Do you want to farm with animal power or to learn farm skills to share with the world's poor? At Tillers you will learn early draft animal practices and move on to integrate new low-cost  technologies. Tillers is always looking for low-capital practices, such as intensive rotational grazing or remote solar water pumps, that complement animal-powered farming systems. Join us to combine the best of yesterday and today in strategies that can vitalize small farms around the world.

Plow Day - 102 - Past Plow Day
A seasonal rite, spring turning celebrates fertile soils and responsive draft animals. If you have a team of horses or oxen, put them to work plowing fields and sharing the pleasures of working draft animals with people interested in learning the skills. If you don't have work animals, come enjoy the beauty of their work. There will be blacksmithing broom making, chair caning, timberframing and many other demonstrations that display the traditional craftsmen's skills taught at Tillers. Bring a dish to join the volunteers' pot luck.
Enrollment: 0-400. All ages welcome.

a/ May 3, 2008 -- Saturday, 1-4pm -- $10 per car to encourage carpooling

Field Work for Oxen and Horses - 132 VIDEO
If you want to farm with draft animals, this is your opportunity to get started. It's a rare, low-cost opportunity to try your hand at farming with oxen and horses. Join us in a world away from ordinary work pressures of life to work in an outdoor environment. We have scheduled it to include the last tillage and plantings, the first cutting of hay, and cultivating early weeds. Part of each day is spent learning skills and the rest in actual hands-on farm work. You practice skills for field operations and draft animal handling. Assignments depend on skills but we will entrust you with important farm work. Activities vary with the weather.
Enrollment: 4 to 16. Minimum Age: 12.

b/ May 29-31, 2008 -- Thursday-Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $180
DreamAcres, Wykoff, MN. Todd Juzwiak, Evie Barr, Dan Rasmussen, Leroy Thorson, Instructors.

a/ June 2-6, 2008 -- Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm -- $270
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Dick Roosenberg,  Dulcy Perkins, Fred Herr and Duane Westrate, Instructors.

Farming a Longer Furrow - 133
This continuation of Farming with Oxen and Horses is meant to add more fun and learning for those with a little extra time. It has more participation and less instruction than the first week. Pitching hay behind a team of oxen takes you far from your world of work. A great way to stretch your vacation experience!
Not offered in 2008

Draft Animal Logging - 150 - Past Classes
Join us in the woods as draft horses and oxen demonstrate ecological removal of logs from the woods with tongs, sleds, and arches. Practice skidding in exercises with coaches (provided you have driving skills from experience or a draft animal class). See demonstrations of tree felling techniques and safety. Learn to load logs on a sled or wagon, watch portable band-saw operations, learn sales strategies, observe and discuss lumber seasoning and home kilns. Late and early snows help demonstrate ideal logging conditions.  These expanded classes should help you manage a micro forestry project from tree to specialty lumber.
Enrollment: 4 to 18. Minimum Age: 14.

a/ March 1-2, 2008 -- Saturday-Sunday, 9am-4:30pm -- $140
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Fred Herr, John Sarge, Instructors.

b/ October 24-25-- Friday-Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $140
DreamAcres, Wykoff, MN. Todd Juzwiak, Dan Rasmussen, Kent Erding, Instructors.

Small-Scale Haymaking - 172
Feeding livestock through winter or dry seasons is essential in most regions of the world. Explore the many tools and techniques that can be used to harvest better forage, improve the efficiency of harvesting and storing hay, and converting otherwise difficult feed into a product your animals will eat and enjoy. Starting with a grass scythe and sled, and moving through a powered forecart and baler, this class will be useful for the owner of a small herd of goats to a cow dairy or beef herd owner.
Enrollment: 4 to 16 Minimum Age: 16

a/ August 12-16, 2008 -- Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5:30pm -- $280
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Dick Roosenberg, Tillers Staff, Instructors.

Mid Summer Farm Fest at Inwood Farm - 173 - Volunteer Week
Enjoy the atmosphere of an old farm in the process of re-creation. Tillers' interns, volunteers and staff will demonstrate ox driving, blacksmithing, and timber framing. They will also show visitors Tillers' plans for developing the Inwood farm as a learning center. Come experience early rural skills.

a/ TBA --Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm
Inwood Farm, Charlevoix, MI.

