The Michigan Folk School
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Sourdough Bread 101
Using tools and equipment that are standard in every kitchen, you'll leave class with the know-how to create delicious sourdough breads. This class covers everything you need to know to create beautiful, mouth-watering sourdough bread at home. It begins with a brief discussion of bread science, techniques, ingredients and equipment. Then it's time to roll up your sleeves and get baking! You'll learn every step involved in the bread-making process, including kneading, fermenting, shaping, proofing and scoring. You'll use your sensory knowledge to assess the readiness of the dough through look, taste, feel and smell. Bread will be baked and the results will be evaluated with ideas for troubleshooting. 
    Each participant will bring home recipes and sourdough starter for countless loaves of home-baked sourdough bread. 
Cottage Food Industry: Make Money Selling Your Homemade Foods
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Learn how to set up your own cottage-based industry and how it relates to the permaculture concept. Examine which foods are allowable for sale and the requirements for labels and listings. Find out about sales records and how to plug into the network of existing cottage food operations. 
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Cheesemaking Intensive
This hands-on intensive class will cover everything you need to get started making simple cheeses that are easily created in a home environment.  You will learn about cultures, equipment, ingredients and cheese making concepts, and will work with both cow and goat milk to complete a number of cheese making projects including: yogurt, feta, ricotta, Brie, buttermilk, sour cream, chevre, mozzarella and cultured butter.  The process of making hard cheeses will also be discussed. The end of this two-day workshop will culminate in a community feast in where we share food, sample the cheeses and enjoy the friends we have made working together!

Each student will take home the supplies necessary to begin their own homestead cheesemaking: culture, recipes, resources, and cheesecloth.  A good concise cheesemaking book is optional, but highly recommended.  A list of information and materials will be provided.
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The Kitchen Grocery: Buy Once, Grow Forever
The “kitchen grocery” is a term used to describe growing food inside your home kitchen all year round.  Since good quality food is expensive, it makes sense to acquire the knowledge necessary to reduce your grocery bills, improve your nutrient intake and maintain a fun project.  While it may be unlikely that you can completely eliminate a grocery bill, you can grow certain foods yourself and in a most special way: regrowth. From upcycling basil stems to regrowing celery, a little effort can go a long way. This class will teach you the tricks and guide you through the steps of regrowing.  You will take home a few goodies to get you started.
Hearty Soup in a Sourdough Bread Bowl
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Winter is here and there is nothing quite as comforting as a hearty bowl of soup served in a homemade bread bowl!  Join us in the kitchen as we warm up our souls while we bake a classic sourdough French boules. As our bread bakes, we will prepare a pot of New England–style clam chowder. Some bread baking experience is recommended as this class is more about developing culinary skills. Bring your apron, a sense of culinary wonder and a hearty appetite
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Basics of Biodynamic Beekeeping, Part 2:
​The Continuing Journey
If you have taken the Basics of Biodynamic Beekeeping Part 1 and you are looking to continue your journey into the amazing world of honeybees, this course is for you. While the goal of biodynamic beekeeping is to reduce stress factors within a beehive and to create an environment and protocol that will enable the bees to live and thrive in accordance with their true nature. 

If you are already an experienced gardener, you may have considered the idea of having a beehive or two in your garden, but been put off by the cost and steep warning curve.  In Part 2 of this course, you will learn that keeping bees can be much easier than expected. It can also cost much less than you think.  
This workshop will present a balanced view of biodynamic beekeeping topics and practices, including:
  • Expanding the apiary; swarms and splits
  • Pests and diseases; prevention and treatment
  • Honey harvesting methods
If the weather cooperates there might be a chance to observe an open hive demonstration with the opportunity for hands-on experience by inexperienced students.
Course Fee: $130  - Supply Fee: $5       Location: Folk School​
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Basics of Biodynamic Beekeeping, Part 1: Getting Started
Designed for the interested beginner, we will cover the basics of biodynamic beekeeping. Whether you are looking to use fewer chemicals, or are committed to keeping bees organically, this course is for you.

This workshop will present a balanced view of biodynamic beekeeping topics and practices, including:
  • Principles and practices of biodynamic beekeeping.
  • Equipment
  • Hive types; pros and cons of each; how to choose
  • How to set up a Langstroth hive
  • Honeybee biology
  • Sources for bees
  • Hands on adding foundation strips to frames
  • Installing a package
  • How to do a health check

If the weather cooperates there might be a chance to observe an open hive demonstration with the opportunity for hands-on experience by inexperienced students. 
Course Fee: $130  - Supply Fee: $5       Location: Folk School​
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Creating End-Grain Cutting Boards
You can't beat the look, feel and durability of a butcher-block end-grain cutting board in the kitchen. Creating this knife-saving tool has been described as self-healing. This workshop will show you the way around the woodshop, basic tool safety and the properties of wood. Perfect for beginning woodworkers, this class offers step-by-step techniques to help you construct a one-of-a-kind, useful and beautiful cutting board for your kitchen.
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Sourdough Bread 101 - Virtual Class
Using tools and equipment that are standard in every kitchen, you'll leave class with the know-how to create delicious sourdough bread. This class covers everything you need to know to create beautiful, mouth-watering sourdough bread at home.  You will learn all about bread science, baking techniques, quality ingredients, and simple everyday equipment. Then it's time to roll up your sleeves and get baking! You'll learn every step involved in the bread-making process, including kneading, fermenting, shaping, proofing, and scoring. You'll use your sensory knowledge to assess the readiness of the dough through look, taste, feel, and smell. Bread will be baked and the results will be evaluated with ideas for troubleshooting. 
    Once you register below you will have access to the video for one week.  Watch and rewatch at your own pace.  Have a question for the instructor?  Reach out to us with any questions and receive a personal response directly from the instructor.  
​Access Video from July 22nd - July 28th
Video Access: One Week

Course Fee: $25  - Location: Virtual 

Our Mission: The Michigan Folk School is committed to creating a community engaged in authentic, hands-on experiences through the teaching and sharing of traditional folk arts, crafts, music, and skills in an inspiring natural setting and to promote the preservation of forest and farmland.


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Email

registrar@MiFolkSchool.com
734-436-8973

Campus Address

7734 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Business Address

Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission
2230 Platt Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

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  • Home
    • Contact Us >
      • Show Your Interest
    • General policies & information
    • Mailing List Sign-Up
    • Staebler Farm County Park & Campus
    • Our Other Facilities
    • Instructor Portal
  • Learn
    • Instructor Profiles
    • gift certificates
    • Calendar
    • Categories >
      • archery
      • blacksmithing
      • boats & trailers
      • broom craft
      • bushcraft
      • children's classes
      • community learning
      • fiber
      • food
      • gardening & farming
      • glass
      • health & home
      • home improvement
      • homesteading
      • jewelry & metalwork
      • leather
      • millinery & dressmaking
      • sailing
      • woodworking
    • Open Studio
  • Teach
  • Finding Flow
  • Donations