Feb 28th | 9-11am 

The House Food and Tap, St. Joseph, MN

Get ready for maple syrup season! Discover all things maple in this collaboration between Avon Hills Folk School, Wildwood Ranch Maple Syrup, and Saint John’s Outdoor University.

• Learn about making Maple Syrup

• Find out about upcoming opportunities to get hands-on learning about maple syrup

• Learn about upcoming maple syrup events in Central MN

• Ask questions about getting started, about making maple syrup

• Maple syrup tasting

• Maple syrup available for purchase

• Sign-up for volunteer opportunities at local sugar bushes

This gathering is free and all about community connection, no registration is required. We gladly welcome non-perishable food donations, which will be delivered to the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf.

LOCATION: Milk and Honey Ciders, 11738 Co Rd 51, St Joseph, MN 56374
The savory, meat and vegetable-filled pasty has served as a hearty meal for more than 150 years in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P) where the simple but hunger-satisfying meal has become a significant part of the region's cultural identity. “Invented” by Cornish settlers who came to work in the region's iron and copper mines, the hand-held meat pie was an easy meal to transport and eat deep in the mines. 

Today you can find pasties across the UP, buying them singly or by the “cooler full” which could be up to 99 pasties. Also popular across the Iron Range of northern MN, our instructor will share that the UP Pasty is the best. 

In this course you’ll learn a bit more about the history, the “proper” way to make a UP Pasty and you’ll get to prepare your own start to finish. Beginning with the raw materials, making the dough and taking home up to 12 pasties of your own. 

This course will be hosted at our partner Milk and Honey Ciders. After the class we’ll enjoy a Milk and Honey Cider, alcoholic or N/A along with one of the fresh, hot pasties right out of the oven that our instructor will bring with her for the class. 

LOCATION: Milk and Honey Ciders, 11738 Co Rd 51, St Joseph, MN 56374
The savory, meat and vegetable-filled pasty has served as a hearty meal for more than 150 years in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P) where the simple but hunger-satisfying meal has become a significant part of the region's cultural identity. “Invented” by Cornish settlers who came to work in the region's iron and copper mines, the hand-held meat pie was an easy meal to transport and eat deep in the mines. 

Today you can find pasties across the UP, buying them singly or by the “cooler full” which could be up to 99 pasties. Also popular across the Iron Range of northern MN, our instructor will share that the UP Pasty is the best. 

In this course you’ll learn a bit more about the history, the “proper” way to make a UP Pasty and you’ll get to prepare your own start to finish. Beginning with the raw materials, making the dough and taking home up to 12 pasties of your own. 

This course will be hosted at our partner Milk and Honey Ciders. After the class we’ll enjoy a Milk and Honey Cider, alcoholic or N/A along with one of the fresh, hot pasties right out of the oven that our instructor will bring with her for the class. 

This engaging class dives into the interesting history of traditional one piece canoe paddles throughout Minnesota and beyond. Learn about the different styles of paddles, their functions before designing and building your own! 

Each member of the class will get to design and build their own single piece canoe paddle made out of local lumber. In addition to making your own paddle, each person will get to build their own simple paddle hanger that will allow them to hang their handcrafted paddle at home, office, cabin, or anywhere else they would like. 

The class will outline various ways to protect and finish your paddle. A waterproof and smooth oil finish will be available during the course. Various fiberglass, and varnishing techniques will be explained, but not provided in the course.

Folk School on Tap

Learning the Art: Wilderness Canoeing, Camping, and Cooking

March 7 | 6:30-8pm
Bad Habit Brewing, 25 College Ave N, St Joseph, MN 56374

With warmer weather around the corner, get ready for your summer adventure by grabbing a drink and joining us for an evening learning about the Avon Hills Folk School's new Wilderness Canoeing, Camping, and Cooking Series coming in 2026.

Using stories and insights from years of wilderness travel across North America, Zach will give a preview into the skills and mindset that make canoe camping and travel such a rewarding experience. This conversation will touch on moving by water, living comfortably in camp, and cooking over stoves and open fires. Bring questions for Zach and learn how you can get the most out of your next backcountry adventure!

This gathering is free and all about community connection, no registration is required. We gladly welcome non-perishable food donations, which will be delivered to the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf.

Want to dive deeper with Zach? Join him for Build Your Own Northwoods Paddle on March 7 or 8! Learn the craft, shape your own paddle, and take home a piece you’ll use for years. Check it out here.

This engaging class dives into the interesting history of traditional one piece canoe paddles throughout Minnesota and beyond. Learn about the different styles of paddles, their functions before designing and building your own! 

Each member of the class will get to design and build their own single piece canoe paddle made out of local lumber. In addition to making your own paddle, each person will get to build their own simple paddle hanger that will allow them to hang their handcrafted paddle at home, office, cabin, or anywhere else they would like. 

