RECENT PODCASTS
026 Fleece Rugs, Keeping Sheep, Heritage and the Shetland Islands with Helen Hart
In this episode I chat with Helen about some of the traditional crafts she's involved with, how she became involved in them, and what draws her to them. We talk about keeping sheep, natural dyes, fair isle knitting, burning peat, willow basketry, the fleece rugs she...
025 Home Butchery and Using the Unusual Bits with Jake Levin
Do you raise and butcher your own livestock? Process the game animals you hunt? This episode is for you. . . And me! I have very limited butchery experience, but it's something that fascinates me. There is a definite art to the trade, but at the same time it seems so...
023 An Overview of Flintknapping with Mike Cook
This week we're talking flintknapping-- learning about making and using stone arrowheads and knives. We discuss the knapping from a high level perspective, with a little bit of how-to and the principles involved, a bit of considerations for using your stone blades and...
022 Exploring the History, Archaeology, and Construction of Throwing Sticks with Michael Frank
In this episode we delve into throwing sticks (also called boomerangs or rabbitsticks) and how to make them! Michael is an archaeologist by education so we also discuss some of the historical and archaeological examples from around the world. Throwing sticks...
021 Introduction to Scrimshaw with Rich Williams
Scrimshaw, the mariners art. I loved learning about this traditional folk art! Many of you know that I tend to personally lean towards the traditional rural/peasant crafts-- what would have been common practice by people living their daily lives. I love to learn...
020 Designing and Building Rocket Stoves with Tom Mills
Rocket stoves have held a fascination for me for awhile-- it's amazing how intentionally controlling the way in which a fire burns can dramatically impact its performance. I've wanted to build one for awhile and figured now was a good time to chat with someone who...
019 Willow Chair Making with Justin Roberts
Rustic looking bent willow chairs. I think of them as being a product of the Great Depression, others think of them as being emblematic of gypsies. . . Regardless, they look like they would be fun to make! Knowing how to make these willow chairs is one of those...
018 Yurt Building, Coppicing, and Green Woodworking with Alex Cole
We talk about a variety of fun topics in this episode including yurt building (and touch on some other traditional/natural building techniques), managing a coppiced hardwood forest, English green woodworking, and traditional lime wash and lime production in the UK....
017 Locating Wild Clay: Finding, Processing and Testing Clay for Pottery with Andy Ward
I love to learn about a craft from start to finish, and that means sourcing the materials to begin with. I think any of use interested in self-sufficiency also recognize the limitations involved in purchasing materials for a craft you're learning and how that...
016 Rug Braiding with Dianne Tobias
Rug Braiding, a unique American craft developed as a way of turning scrap cloth into something useful. . . and gorgeous too! Learn about the craft of making traditional braided rugs as well as the art form it has evolved into. In this episode we discuss the origins of...
015 Pole Lathes, Production Work, and What is “Craft”? with Jarrod Dahl
In this episode we talk about pole lathes (one of the oldest methods of turning round objects) and how they are still applicable for craftsman of today. Turns out they're also ideal for folks that are looking for an entry level lathe for their home workshop too! We...
014 Fundamentals of Wet Felting with Rosemary Wells
I was introduced to felting last fall when I took a class from Rosemary at the Rabbitstick Rendezvous and made a hat..... It's a ton of fun! With shearing season coming up (generally sheep are shorn early spring) I thought it would be fun to do an episode about a...
013 Building Dry Stone Walls with Bryce Hollingsworth
You know those miles of picturesque stone walls you'll see in tourism photos from the UK? Ever wondered how they were built? Today we're talking construction, dry stone construction! Dry stone masonry is an age old craft, we have examples of it going back centuries…....
012 Introduction to Human Powered Machines with Tamara Dean
This week's episode is exciting for me! I'm talking with Tamara Dean (author of The Human-Powered Home) about human power, machines, tools, best practices and why this should interest you. So what do we mean by human power? Think crank, treadle, and bike power--...
011 Native American Flutes with Charlie Mato-Toyela
Great episode with Charlie from over at Blue Bear Flutes! I discovered Charlie while lost on Youtube distracting myself from actually doing my taxes like I was supposed to be...... He has some great videos that explains and demystifies flute making in a way that makes...
010 Fingerweaving Basics and History with Kris Daman
Great conversation this week with Kris Daman! We discuss the basic weave and process involved in getting started fingerweaving, as well as the history around it, what it is best used for, and how it was involved in the early tourist trade. If you're interested in...
009 Traditional Winter Camping with Kielyn Marrone
What do you do in the winter? Do you get out and enjoy nature throughout the year or do you stay indoors and hibernate for the cold and snowy season? As we get partway through winter I'd love to challenge you to do the former. I know winter is starting to feel long...
008 Getting Started in Wildlife Tracking with Casey McFarland
Wildlife tracking is one of those skills that is a simple and basic concept, simply follow the tracks left in the dirt right? Alas, it is those simple concepts that are often most difficult and complicated to really master! Tracking it is no exception, it is far more...
007 Integrating Traditional Skills into Modern Life with Neal Ritter
What traditional skills and crafts are actually useful in modern life? In this episode we discuss the integration of traditional skills into modern life with Neal Ritter (who was kind enough to to come on and share his experiences with us). I really enjoy his all...
006 Knowledge Vs Experience
What's the difference between intellectually knowing something and having actually done it? Does having made/done something help you retain the knowledge more fully? In this episode I unpack some of my recent thoughts on knowledge vs experience and how I need to spend...
005: Weaving with Willow
Picture courtesy of hearthfolkschool.com It’s willow time! Nick LaHaise joins us on the podcast to discuss willow basket weaving. He’s been teaching at several of the traditional skills gatherings for a few years and is co-founder of the Hearth Folk School where he...
004: Bark Tanning Rabbit Hides
Bark Tanned Rabbit Furs-- Photo courtesy oakandsmoketannery.co.uk Fur Tanning I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had somewhat mediocre luck with brain tanning furs. I turn out a serviceable buckskin, but when I leave the hair on they always turn out a little on...
003: Traditional Mead Making with Jereme Zimmerman
Do YOU Brew? Guest expert and mead brewer extraordinaire Jereme Zimmerman It seems like there has been an explosion in the popularity of homebrewing in recent years-- unless I’ve just been living under a rock and somehow hadn't noticed it before! More and more often I...
002: Making a Bow Drill Fire Set: Friction Fire Fundamentals with Donny Dust
For me knowing how to make a fire is one of the foundational skills when it comes to primitive living or self reliance in general. It provides warmth, cooks your food, is a tool and friend (as anyone who has spent significant amounts of time outdoors alone knows)....
001: Welcome to Folk Craft Revival!
Welcome, and thanks for being here! Below is a brief summary of the episode and some of my thoughts on starting this podcast and what I would like it to become. Who Am I? I’m an all around tinkerer! I like to make, create, attempt and do traditional skills! I started...