April 13, 2012

Spring Activities at Alderleaf

The past few weeks have been very busy and exciting for the Alderleaf Wilderness Certification Program students. Here are some recent highlights from different class days...



Here one of the students practiced the skill of making baskets out of pine needles. Each student had their own particular approach, so the baskets were completed in a variety of shapes and sizes.



Here are just a few examples of completed baskets.

On another class day, students learned more about Permaculture practices. Students got out on the farm to enjoy the sun and apply some of what they have learned.




Here Certification Program students Shaun and Jared work together to help create plant cuttings for raspberry plants, so that more plants can be grown and spread around the farm.


Spring is showing its lovely face everywhere you look around at Alderleaf. Flowers are bursting, frogs are chorusing and the sun is shinning!




Yesterday, students worked on trying out several primitive cooking methods which included steam pit cooking, clay baking on coals and cooking in a clay oven. Some students also created utensils to eat their cooked food with.



Here student Gianna blows on a coal to encourage it to burn out a cavity for her wooden spoon.




Student Carrie carefully seals the clay on the outside of a trout, that will soon be laid into the hot coals of the fire. This form of primitive cooking cooks food very evenly, and seals in the moisture. The trout came out cooked to perfection!




Here student Alex closes the door to the clay oven, to help trap in the heat in preparation for some primitive baking.

The students had an excellent time learning how to use these different methods of cooking and at the end of the day, they got to enjoy the fruits of their labor by having a primitively cooked feast! The food was delicious, included a variety of vegatables, salmon and some cornish game hens. and did not even require any spices, as it was cooked to perfection.

Next week the students are heading out into the field to take their Track & Sign Evaluations. Wish them luck!