Systems - Get The Heat
Mark Morgan
Session Options:
. . . 10/3/2008 - 10/5/2008
This course may really get you into hot water!  Solar hot water is one of the most cost effective techniques for putting the sun’s energy to work minimizing household energy consumption.  This course offers both hands-on installation experience as well as classroom based discussions of system design and theory.  Two different projects will offer students exposure to installation/design options: a domestic hot water system with roof mounted panels and a high-mass deep-bed heat storage system connected to eight roof mounted panels (part of North House’s new Milling Shop).  Specific tasks completed by students will vary depending on weather and building schedules.  Get the heat!


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225      
. . . Materials Fee: $30
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Solar Power - Plug Into The Sun
Brian Bennett
Session Options:
. . . 4/25/2008 - 4/27/2008 - FULL, openings for single-day students
. . . 8/15/2008 - 8/17/2008
Powered by the sun! Can you think of a more inspiring phrase during this era of rising fuel and energy costs, global warming and dwindling resources? With an array of solar panels, the correct system components, and power storage, the sun's rays can power all of your needs. This course begins with a full day introduction to solar power and photovoltaic systems, including a site-visit to an active solar installation. During days two and three, students work on-site to assemble and install a solar array and 'balance of system' components in either a grid-tied or off-grid renewable energy system. Students unable to attend all three days may sign up for the first day only for a comprehensive introduction to solar power (tuition $60).


Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $225      
. . . Materials Fee: Included
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner to Intermediate