The class will outline various ways to protect and finish your paddle. A waterproof and smooth oil finish will be available during the course. Various fiberglass, and varnishing techniques will be explained, but not provided in the course.

March 11, 2026

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Restore your worn fabrics, connect with your community, and contribute to a sustainable future. Stop by our mending circle!

Do I need experience? 

No experience necessary, if you have zero experience and zero idea what to bring other than your holey garment, please show up and we can point you in the right direction.

What will be at the circle?

Tea will be provided. You'll also be able to pilfer supporting supplies from the communal mending kit.

What should I bring?

Bring things to mend, your half finished knits and any hand projects, fiber or otherwise, you want to spend time with. Basic mending tools include needles, thread, and small scissors.

If you want to mend jeans, please bring some extra denim to patch, and some light blue cotton (unless you want to visibly mend, then whatever colour you wish!) 

If you want to learn to darn, bring jar lids, rubber bands, wool needles, and wool to match.

This event is for adults 18+, or youth 14+ with accompanying adult.

Dating back to the early Iron Age, card woven bands were used to create the starting and selvedge bands for warp-weighted looms. Decorative bands are also added to woven textiles along the hem line, and as belts and straps. In this class we will create bands approx 3⁄8-3⁄4” wide and 36”-48” long. Students will have a variety of patterns to choose from. By the end of class, students will have the understanding, skills, and resources to continue band weaving at home. 

Learn to weave bands using an Inkle Loom- a remarkably transportable loom able to make bands up to 8 feet long and 3 inches wide. This beginner friendly craft will introduce you to basic project preparation- how to “warp” the loom and use a simple but clever system of string heddles. We will learn how to select yarn colors to create unique patterns. Students can expect to go home with a band approximately 1 inch wide and 3-4 feet long (some after class time may be required) and the knowledge to continue crafting bands of many patterns. Material fee covers rental fee for the looms from my local Guild, and yarn.

While often identified with Ukraine, Pysanky (Ukrainian-style wax resist egg decorating) are a traditional folk art practiced throughout Eastern and northeastern Europe. Traditional designs used on the eggs are thousands of years old. 

This class will lead participants through the wonderful world of egg writing or "Pysanky" for Easter and beyond. This craft creates beautifully detailed decorated eggs that are fun for the entire family to make and can be a new tradition as it is with instructors, Blaine Cross, Katie Cross, and Sarah Peterson.

Participants will learn about the history of wax-resist eggs and some of the associated folklore. They will practice the basic techniques for creating the eggs, how to use the kystka (tiny metal funnel on a stick) to draw the designs in melted wax, the techniques for dyeing the eggs, and how to finish the project. Students will take home tools to make more eggs at home, as well as eggs completed in the class. 

Create your own charcuterie board or cheese slicer! There will be a few options available to customize your board. Participants will select the wood they wish to use from options like black walnut, ash, and maple. Boards can be made with or without handles.

The boards will be partially prepped and the participants will sand the boards, attach handles and feet, and oil the boards. Sanding can be done by hand or using the orbital sanders available in the workshop.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together! Do you have a collection of buttons, pad locks, hinges, miscellaneous hardware, watch parts, springs, rusty do dads, trinkets, rocks, bottle caps or any other Knick-Knack you would like to share with our feathered friends by embellishing a sanctuary for them? Use your imagination to create a one of a kind Knick-Knack Birdhouse.

No experience necessary to craft a wooden birdhouse with a bit of humor or nostalgic creativity. Check your junk drawers or cigar boxes in the shed for items that will be fun to decorate your creation! Don’t forget to look in those old Maxwell House coffee cans.

Wood, metal and a pile of junk will be available to use for your unique birdhouse.  Come with an open mind for a birdhouse theme or start looking for those special Knick-Knacks that will add just that special touch to your creation.

Regular and proper pruning of fruit trees, specifically apples in this case, can contribute to a healthier and much more productive tree over its lifespan. 

Students can expect to learn the basics of regular pruning of your apple trees, especially those that may have not received regular pruning for many years. You should be able to return to your apple trees and give them that first good “haircut” in years. 

During the course students will hear about the benefits, reasons for pruning. We’ll cover the basics of pruning, the Do’s and Don’ts. We’ll discuss timing, methods, tools and share personal experiences and questions about your own apple trees. Each student will have the opportunity to do some pruning on their own if they choose. 

Fundamentals of Beekeeping is a two part series that will guide new and aspiring bee guardians through the basics of beekeeping with a bee-centric focus.

