Urban Homesteading
If you want to learn how to live well without needing a lot of money, we want to help you! We can teach you how to get food from the ground to the table (or from a local farm to the table), how to preserve fresh foods to eat during the winter, how to make cheese and soap, even how to raise poultry for eggs and/or meat.
Soap Making: Ages 18+. Learn the basics of making bar soap, liquid soap, and two forms of laundry soap. We’ll discuss the chemistry of saponification, properties of different base oils and local sources, and fragrance oils.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 12/12, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Balms and Salves: Ages 18+. Learn to make a variety of skin creams, lip balms, herbal salves, and tinctures for gifts or a treat for yourself. Leave with a jar each of lip balm and herbal salve that we make in class.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 12/19, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Cheese Making: Ages 18+. Learn about different hard and soft cheese cultures and processes. We will go through the entire process from cultured milk to formed cheese ready for the press. Leave with your own samples.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 1/9, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Bread Making: Ages 18+. Learn how to catch, care for and use wild sourdough. You will make a batch of sourdough bread during class, as well as gain tips and tricks to get that artisanal style bread in your own kitchen.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 1/16, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Kimchi, Kombucha: Ages 18+. Learn fermentation basics as we make kimchi that you can take home to ferment and enjoy. We will also make a batch of kombucha and send you home with your own kombucha SCOBY.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 1/23, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Beyond Sauerkraut: Ages 18+. Learn how to make your own fermented pickles, salsa, hot sauce, a variety of fermented non-alcoholic beverages, and even corned beef. Take home some giardiniera and habanero hot sauce.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 1/30, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Pruning and Grafting: Ages 18+. Learn how to prune fruit trees and grapes and how to graft new varieties onto existing trees or rootstock. Class is held off-site at instructor’s house; directions will be given after registration is complete.
Location TBD
Saturday, 2/8, 2–4pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Spring Garden Preparation: Ages 18+. Learn gardening basics and more advanced techniques such as starts vs. direct sowing, co-planting, attracting beneficial insects, composting, soil amendments, and maximizing space.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 2/13, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Backyard Poultry: Ages 18+. Learn how to raise egg-laying chickens and ducks including breeds, feed, housing, and safeguards against predators and disease. Get a small coop or chicken tractor ready for spring hatching season.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 2/20, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Introduction to Beekeeping: Ages 18+. A productive beehive can provide up to five gallons of honey a year! Learn about beekeeping basics, equipment, supplies, and techniques before you commit to your own hive.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 2/27, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Sausage Making: Ages 18+. Learn how to make your own sausage from whole ingredients. Develop your own spice mix so your sausage is as mild or spicy as you like, and enjoy them with some homemade mustard.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 3/5, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Condiments: Ages 18+. Learn how to make mayonnaise, mustard, relish, and ketchup, and learn how to tailor each recipe to create your own signature version. Go home with a share of what we make in class.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 3/12, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Outdoor Herbals and Essential Oils: Ages 18+. Learn how to make insect repellent, creams, sprays, and healing salves. Learn the SPF potential of various herbal combinations. Go home with a sample from class.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 3/19, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Balms and Salves: Ages 18+. Learn to make a variety of skin creams, lip balms, herbal salves, and tinctures for gifts or a treat for yourself. Take home some lip balm and herbal salve.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 4/2, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Soap Making: Ages 18+. We will discuss the chemistry of saponification, properties of different base oils, local sources, fragrance oils, and other additives. Learn how to make liquid soap and two forms of laundry soap.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 4/9, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Ginger Treats: Ages 18+. Cook up a batch of candied ginger, ginger syrup, ginger sugar, and pickled ginger for sushi. Each makes a great gift, and you can take home a share of what we make.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 4/16, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Aromatherapy and Essential Oil: Ages 18+. Essential oils can have strong therapeutic qualities. Learn how to use them effectively and safely in spray mists, massage oil, and even mosquito repellent creams or sprays.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 4/23, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Flavored Sugars and Salts: Ages 18+. Learn three different techniques to make herb, garlic, and red wine salt, and learn to create flavored sugars for a special finishing touch on your cooking and baking.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 4/30, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Organic Gardening: Ages 18+. Learn organic gardening techniques from container to full-size gardens. Techniques will include starts vs. direct sowing, co-planting, composting, seed saving, and winter gardening.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 5/7, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Herb Gardening: Ages 18+. Learn which herbs grow well in pots, how to keep your herbs happy and productive, and how to store them dried or frozen. We will also discuss many non-culinary uses for herbs.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 5/14, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Beneficial Garden Insects: Ages 18+. Discover a whole host of insects out there to help your garden grow and produce. Learn about predatory flies, beetles, assassin bugs, how to attract them, and how to benefit from them.
Adult Activity Center
Thursday, 5/21, 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD 23699
1/16 Th 6:30–8:30pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Edible Landscape and Foraging: Ages 18+. Find out what native “weeds” are edible and how to prepare them. Learn about common wild foraging plants such as berries, flowers, greens, roots, and mushrooms.
Location TBD
Saturday, 5/30, 2–4pm
$20 ID/$24 OD. Register here
Current Classes
Browse the registration website below, or open it in a new tab.
FAQs
Why can't I see the class I want to take? Not all classes may be available at this time, and many of this term's classes may have already started. Check back every term for a new slate!
What does ID/OD mean? People who live or own property within Willamalane Park and Recreation District’s boundaries support Willamalane with their tax dollars, and so they enjoy lower program costs. If you live in-district, you'll pay the ID cost; if you live out-of-district, you'll pay the OD cost. Not sure if you're in-district? Check the district map here.
