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Fabulous Fall Geek Out: The Nature of Food
September 30 @ 3:00 pm - October 2 @ 1:30 pm
$390
Spend a glorious fall weekend on the North Shore of Minnesota gaining hands-on experience and learning from experts in their field.
Workshops take place on the Wolf Ridge campus and surrounding areas, with lodging and meals provided. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or just a curious learner, the experience is designed for lifelong learners who have a passion for the natural world. Participants select a single workshop for the weekend but will have an opportunity to connect with other workshop groups during meals and evening programming.
Workshop: The Nature of Food
We’ll discuss and learn how cultivating the right conditions for healthy soil biology allows us to cultivate strong, adapted, pest and disease resistant food-producing plants in a regenerative manner. In search of the soil superheroes, we’ll scratch the surface in hopes of digging deep into the world beneath our feet. We’ll compare annual food growing systems with perennial food growing systems. Wear shoes that can get dirty.
Instructor: Sarah Mayer
Sarah Mayer is the manager of Wolf Ridge Farm and has been educating others in nature and in food production for nearly 20 years, primarily in the midwest. Sarah has stewarded wetlands, prairies, savannas, woodlands, and forests as a conservationist and farmer with The Nature Conservancy, the Solar Living Institute, Homegrown Farms, Uriel Pharmacy, Gwenyn Hill Farm, and now, Wolf Ridge, all the while sharing her knowledge and experiences in support of the gift of the earth’s ecosystem services and the urgency to protect those services in sustaining equality of a quality human existence.
Weekend Workshop Schedule
Friday, Sep 30, 2022
- 3:00 – 4:45 pm — Student registration and check-in at the Wolf Ridge office
- 4:00 – 4:45 pm — Tour of the Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Lodge
- 5:15 pm — Dinner
- 6:00 – 6:30 pm — Orientation in MAC Lodge Wiesner Commons
- 7:00 – 9:00 pm — 1st learning session
- 10 pm — Quiet time
Saturday, Oct 1, 2022
- 7:30 am — Breakfast
- 8:30-10:00 am — Continental breakfast for Owl Workshop
- 8:30-11:30 am — 2nd learning session
- 12:15 pm — Lunch
- 1:30 – 4:30 pm — 3rd learning session
- 5:15 pm — Dinner
- 6:30 – 7:15 pm — Evening presentation
- 7:30 – 9:30 pm — Social hour & campfire
- 10:00 pm — Quiet time
Sunday, Oct 2, 2022
- 7:30 am — Breakfast
- 8:30-10:00 am — Continental breakfast for Owl workshop
- 8:30-11:30 am —4th learning session
- 12:15 pm — Lunch & check-out
- 12:30 – Owl workshop ends
- 12:30-1:30 pm — Optional: Use of designed rooms to shower before leaving
On Friday afternoon before registration or on Sunday afternoon you’re welcome to hike our trails and enjoy the fall colors.
Packing List
You should plan to venture out in rain or shine and the instructors may follow up with more information on specific details about your workshop if applicable. You can expect nighttime temperatures to range from 25°F to 50°F and daytime temperatures up to 65°F. Please be prepared so you can feel comfortable if it is cool or rainy. Most of the walking you will do is on nice graveled trails, but some trails are rugged. Photography will be a common thread throughout the weekend so we encourage you to bring a camera. If you do not own a digital camera, we can loan you one for the weekend.
- Rain suit with pants and hood
- Walking or hiking shoes
- Warm jacket
- Sweater or fleece
- Warm hat
- Light shirts
- Light pants
- Wool Socks (recommended for hiking)
- Soap, shampoo, other toiletries
- Personal water bottle
- Sunscreen, sun hat
Optional Items:
- Knee-high rubber boots
- Non-aerosol insect repellent
- Camera
- Sunglasses
- Alarm clock
- Small backpack for day use
- Snacks (space available in group refrigerator)
Wolf Ridge will provide linens, blankets, towels, and a pillow.