The Village is in the Living Rooms24thSeptember
Petersburg is a small fishing town on Mitkof Island in Southeast Alaska. This summer I took a trip with my wife Molly visiting her family's ancestral home. A slate with "1902" chiseled in it rests below the stairs we repaired that week.
Now its Alaska, and you might expect us to have wandered with grizzley (heh), catch tons of halibut or follow moose. While that happened, in part, yet ours days really found us visiting the living rooms of nearly every other house in town. And each person seemed to welcome the Strand family (Molly's parents) like well traveled brothers and sisters. We ended up at dinners with some very old and not so old Norwegians; master storytellers whose journeys always seemed to return to the Sons of Norway Hall (located on the street laid in plank boards). In the town of Petersburg gossip seems to be a healthy thing. The dedication to account for the lives of fellow villagers is incredible and even more impressive is its tone of appreciation. Of course embarrassing, cajoling and amusing stories are told yet more often then not, all Petersburgians (including the yarn spinner) seem mysteriously and wonderfully implicated in the shenanigans of truly enjoying life!
Petersburg is not growing in population or buildings, yet interestingly enough it seems to be a vibrant and healthy community (of course). Everyone looks forward to the harvest of fish and shellfish. Everyone regales the bountiful berry bushes huckle and blue berries. Aside from the tally of what old friends happen to have returned to town on the single airport strip, harvest from the land is the richest topic of conversation. A modern people and a modern village clearly invested in what happens to the land, ocean and one another? Who knew? One may incorrectly think Petersburg is a place "out of time" but I feel its well ahead. We need more living rooms with old Norwegians and more halls where the Sons of Norway meet to dance.
Featured class...
Wild Sodas and Winter Spirits, November 8, 2009 1pm-5pm
Join June Rzendzian for an afternoon of sipping and creating wild-crafted beverages the whole family can enjoy. You’ll be guided through the basics of wine-making, berry soda and cordial-concocting, plus experimenting with some holiday classics.
Adult Class Calendar...
Wilderness Survival Basics Sept 26-27, Nov 21-22 or Jan 30-31
Traditional Bowmaking Begins Oct 1
Fermentation: Kraut & Kimchi Oct 6
Pickling and Brining Basic Oct 27
Sewing & Patterning with Re-purposed Fabric Oct 20
Canning Basics Oct 21
Preventing Colds: Cedar & Oregon Grape Tincture Oct 22 or Nov 8
Simple Plant Dyes Oct 27
Goat Cheese and Yoghurt Nov 3
Primitive Skills Evenings Nov 3-24 Tuesdays
Butchering and Preserving a Pig Nov 4-5
Knot Tying & Ropework Evenings Nov 4-5
10 day skin on frame kayak building Nov 6-16
ROUSS: Nutria Trapping & Skinning by bikes Nov 10-11
Preventing Colds: Cedar & Oregon Grape Tincture Nov 15
Healing Wounds: Plantain Salve Dec 13
Shampoo from Native Plants Jan 24, 2010
Wilderness First Responder Jan 27-Feb 5, 2010 or April 10-19, 2010
Boat Building & Folkcraft Skills Share Jan 4-8, 2010
Healing Teas: Trees of Life Feb 28, 2010
Edible Wild: Spring Greens Mar 28, 2010
Immersion Programs...
9-months to 1-year Wilderness Immersion Begin any term
4 Seasons Permaculture Design Jan 2010-Sept 2010
Winter Term: Boat Building & Folk Craft Full Time
Spring Term: Edible Plants and Homesteading Full Time
Summer Term: Expedition Survival Training Full Time