Fall Harvest and Plowing - 174
Fall's arrival brings some of the nicest days to Tillers' farm, especially when you are privileged to walk the fields behind oxen or horses. This class is scheduled to introduce you to a wide range of hands-on farm skills. We plow and plant one field to winter wheat, sow rye covers, cut, press, and evaporate sorghum, and lay in firewood for colder days.
Enrollment: 4 to 16 -- Minimum Age: 14
Not offered in 2008

Setting Up Pasture, Hay & Fencing for the Small Farm - 176
The first step in farming grass with animals is planting fence posts. They are the key to managing any intensive rotation of animals in a pasture system. This class starts with the principles of grass management, reviews practical options and methods of fencing, then visits some very productive examples such as high tensile, woven, or high visibility fencing. Whether you are feeding your teams of horses or oxen, or raising cattle or sheep on grass, this class explores ideas for developing a system that will meet your needs.
Enrollment: 4 to 15 Minimum Age: 16

September 22-23, 2008 -- Monday-Tuesday -- 9am-5:30pm -- $140
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI Ben Bartlet, Instructor.

Small Grain Harvest - 158
When the prairies first opened up to farmers nearly 200 years ago, the importance of efficient grain harvest became apparent. An acre or two of small grains can provide for a family. Learn to cradle and flail grains, and move up to the reaper and combine harvester. We will also thresh with updated treadle threshers.
Enrollment: 4 to 8 Minimum Age: 12

July 11-12, 2008 -- Friday-Saturday -- 9am-5:30pm -- $140
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI Dick Roosenberg, Dulcy Perkins, Instructors.

Food & Fiber Classes

Maple Sugaring - 152
Learn the basics of small-scale maple syrup production using simple tools and resources. This class will help you start a sugar bush of your own. Turn spring sap into sweet syrup for your family and friends.
Products: a pint of maple syrup. Enrollment: 2 to 10. Minimum Age: 12.

a/ March 15, 2008, weather permitting -- Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $55
DreamAcres, Wykoff, MN. Evie Barr, Todd Juzwiak, Instructors.

Making Soap - 164
Barbara Jenness, from DogWood Farm just south of Grand Rapids, MI, started making soap in 1995. Her soap has an olive oil base that is very moisturizing. She only includes natural colorants, essential oils and botanicals, no synthetic ingredients. This class will teach cold process soap making, not melt and pour. An information packet containing recipes, sources and information regarding ingredients will be given to each student. In the class you will work in pairs, but all persons will leave with their own soap, resting in its mold to be uncovered after a 24 hour cure period. There will be several choices of essential oils and additives to use in your special soap. You will be able to observe all steps of soap making, and a few special techniques, before trying your own batch.
Product: Soap. Enrollment: 4 to 14. Minimum Age: 12.

a/ March 1, 2008 -- Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $75.00
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Barbara Jenness, Instructor.

Cheese Making - 165
Barbara Jenness added goats to DogWood Farm to ensure a supply of milk for her homemade soaps. She quickly had a surplus of milk, so she began making cheese. She will teach cheese making from milking the goats to the finished product. This class will be all about cheese…making soft cheese and enjoying cheese. It will cover equipment and basic principles.
Product: Cheese. Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 12.

a/ May 31, 2008 -- Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $75
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Barbara Jenness, Instructor.

a/ September 18, 2008 -- Thursday, 9am-5pm -- $75
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Barbara Jenness, Instructor.
This class precedes the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy conference.

