Solar Hot Water     
     Systems - Get The Heat
Mark Morgan
Session Options:
. . . 4/25/2009 - 4/27/2009
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.  Students will have the opportunity for a hands-on involvement with a project that provides two different 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.  As time allows, a site visit to an operational system may be an option.  Get the heat!

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $255
. . . Materials Fee: $30
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Chickens with Mama
Weslie Surprenant
Session Options:
. . . to be scheduled
Have you ever thought of keeping chickens?  Did you know that grocery store eggs are, on average, already 2-3 months old by the time they hit the shelves?  Get the basics of chicken husbandry, learn what they eat (almost anything), how much space they need to be happy (shockingly little), and how to troubleshoot basic problems.  If you’ve ever wanted to live a more sustainable lifestyle or are interested in consuming the healthiest eggs and chicken meat you can find, this ‘Chickens 101’ adventure will help prepare you to begin raising chickens next spring.  Over the course of two days, Cook County’s very own Chicken Mama will discuss various chicken breeds (with the emphasis on standard layers vs. bantams or meat birds) and provide answers to the questions you’ve felt too silly to ask:  “Do hens need a rooster in order to lay eggs?”  Day one will include visits to local chicken yards, and day two will focus on the hands-on building of a chicken brooder or small chicken tractor suitable for use with a family flock.  At the end of the course, the student-built chicken project will be available for purchase to interested participants.

Do you want to live a more sustainable lifestyle?  Are you interested in consuming the healthiest eggs and chicken meat you can find?  (Did you know that grocery store eggs are, on average, already 2-3 months old by the time they hit the shelves?)  This fall introduction will help prepare you to raise chickens next spring!  At the end of the course, the student-built chicken coop will be available for purchase to interested participants.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $150
. . . Materials Fee: $10
. . . Intergenerational Age: 12+
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Herbal Healthcare for Winter
Gigi Stafne
Session Options:
. . . 10/16/2009 - 10/17/2009
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: 14+
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Intensive Gardening
     - Saving Money, Eating Better
David/Lise Abazs
Session Options:
. . . 5/29/2009 - 5/31/2009
Help transform an urban yard by turning it into a garden.  This course will include designing, building and planting intensive gardens as well as a simple greenhouse to aid with food production.  We will explore techniques to grow more food in less space without chemicals or unnecessary costs, working on-site within the city of Grand Marais, that will be analayzed and transformed into a sustainably productive food garden.  The idea is to create a food production system right before your eyes that will greatly reduce your trips to the supermarket and cut your food costs.  A number of site visits to area local intensive gardens will also be included throughout the course.  Part classroom, part hands-on, come prepared to dig-in, ask questions and discover the possibilities of intensive gardening.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $255
. . . Materials Fee: Included
. . . Intergenerational Age: 16+
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Natural Botanicals - Wild Medicine Workshop
Gigi Stafne
Session Options:
. . . 7/18/2009 - 7/19/2009
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  individual 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: 14+
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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Solar Power                       
     - Plug Into The Sun
Brian Bennett
Session Options:
. . . 9/11/2009 - 9/13/2009
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 energy 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.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 3
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $255
. . . Materials Fee: Included
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: Beginner to Intermediate

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Sustainable Living Workshop  
David/Lise Abazs
Session Options:
. . . 6/13/2009 - 6/14/2009
How can you reduce your carbon footprint in the reality of your own life?  Using the solar and wind-powered homestead at Round River Farm as a classroom, this workshop will provide a jumping off point to making environmentally sustainable decisions for yourself. We’ll look at the big picture as well as examine the specifics of transportation, water use, wastewater re-use, growing and cooking food, producing your own electricity and hot water, and choosing building designs and materials.  Both rural and urban scenarios will be addressed in this workshop.  Demonstrations, presentations, discussions and even some games will be interspersed with work on an individual plan of action that participants will take home with them.  Prepare to be challenged and inspired as David and Lise Abazs invite you to their homestead.  Note:  this course takes place on the Round River Farm (40 miles SE of Grand Marais - in Finland, MN).

Orientate yourself to North House Folk School's educational partner, the Round River Farm and learn more about the class setting and the Round River Farm by visiting www.round-river.com

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 2
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $170
. . . Materials Fee: $10
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Level: Beginner to Advanced

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