Ann Arbor ReSkilling Festival

Handouts Posted

a2reskill — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:19:49 +0000

Here’s a much belated but heartfelt thank-you from the ReSkilling Festival Organizing Committee. This year’s festival was a great success in terms of both attendance (nearly 400!) and quality of presentations. Without the many hours of volunteer service from our fantastic presenters and volunteers, this couldn’t have been possible. And thank you all for attending, we hope you had a lot of fun and took home some useful skills.

In case you weren’t able to take home a workshop handout or you had to miss a one altogether, we have (also belatedly) posted some handouts on the sessions’ respective pages. Click here for a list of the February 2013 Festival workshops to quickly find them.

The Festival is Here!

a2reskill — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:18:53 +0000

TODAY, Sunday Feb. 10th

Doors open at 10:30, classes 11-5

drop-ins welcome

2230 Pontiac Trail

Today is the day of the Ann Arbor ReSkilling Festival! Don’t forget to check our Directions page for transportation and parking info, as well as a list of what to bring to the Festival. Hope to see you there!

Natural Building & Rocket Stoves

a2reskill — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:36:07 +0000

Deanne Bednar will be showing slides of the buildings & projects at the Strawbale Studio ~ located one hour north of Detroit on wooded rural land: the new timber-framed thatched roof Retreat Cabin, the Strawbale Studio, Earth Oven, Wood Shelter with round poles and a living roof, Cob Rumford Fireplace & more. Also covered will be the principles of designing & building a Rocket Stove heated bench, and Rocket Outdoor Cooker.

Deanne Bednar – Strawbale Studio

Deanne has been doing natural building since taking a course from Cob Cottage Company in 1996, and for the last 10 years has been teaching natural building & sustainable living skills at the Strawbale Studio outside Oxford, MI. She is the Illustrator of the Hand-Sculpted House, The Natural Plaster Book and the Cobbers’ Companion. Deanne has a Masters in Social Ecology from Goddard College with a focus on earthen plasters & sculptures and roof thatching with reed grass.

Vendors

a2reskill — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:32:56 +0000

This year, we’ll be opening up the auditorium to local vendors. As this is the ReSkilling Festival, each vendor will be prepared to teach you one-on-one how they do what they do, from sample steps to a full walkthrough of the process. A portion of vendor profits will go toward supporting the Festival, so a purchase from them will not only help support local artisans, but it’ll also help keep the Festival going in the future. Please don’t forget to bring some cash with you on Sunday! Below is a list of the vendors we’ll have at the Festival:

A2DIY - Sarah Collins
All Natural, Gourmet & Homemade Dog Goodies - Paula TenBrink
Bead Jewelry - Ashley Cook
Bottle Art - Orian Zakai
Dog Coats, Cat Toys and Knit Goods - Marla Swartz
Handpainted Handbags - Melissa Phythian
Handspun Yarn and Finished Goods - Marge Mills
Homemade Baguettes - Suzanne Murray, LaBaguetteA2.com
Indoor Growing Equipment - Andrew Billing, Growing Hope
Isha Craft - Jennifer Young
Mushroom Growing Kits - Chris Wright
Raw Catfood - Christina Guldi
Used Books (with a focus on topics relevant to this festival) - ReadersForum

Freecycling

a2reskill — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:28:46 +0000

This Festival we will once again offer a Freecycling table. If you have clothing, books, tools, anything you no longer use, bring it to the Festival so it can find a good home with another ReSkiller. If you find your items still on the table at the end of the day, please feel free to take them home again.

Zero Waste Festival

a2reskill — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:48:52 +0000

The ReSkilling Festival is going Zero Waste! With your help we will try to recycle, reuse or compost all the potential waste generated by the festival. One way you can help us is to bring your own cups/bowls/spoons for lunch. We will also offer 100% biodegradable options for a small suggested donation, but this small effort will go a long way to making the ReSkilling Festival truly sustainable.

Acoustic Accompaniment

a2reskill — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:19:19 +0000

We are proud to once again host Detroit Singer/Songwriter Pat Predd at this year’s festival. Come to the commons during lunch to grab some delicious food, network with other ReSkillers and enjoy Pat’s acoustic set.

Patrick Predd

Since 2005, industry pros and peers alike have been dishing the compliments about the songwriting style and vocal chops of this Detroit-area singer/songwriter. Finalist for 2008 ISSA Singer-Songwriter of the Year, a grass-roots fan base is steadily building for his passionate and personal live performances since his first public outing in Spring of 2008.

Ancient and Modern Steam Power

a2reskill — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:47:33 +0000

John Bowditch is representing the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum with a special demonstration of two steam turbines and a steam whistle. All three will be operated on live steam. The first demonstration is of an ancient steam turbine that was first described by Hero of Alexandria in 60 AD. This makes it the very earliest example of a heat engine which converts heat energy into mechanical energy for useful work. The “Aeolipile” is a perfect demonstration of a reaction steam turbine.

The second turbine is called an “Impulse turbine”. The earliest successful ones were invented by Gustaf de Laval in the 1880s. This example is unusual in that the turbine wheel is totally exposed so its operation can be easily seen and understood. Today, steam turbines are used in many electric power plants and to drive steam ships. Modern steam turbines are among the most efficient heat engines. They supply the mechanical power used to drive the generators that produce about 75 percent of all electric power used in the United States.

John Bowditch – Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

John Bowditch is currently Director of Exhibits Emeritus at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. He assumed this position in June of last year after being Director of Exhibits at the museum since 1999. Prior to that, he was Curator of Industry at The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village for over 20 years where he was responsible for the museum’s extensive collections of steam-powered machinery. Mr. Bowditch gives regular lectures and demonstrations related to the history of steam and electrical power.

Festival Schedule

a2reskill — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:43:01 +0000

The February 10, 2013 Festival Schedule is now available!

Click the image for a full-size version and floor plan of the school

Click here for directions to the Festival and what to bring

The Art of Biochar

a2reskill — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 02:35:30 +0000

Join us for a modern twist on the ancient technique of improving soil with charred wood, or Bio-Char. Learn the “new” technique organic gardeners and Permaculturists the world over are finally catching on to. We will review the history, science, and modern methodology. Each participant will receive a course guide with an overview of the presentation and detailed explanations on how to build their own device. By the end of this workshop you will understand how Bio-Char is made and how it can improve the health of your soil for decades to come.

Lucas DiGia - Project Grow Community Gardens

Lucas DiGia is a local food’s activist that sees community gardening as a gateway to the larger principles of Permaculture, land stewardship, and healthy living. As president of the board of Project Grow Community Gardens, he works hard to promote sustainable gardening practices in our community and create partnerships with other organizations that support the mission of Project Grow: To provide the space, education, and inspiration to make organic gardening accessible to all. Lucas is also a musical performer, using his talents to promote community gardening and healthy living in schools through Rap For Food http://www.rapforfood.org