Gardening Basics-Organic Vegetables and a CSA - 161 -
Garden Tour
Get set to grow! Come get your hands dirty with us as we explore the world of the garden. This class is intended for those who want to grow their own food or flowers, or may be thinking about growing for market. We'll look into plant life from seed to harvest. Topics include simple greenhouse structure and management, use of cold frames and hot beds, starting seedlings, potting soil, making and using compost, garden soil preparation, planting, transplanting, organic weed management and pest control, crop rotation and cover cropping, harvest, and management of a Community Supported Farm. Learn to produce produce!
Enrollment: 4 to 12. All ages welcome.
Not Offered in 2008

Practical Strategies for Worm Composting - 162
Worm castings have proven amazing success in supporting plant growth. Learn how to get started constructing bins, making teas from the compost, and maintaining a worm composting system that will last forever. From home-scale to a farm-scale, Mary Appelhof, one of the worlds premier vermiculturists and author of "Worms Eat My Garbage," shares her expertise. (There is an optional $35.00 materials fee for a 2 person worm bin with worms for those who would like to set up their own composting system.)
Enrollment: 2 to 12. Minimum Age: 16.
Not offered in 2008

Starting Out with Chickens - 151
Lynn Farmer raises organic eggs to sell at her local Co-op. She teaches the basics of chicken care including raising chicks, housing, feeding, disease, and breeds. In this seminar, you will learn what it takes to get your own flock started.
Enrollment: 2 to 12. Minimum Age: 14.
Not Offered in 2008

Groundnut Production with Animal Traction - 156
Groundnuts, or peanuts, are an incredible crop for their nutritive value, economic potential, and soil improving qualities. This class will demonstrate groundnut production using animal power for field preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting,and transport. Tools for handling groundnuts and preparing seed, post-harvest processing, and converting the groundnut into oil and butter will also be covered.
Enrollment: 4 to 16. Minimum Age: 16.
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Dick Roosenberg, Brian Webb, Instructor.
Not offered in 2008

Bee Keeping - 180
Explore the pleasures and cautions of caring for bees with Tillers' hives. Experienced bee keepers lead you through setting up a hive, seasonal care, Queen management, parasite control, and the final reward -- extraction of honey! A fascinating exploration into the symbiotic relationship between flowers and bees.
Products: a pint of honey. Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 16.

a/ April 19-20-- Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm -- $130
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Tom Roberts, Dulcy Perkins, Instructors.

Wool Felting - 181
From sheep to mittens in just a few simple steps! Design and create your own custom fit pair of mittens in just a few hours and experience the wonders of wool.
Products: a pair of mittens. Enrollment: 4 to 8. Minimum Age: 12.
Not offered in 2008

Sweet Sorghum Volunteer Fest - 182 - Past Event
Put yourself outside for the last pleasant fall days to help make sorghum molasses. Enjoy the beauty and rhythms of cutting and stripping sorghum cane, pressing it with an animal-powered press, and evaporating the juice to molasses. This is a volunteer opportunity to help Tillers' get in a labor intensive old crop. At the same time you smell the aroma of earlier farm life. Bring the family and make it a family experience to remember!
Product: a pint of sorghum. Enrollment: 2 to 16. Minimum Age: 6.

a/ September 18-21, 2008 -- Thursday-Sunday, 12noon-5pm
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Howard Cain, Instructor.
Family style lunch for all volunteers!

Storing Food: Drying, Canning and Preserving - 163
Some of the highest quality foods are those we grow and store ourselves, but few have the opportunity to learn to preserve garden and orchard produce at Grandma's side anymore. This class gives participants hands-on experience with the practical skills of preserving food as well as sources for the very real technical standards that need to be maintained.
Product: a pint of preserves. Enrollment: 2 to 10. Minimum Age: 12.
Not offered in 2008

Butchering On the Farm - 184 - Past Classes
Many people raise a hog for inexpensive meat for the freezer. While butchering on the farm can be an alternative to paying a butcher, it is much more personal than taking your animals to the packing house. Being there is a reality check on farm romance while reminding participants of the awe of life.  Join us with respect for the reality of the task.
Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 18.
Not offered in 2008

Brooms and Broom Making I - 183 - Past Classes
This craft combines the arts of growing broom corn with fastening it to a variety of handles in simple to complex designs. Basic tools and techniques are taught as students make several classic brooms. The class provides the basic skills and information on tools and supplies necessary for beginning in the craft.
Product: a broom. Enrollment: 4 to 8. Minimum Age: 12.

a/ October 11-12, 2008 -- Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5:30pm -- $185
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. George Vaughn, Instructor.

