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WELCOME TO TARWEED FOLK SCHOOL

Our mission is to tend to the land, ourselves, and each other through the sharing of practical arts and place-based skills in the heart of the Willamette Valley.

THAT'S A WRAP ON OUR FIRST SEASON!

Thanks for a great summer!

Tarweed Folk School hosted their first summer season of classes in July and August of 2023. 

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While we plan to offer more courses next year, we also hope that seeds already sown will root and spread. We hope to cultivate connections and encourage ongoing, self-organized gatherings, work-parties, skill-shares, and perhaps workshops in whatever settings people can figure out. The work of a folk-school is what folks make of it. And you are the folks…

 

If you’d like to offer or organize a class, a gathering, a work-party, talk to us about helping to get the word out, finding leadership and/or instruction and design, etc. All it takes is an idea, another folk or three…and a conversation.

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WHAT IS A FOLK SCHOOL

We see Folk Schools as a living approach to hands-on learning, emphasizing practical skills and crafts, but also — through individual and shared experience — building social connection, democracy, community, unity, equity — and joy! We see folk schools as a way to help individuals learn, to gauge their own progress according to their own needs and desires, free of grades, certificates, & external measures.​

FALL POTLUCK! 

September 30th, 3-6 pm

To celebrate our first season of classes and to say thank you to our wonderful community for your support and enthusiasm, we'll be hosting a free event on Saturday, September 30th from 3-6pm at Greenbelt Land Trust's Bald Hill Farm! Join us for a community potluck, craft open house (featuring demonstrations from teachers and students from the summer's coursework), and a tarweed (the plant) presentation by Stephanie Craig, enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, sixth-generation basket-weaver, owner of Kalapuya Weaving and Consulting, and collections manager at the Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center.

 

The event is RSVP only, and will be capped when we reach 75 participants, so let us know soon! Email info@tarweedfolkschool.com to RSVP and receive specific details about attending the event.

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NEWS AND EVENTS

FALL NEWSLETTER

We have had a wonderful successful summer of classes. Please read our fall newsletter and learn about our first season of tarweed folk school. 

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We taught classes in basketry, fibers, bike repairs, herbalism, nature, woodworking, blacksmithing, clay and pottery, farming, natural building, and foods.

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SUMMER SEASON FOR  TARWEED FOLK SCHOOL IS COMPLETE!

We had a great first summer season of classes  hosted with our partner organizations, Highland Woodshop, Coyle Outside, and Greenbelt Land Trust. Nearly 250 people participated in 29 classes taught by more than 20 different teachers. Please check out our past classes to learn more about our offerings. 

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TARWEED NEEDS VOLUNTEER HELP!

Tarweed Folk School is looking for volunteer help to assist with classes, help spread the word, and perform other key tasks to run our class weekends this summer. If you are excited about our folk school and would like to support us through volunteer efforts, please let us know!

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COMING SOON:
A DIRECTORY OF LOCAL MAKERS AND EDUCATORS

Tarweed Folk School is offering our classes through our own platform, but as a community-based hub we are also exploring ways to celebrate all the makers, educators, farmers, tradespeople, and other folks doing work in our community who practice hands-on learning, practical arts, and place-based skills. If you or your organization are interested in being highlighted through our website, please let us know!

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