When I finished the Timber Framing Class at Avon Hills Folk School, the instructor, Clark, asked what part of it made the biggest impression on me. I hesitated. As Inigo Montoya once said, “Let me explain…No, there is too much. Let me sum up.”

Paradise Lost

We’ve all heard it. Most of us have said it. “When I was a kid we made our own fun.”

Garden Hod Class Reflections

Young Jack went to war. And came back. 

Avon Hills Folk School is grateful for the support of the Central Minnesota Noon Optimists Club.

Special thanks to Shane Mahon who taught the class attendees the process of melting solid pewter to a molten liquid at 500 degrees fahrenheit! Wow!

2021 has been one of change, growth and excitement for the Avon Hills Folk School (AHFS). I thought I’d take a moment to finally sit down and send out what has turned out to be a “not so” brief update on all that has been accomplished this year and what’s to come for our young and aspiring non-profit.

Mark your calendar for September 17-19, 2021!

We are so very excited to have the details ready to share about our 5th Annual Adult Hand Camp! It’s looking like it’s going to be one of our best weekends yet! We’ve got wonderful artists, teachers, and creatives lined up and can’t wait to welcome you!

We are thrilled to announce that Mary Hark & Henry Obeng will be at the Avon Hills Folk School on September 24-26, 2021

You are welcomed to join us to learn about paper making and the cyanotype photography process from some of the best!

Join Dan Horan, from Merchant Leather and Avon Hills Folk School for one (or two) days of hand sewing leather.

We are excited to welcome Dan back to the folk school on July 24 and 25. His classes are super popular and always fill up fast!

This entry to advanced level class is designed to introduce the classic techniques of hand-sewing with leather. Students are able to choose from a mix of projects that demonstrate the basics of working with leather including cutting, punching, hand sewing, riveting, snap setting, finishing and care. Students will be guided through the process from hide to finished product – leaving the class with their very own, handmade, leather product.

This week we got to partner with the Yes Network to host our first Youth Hand Camp, where children from our community get to explore the intersection of Art and Nature in the Avon Hills. Our Youth Hand Camps focus on getting children out to learn more about nature, using their hands to make things, and having the unique opportunity to learn new skills off screen. This week we made music, artwork, and learned more about the land we’re on. We are excited to have a few more Youth Hand Camp opportunities this year, so be sure to keep an eye out for those!

Last week we held a 6 day course to complete a grindbygg (a unique Norwegian vernacular timber frame building style) that will serve as a shelter for the evaporator we use to make maple syrup. We had lots of fun and hope everyone who participated did as well! We asked two of the participants to share a some thoughts on the class with you all and have included those below.

We want to say a big thank you to the instructor, Peter Henrikson, and all of the participants. Can’t wait to have you back for future classes!

We have multiple classes lined-up, many grants received, several grants submitted, and several to write in the coming weeks. Two part-time contract employees, Tom Wicks and Heidi Jeub, are helping to grow and deepen our organizational capacity. There have been productive and exciting meetings and discussions with potential partner organizations along with new marketing and communication tools in the works.

May 17 – 23, 2021 (6 full days & 1 half day)

Grindbygg is a unique Norwegian vernacular timber frame building style. It’s unique joinery harkens back to the early days of post construction before the common usage of mortise and tenon joinery. The specific grindbygg design and joinery was first seen in the late 1400’s. The indicative feature is the necked tying joint where the post, tie beam and plate all come together. The series of slots, laps and notches are held tightly in place by the force of gravity on the roof. Until the early 20th century, Grindbygg frames were common in western Norway as unheated out buildings: barns, boathouses and storehouses. There is renewed interest in preserving this building technique and now there are numerous builders in Norway constructing Grindbygg frames, mostly for out buildings and carports.

We are excited to have received a Creative Support for Arts Organizations Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

This is the first grant from the state arts board we have received and are looking forward to putting it to good use.

Dear Friends of Avon Hills Folk School,

Due to the contributions of many 2019 was a good year. Thank you!

It was a year of important firsts for the Avon Hills Folk School that contributed to continued growth and momentum.

We began the year with a successful 2018 Year End appeal that raised money to go towards a new evaporator for the Maple Syrup operation – this got us about half-way to our goal.

We are in the darkest days of the year, yet within days we will begin our slow climb to longer days. Before we know it we’ll be getting ready for the 2021 Maple Syrup season and looking forward to welcoming people back to the Folk School.

2020 was a bust in terms of holding classes and inviting people back to the Avon Hills Folk School. But, we did take advantage of the pause and made great strides towards the future. With the help of many we focused on several key, foundational pieces critical to our future growth.

Thank you for making the 2020 Bouja a huge success! Even though it looked a bit different this year due to COVID-19, we had a wonderful day and enjoyed seeing so many of you.

A big thank you to everyone who came out, we hope you enjoyed the Bouja you brought home with you. It was an incredible day with incredible people in the splendor of the fall colors.

Can’t wait for next year!