What’s old is new again at Kingsley Folk School.
The nonprofit brings together people with know-how in traditional skills with a new generation eager to embrace them.
“The foundation is human skills that have been around for thousands of years, but lost in a couple of decades,” said school founder Sierra LaRose. “We still have folks around with the knowledge. We have to try to preserve them.”
Workshops taught by area experts range from tree grafting and fire making to natural fiber spinning, botanical print dyeing, glass blowing, early childhood music and other earthy, artsy activities.
“We connect with people from all walks of life,” LaRose said. “It bridges our differences which we need in today’s world.”
LaRose launched the school in 2021 in a downtown Kingsley storefront. She later moved classes to her nearby farm, but workshops aren’t bound by the location. Educator Boone Scharp led last summer’s Lamb 101 workshop at his Boone Holler Farm. The event covered natural tanning techniques, shearing, spinning wool and processing. A hay wagon transported students from the farm to Uncle Bob’s Meat Processing shop where they observed the butchering method, and later dined on the meat. In the future, he intends to run the workshop as a weekend series.
“I wanted to share and inspire them to raise their own food,” Scharp said. “If you can rely on your own efforts there are a million benefits.”
Artist Ruthann Zattlin brought traditional arts to the class lineup. She has taught block printing and stamp making.
“I am a passionate artist, and I know art can be healing and therapeutic,” she said. “Through the Folk School I am able to bring these ideas and skills to the people in our community.”
Zattlin plans to continue to share her talent in future school classes.
“It’s old-fashion fun in our technology-driven world,” she said. “I think it’s needed right now.”
LaRose plans to expand class offering with a new series-format workshops for 2025. Classes on the horizon include basket weaving, woodcarving, blacksmithing, quilting and Herbs 101.LaRose keeps class fees affordable. Most range between $20 and $25.
Check out the school site and join Qi Jong classes at the farm situated six miles from downtown of Kingsley Mondays at 9 a.m. Drop-ins are welcome.
The school’s popularity catapults it into a new stage.
“It grew faster than we anticipated, now it’s how do we grow?” LaRose said.
Part of the answer is expanded class space. A crowdfunding initiative is underway to raise $25,000 to fund construction of a yurt. The planned 30-foot structure will host 50 people and provide year-round space.
Kingsley Folk School offers community members a variety of ways to become involved. LaRose invites anyone with a skill to share to consider teaching a class, lean into volunteering, become a board member or donate to the yurt project to support the vision, strengthen resiliency and build relationships with nature and neighbors.