Broom Making II - 186
Moving on to more complex broom styles and techniques, George Vaughn teaches Turkey Wing brooms, square shouldered brooms and various finishing touches. This second level class hones skills and gives students opportunities to try more advanced tools such as broom making machines. Materials will be available for several projects.
Product: a broom. Enrollment: 4 to 8. Minimum Age: 12.

a/ March 8, 2008 -- Saturday, 9am-5:30pm -- $90
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. George Vaughn, Instructor.

Rope Making and Use - 185
Learn the magic of turning fibers into ropes with simple, early rope making tools. Use dyed fibers for distinctive rope patterns. Learn splicing, basic knots, and methods for making rope halters. The instructors twist in a lot of history as well. Construct a small hand-held rope maker that permits you to practice and demonstrate your new skills. Discuss sources and treatment of materials for rope making. This class is great for young and old.
Product: a hand rope maker and a rope halter. Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 12
Not offered in 2008

Weaving and Spinning - 187
An overview of spinning and weaving. Small looms give you a basic understanding quickly.  Experienced weavers guide you to resources for further practice and learning.
Products: a woven belt, etc. Enrollment: 2 to 6. Minimum Age: 12.
Not offered in 2008

Caning Chairs - 188 - Past Classes
Restore the beauty of your grandmother's bent wood rocker. Learn to weave cane for classic chairs. You will have the opportunity to practice on a frame. This two-day class allows for students to bring an old chair in need of repair.
Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 12.

a/ Nov 7-8-- Friday-Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $155
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Sewell Mason, John Sarge, Instructors.

Basket Making - 189
Learn from an experienced maker the wonders of weaving together natural materials into your own hand made baskets. This year's basket is the Bucket basket, a great basket for beginners and skilled basket makers looking to expand their experience. The instructor provides all weaving materials as well.
Product: a basket. Enrollment: 4 to 10. Minimum Age: 12.

a/ March 8-- Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $115
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Jill Woods, Instructor.

Solar Applications - 191
Gain energy independence by learning how to access the power of the Sun. Practice connecting photovoltaic panels, controllers, batteries, and inverters to increase power in the barn. Learn the basics for planning capacities. Visit neighboring systems to find what fits your needs. Explore solar electric fencing, farm lighting, and battery maintenance. Water heating will also be discussed. Ideal intro for the self-sufficient homesteader.
Enrollment: 4 to 16. Minimum Age: 14.

a/ June28 -- Saturday, 9am-5pm -- $65
At Dream Acres' low energy farmstead, Wykoff MN. Dennis Pottratz, Instructor

Water Power for Farmsteads - 193
For people who have a stream running through their property or those just interested in the workings and possibilities of a mill. Water can power electrical devices throughout the farm. Charlie Bussard of Union, MI has done all the legwork on issues that arise when using streams and dams. Get wet learning how to measure flow, and practice cleaning spillways and intakes. Learn capacity planning basics, and explore water rams.
Enrollment: 4 to 16. Minimum Age: 14.
Not Offered in 2008

Woodstove Cooking - 194
Spend a day practicing the skills once used in every kitchen across the land. Learn the technical and tasty aspects of operating a wood cook stove and creating culinary delights. The class will cover stovetop cooking and baking in both a wood stove and a wood brick oven. Don't forget to bring an appetite!
Enrollment 2 to 10. Minimum Age: 14.

a/ April 19-- Saturday, 9am-5pm, -- $75
Dream Acres, Wykoff, MN. Evie Barr, Instructor.

Internship

Farming - 195
Enrollment: 0 to 6. Minimum Age: 18.

a/ February 13-November 30, 2007
Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI. Dick Roosenberg, Dulcy Perkins, Brian Webb, Coordinators.

Rural History

The Abbey Collection - (See Tillers' Collections)
Carroll Abbey retired from farming in 1978, and began his life work. His wife Ruth, and brother George, were supportive of his effort.  In 20 years he assembled an amazing, well selected grouping of early farm tools.  The Collection includes about 4,000 artifacts and occupies 16,000 square feet. It is an excellent base for many of Tillers' classes. When Carroll died in 1998, he left the Collection to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.  Tillers began to manage and develop the Collection for them in the summer of 2000.  We look forward to enhancing the educational and research value of the Collection while preserving the integrity of each artifact.