In this first session, Fundamentals of Beekeeping 101, we will cover topics such as:

• Necessary equipment to get started

• Different hive style options

• Sourcing bees

• Components of the internal hive system

• Hive management throughout the season

• Hive etiquette

• Internal and external threats that may present themselves

• Conventional / commercial practices vs beecentric beekeeping

• Ways to be an ally for all of our pollinator friends. 

This course will include a classroom presentation. There will be examples of different equipment options and styles available to view during class. 

This course series will also provide a connection for beekeeping guidance if desired for initial set-up and on-going support throughout the season, as well as a community of new and experienced beekeepers to stay connected to following completion of the class. Students will be exposed to a gateway of information for what will likely be a forever and ongoing journey of growth and deepening connection with the bees, because at the end of the day, the bees will be your greatest mentor in the journey of bee guardianship if you allow yourself to slow down enough to hear the wisdom they have to share.

In this 3 hour class, we’ll walk through step by step how to create an 8”x10” needle felted landscape ready to be framed- no experience necessary! From creating a compelling composition to “mixing” colors to creating different shapes & textures to execute your ideas, I’ll demonstrate general needle felting techniques to get started then we’ll experiment and play together!

Bring an image or two of a landscape that you’d like to create in wool or a sketch to work from.

I recommend having a couple to choose from, in case one ends up working better than the other. It works well to have the photo either printed or on an ipad or something. You can also have it on your phone. Another option is a sketch if you’d like to work from your imagination.

A traditional view is that the gardening season in the upper Midwest runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but there is so much more time where we can be working the garden and harvesting fresh veggies. In this class we will open up and prepare the Avon Hills garden. While we are working in the garden, you can expect to learn from your instructor Sam about improving soil/soil health, managing weeds, choosing varieties, planning your garden, and extending your season. While we’re working you can also chat with Sam about your own garden questions and practices.

Folk School on Tap

April 23 | 6-8pm
Milk and Honey Ciders, 11738 Co Rd 51, St Joseph, MN

Get ready to dive into the interconnected existence of honey bees and the hive!  We will talk a little about the components of a typical bee hive and hive dynamics, commercial beekeeping vs bee-centric bee guardianship, and the importance of native pollinators and native habitats.  Come with any pollinator or beekeeping related questions!

This gathering is free and all about community connection, no registration is required. We gladly welcome non-perishable food donations, which will be delivered to the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf.

Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered.  As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period.  Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment.

Students can expect to be guided through the natural area of the Avon Hills Folk School and get an introduction to bird identification, habitat and activity.  Bird identification will be through both visual [shape / color / behavior] and audio [calls / songs / behavior] means.  

Join us for a morning of good food, great company, and the finest maple syrup the Avon Hills has to offer!

3rd Annual Avon Hills Maple Syrup Tasting, Pancake Feed & Social

Sunday, April 26, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Hosted by Milk and Honey Ciders | Presented by Avon Hills Folk School & Wildwood Ranch

Join us for a sweet morning of pancakes, pure local maple syrup, and community! This free-will offering event supports the Avon Hills Initiative and brings together syrup producers from the Avon Hills area, food lovers, and maple enthusiasts for a delicious and fun gathering.

Those of us that call the Avon Hills area home and head into the woods every year to make Maple Syrup think it tastes better here. Our unique deposit of soils, minerals and landscape contribute to something special - in many ways, and the Maple Syrup is just one example. 

Gluten-free options available: Krusteaz brand gluten-free pancakes will be made to order on a separate griddle and served at a dedicated table.

Fundamentals of Beekeeping is a two part series that will guide new and aspiring bee guardians through the basics of beekeeping with a bee-centric focus.

In this second session, Fundamentals of Beekeeping 102, we will focus on what to expect later in the season, honey harvesting techniques and equipment, and overwintering practices. There will be hands-on demonstrations and a hive visit / inspection if weather permits. It is ideal that students have their own bee suit for this class, as that will allow for the most enriching and up close experience with the bees. There may be some extra suits available, but this can not be guaranteed.

This course series will also provide a connection for beekeeping guidance if desired for initial set-up and on-going support throughout the season, as well as a community of new and experienced beekeepers to stay connected to following completion of the class. Students will be exposed to a gateway of information for what will likely be a forever and ongoing journey of growth and deepening connection with the bees, because at the end of the day, the bees will be your greatest mentor in the journey of bee guardianship if you allow yourself to slow down enough to hear the wisdom they have to share.

This is not a beginner level course. Please only register for this course if you have attended Fundamentals of Beekeeping 101 in the past or have a basic understanding of bees and beekeeping. 

Join us for a hike through our woods with a focus on observing and drawing signs of spring: woodland wildflowers, unfurling fern fronds, freshly arriving warblers and leaves beginning to bud. Afterward, we’ll get together to draw our discoveries with colored pencils, pens, and watercolors. Leave with a springtime work of art that can also be used for a Mother’s Day or greeting card or the beginnings of a nature journal.

