Mineral & Smoke Combination Tanning 
4 - day Sheepskin Tanning Workshop
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9-5pm (or until finished)
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Dryden, NY - exact location upon registration
 
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In this 4-day workshop, we will be honoring one of the many gifts of
our local, domesticated sheep-- the gift of their skin.
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Unfortunately, our relationship with these sheep does not begin until their hides have been salvaged from local butchers (who often discard hides into a compost heap),
or directly from local sheep farmers.
 
I fleshed & salt or dry preserve the hides until their time arrives to tan. 
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This workshop will focus on combining two different tanning methods
- mineral & smoke - to gain the benefits of both methods on these beautiful sheepskins.
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The finished sheepskins will be water/humidity resistant, repel rodents & bugs (who'd destroy the hides), and with your persistent effort be soft & subtle to be used for a beautifully finished rug or even clothing.
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This workshop will be held entirely outside, which means the weather will be a factor impacting the sheepskins. The length and flow of this workshop was created with the intention of accommodating the weather.
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Dates and flow of the program:

DAY ONE -- General overview of sheepskin tanning & hands-on tanning work: washing, fleshing/wet scraping, framing and opening up the sheepskin.
DAY TWO -- Hands-on tanning work: Dry scraping, pumicing & combing/cleaning the wool, preparing the smoker & smoking sheepskins
DAY THREE --Hands-on tanning work: Finish smoking sheepskins, hand softening 
DAY FOUR -- Hand softening and wrapping up!
 
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Come join us at this beautifully gratifying community practice to continue to preserve such a rewarding and connective skill! 
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$400-500 slide scale per participant (trade/barter options available). 
 
$100 non-refundable deposit due upon registration. Deposit goes towards the full cost of the program. PURCHASE THROUGH THIS PORTAL ONLY COVERS THE REGISTRATION COST. You will receive a follow-up email with information on next steps for payment, and/or opportunity to discuss potential barter/trade.
Remaining payment due first day of program.
 
Disclaimer: Hide tanning is physically (and often emotionally) hard and sometimes smelly work! This skill requires patience, persistence, and self-care, which is why this program has been split over two weeks! We will be working in a deeply heart-centered, intentional and held way, where I will pass along my personal rituals around animal processing.  My intention is to make sure everyone feels safe as this process is for your learning.   Taking a break to stretch and move your body, root yourself in the Earth, and step away is always welcome.  These hides were all sourced from local sheep farmers.
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In honor & acknowledgement of reciprocity and the converging lineages of ancestral earth living skills, 10% of the proceeds of my adult workshops are donated to local BIPOC led organizations dedicated to reconciliation and reparation efforts.