In-Person Classes
Buckskin Tanning
When: September 5-7th, 2025. 8am to done.
Where: Stannard, Vermont.
Cost: $250 (The full cost of this class is $550- $650 Sliding Scale, $250 is the non-refundable deposit to hold your spot in the class) * Please reach out if would like to pay with cash, check, or venmo. All are acceptable.
This is a three-day workshop transforming deerskin into buckskin. Buckskin is a soft, supple, buttery leather that is the most pliable, durable, and sustainable fabric that exists. You will learn the wet scrape method, brain softening, and punk wood smoke tanning. This is a physically intense skill that requires endurance. Woven into this class will be community conversation, ritual, interpersonal connection, and transformation. Due to the physical demand of this process, two participants work on one hide together and then leave with half of a hide!
**photo by Nate Lucas
PELT TANNING
When: May 17th and 18th 2025, 9 am to 4pm
Where: Stannard, Vermont.
Cost: $175
This class is a pelt tanning class. If you have your own roadkill bobcat, coyote, or muskrat,-you are welcome to bring that skin to tan. Just note- make sure the animal has been skinned and talk with me if that is what you plan to do. If you do not have a pelt, I will provide rabbit skins to learn on that you will go home with. In this class you will learn the wet scrape method of membraning, as well as dressing and softening. You will also learn the process to smoke the hides.
SHEEPSKIN Tanning
When: August 1-3rd, 2025. 8am to done.
Where: Stannard, Vermont.
Cost: $250 (The full cost of this class is $550- $650 Sliding Scale, $250 is the non-refundable deposit to hold your spot in the class) * Please reach out if you would like to pay with cash, check, or venmo. All are acceptable.
This is a three day workshop transforming a sheepskin into a soft, beautiful rug. You will learn how to clean a sheepskin, rack a hair- on hide, dry scrape, soften a hair on hide, and smoke tan hides. This is a physically intensive process that requires endurance of body, and spirit. You will leave with your own sheepskin!
*New and Coming Soon*
Whole Animal Processing and Deep Nature Connection
When: 4 weekends 1 weekend a month May- August
Where: Stannard, Vermont.
In this class we will give death to a sheep or goat and proceed to process it. We will cook the meat over the fire. We will learn bone craft with the bones, tan the hide, and preserve the meat with smoke. Beyond processing the animal we will do sensory awareness activities, play woods games, and listen to stories around the fire. We will camp together in the woods for the weekend and enjoy a dinner together. More information on this course will be coming soon! If you are interested please let me know by putting your email below!!
What you will learn
Giving death to a large animal
butchering and skinning
preserving meat over fire
cooking meat
sausage making
senseory awareness
deep nature connection
bone construction
buckskin tanning
fire making
deep nature connection
story telling
and much more!
What People Are Saying
“Your ability to connect the experience to its story influenced the way I think about how I touch the earth.In just two days , you opened a connection to our environment, an animal and each other with tenderness and compassion.”
— Denise
“I have learned that tanning is an art and science and gained invaluable knowledge and resources from the Sheepskin Tanning Class.”
— Tyler
“This weekend was life changing.”
— Anonymous
“Now I am able to convey to my students my knowledge of natural hide tanning and how elements of nature can be used sustainably, encouraging their own ecological stewardship and cultural awareness.”
— Chloe