Colored pencils, pens and watercolors will be available, although you are welcome to bring your own. 

In this class you will:

• Get phone photography tips.

• Be able to reference your own photos or some from the instructor to guide sketches.

• Find out what basic tools and art supplies to use.

• Work with light pencil sketches, ink outlines, and colored pencils and blenders to finish your illustration.

• Learn about nature journaling if you want to blend sketches with writing.

• Leave with a fresh appreciation for the signs of spring, and tips on identifying what you find or hear in the woods and learn about citizen science programs that can be another motivation to enjoy the outdoors.

Step into the vibrant awakening of spring and reconnect with the quiet wisdom of wild plants.  In this hands-on, heart-centered workshop, we’ll explore the energetic and medicinal qualities of botanicals known to restore vitality and support both physical and emotional balance.  Through guided connection and self-care practices, and the crafting of herbal teas and tonics, you’ll discover how plant allies can help harmonize your body, mind, and spirit.  

Come listen to the whispers of the wild and leave with tools—and a deeper relationship—for ongoing renewal this year.

Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered.  As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period.  Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment.

Students can expect to be guided through the natural area of the Avon Hills Folk School and get an introduction to bird identification, habitat and activity.  Bird identification will be through both visual [shape / color / behavior] and audio [calls / songs / behavior] means.  

Spring offers many tasty opportunities for the budding forager! Learn about common wild edible plants emerging on the Avon Hills landscape with Maria Wesserle of Four Season Foraging.

The workshop will start with a slideshow presentation covering basic tools, resources, and identification and preparation of springtime plants. Afterwards, we will hit the trails to apply our newfound knowledge to the surrounding landscape. Plants we may encounter include nettle, basswood, spruce tips, and fiddlehead ferns. Bring your own bags or baskets, as we can sustainably pick any edible plants we come across!

Expect to walk about 1-2 miles across maintained trails as well as off-trail into forests and fields. The terrain may require bushwhacking, walking over uneven ground, logs and other obstacles. This foray portion of the class will take around 2 hours. This event will take place rain or shine, so please arrive prepared for the weather! In case of extreme weather, the class will be canceled and a refund will be issued.

Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered.  As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period.  Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment.

Students can expect to be guided through the natural area of the Avon Hills Folk School and get an introduction to bird identification, habitat and activity.  Bird identification will be through both visual [shape / color / behavior] and audio [calls / songs / behavior] means.  

Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered.  As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period.  Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment.

Students can expect to be guided through the natural area of the Avon Hills Folk School and get an introduction to bird identification, habitat and activity.  Bird identification will be through both visual [shape / color / behavior] and audio [calls / songs / behavior] means.  

May 30, 2026

9am-4pm

This immersive course invites participants into a living relationship with the land through the ancient practices of foraging, medicine-making, and mindful attention. Guided by Rev. Genjo Sam Conway, a Zen monk and seasoned herbalist, students will learn to receive the wild—not as something to conquer or extract from, but as a generous teacher offering nourishment, healing, and insight.

The Life Drawing in Ink course is a beginner’s challenge in naturalistic drawing. They will learn how to use ink in its fluid form, utilizing tools such as brushes to draw. This course will optionally challenge students to rely entirely on ink, forcing their eye to become more accurate as each mark laid down cannot be erased. Life Drawing in Ink focuses on the global tradition of ink drawing. As both a technical and historical course, students will receive a well-rounded education on the history and significance of life drawing and the benefits of doing so. Examples will range from historical artists like Van Gogh and landscape master Guo Xi to contemporary artists such as Raymond Pettibon. 

Students can expect to leave the course with their drawings and a handout detailing what they have learned so they can continue practicing at home. They will learn how to see shapes and values accurately, how to handle a notoriously difficult art medium, and strengthen their concentration abilities. Through this course, students will gain an appreciation for the heritage of ink drawing and how helpful and meditative life drawing can be.

Millstream Arts Festival is an outdoor art show held on the last Sunday in August in downtown St. Joseph, Minnesota. It is a festive environment with a wide variety of visual arts, literature and poetry, music, dance, enticing foods, hands-on art activities for children, and much more!

Join us Saturday, October 10 from 1-5pm at the Avon Hills Folk School for our Annual Avon Hills Community Bouja Party.

Enjoy an old family recipe, walk the trails, cross the creek, all while enjoying the fall colors and meeting new and old friends. We'll provide the bouja, bread, and refreshments. Bouja will be served at about 2 pm. Bouja is gluten-free, and a vegetarian option will be available. Please bring a dessert to share for the epic 30 foot long dessert table.

Dogs allowed, must be on 8ft or shorter leash at all times.

This is a free event. Donations are welcome and appreciated.