Preserving Farm Tool Collections - 825 - Past Classes
Join with Tillers staff and guest historians as we ask why rural innovation happened, and as we search out the consequences. We will research and develop exhibits on selected topics in a seminar and project environment. The Abbey Collection permits us to richly illustrate many topics with artifacts. Join us as we go through the process of searching for the innovative forces in rural communities that drove inventions. Then help find the human story that brings the artifacts to life in compelling and informative displays.
Enrollment: 4 to 18. Minimum Age: 21
Abbey Collection, Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI.
Not Offered in 2008

Conservation and Preservation of Farm Tools - 829
How do you rescue that corn binder from the fence row? How do you restore your Great-Grandfather's Thresher? This workshop, jointly presented by the Henry Ford Museum's Greenfield Village and Tillers International, is intended to demonstrate practical and preferred methods of conservation techniques. Whether you are a director of a small museum or want your antique to remain in the family for years to come, this class will guide you through preservation of woods, metals, painted surfaces, fabrics, rubber, and more. There will be discussion of research sources and methods to document artifacts, including museum aquisitions. Using the Abbey Collection for examples, we will look at the many different artifacts and discuss possibilities for preservation or restoration. Call ahead to bring your own artifact for preservation.
Enrollment: 4 to 12. Minimum Age: 18.
Not offered in 2008

Farm and Crop Series Instructors

Clint Bolton, a Michigan farmer, brings his experience from the American University in Lebanon, VITA assignments in various countries, and Peace Corps staff responsibilities in Sierra Leone.

Howard Cain, a retired CPA and the Treasurer of Tillers Board, grew up on a farm, operating a threshing machine in Michigan's thumb area and now enjoys harvesting and evaporating sorghum molasses.

Fred Herr, a draft horse teamster, has an excellent ability to train animals. He keeps his own Belgians hardened by regular skidding of logs. Fred, brings his teams and horses to these classes along with years of farm and mechanical experience - from explaining the walking plow to adjusting the hay mower.

Tim Harrigan, Chair of Tillers' Board and an Agricultural Engineer at Michigan State University, owns a team of oxen and brings his scientific bent to understanding what makes them work well.

Todd Juzwiak and Evie Barr founded DreamAcres in Wykoff, Minnesota, and built two of their buildings with Tillers' classes. Todd was a Tillers intern, and Evie is very active in theater. They now run a CSA producing organic vegetables on their DreamAcres farm.

Lee Nemecek, since retiring, has spent his time working a portable bandsaw mill and managing his own woodlot. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of trees and their woods.

Dick Reynolds retired from Upjohn and now manages a personal piece of forestland. He volunteers with Tillers in forest and blacksmithing activities.

Dick Roosenberg learned to care for livestock and crops growing up on a dairy farm in Michigan. Through his years adapting that knowledge to small-scale, animal-powered farms, he has picked up a number of concepts to help manage a farm successfully within the limited energy of draft animals.  Oxen replaced diesel tractors in 1969 when Dick joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to a UN-FAO ox power project in West Africa. He has since made a study of draft animal techniques and has helped train many teams at Tillers and in Benin, Senegal, Togo, and Uganda.

John Sarge came to Tillers as a blacksmithing volunteer. At the time he was working for the Grand Rapids Public Museum in preparing exhibits and restoring artifacts. Earlier he had worked as a master mechanic with several industries and studied energy conservation and alternatives at Jordan College.  John has a deep curiosity about most crafts and brings to Tillers his encyclopedic knowledge and a practical hand. John's skills are displayed in his operation of many of the farm tools and his passing on his understanding of their maintenance.

Duane Westrate, a greenhouse plant producer, enjoys working his team of horses and sharing his experiences and knowledge of both greenhouse management and teamstering.

Matt Wiley is a grass farmer who happens to raise sheep and cattle on it; at least that is the modest way he describes himself. Nonetheless, he has done as much as any farmer in Michigan to adapt intensive pasture management to Michigan. He is an astute observer of his environment.

Jack Worthington, a retired extension agent, is President of the Michigan Barn Preservation Network, an avid rope maker, and enjoys broom making.