Editor's note: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. You can listen to this conversation by clicking the LISTEN button above.
Rick Brewer: A Traverse City folk school is teaching area residents about community connection by learning basic skills. WCMU's Tina Sawyer talked recently with Green Door Folk School's Founder and Director Kristina Schnepf.
She started the discussion by explaining how their folk school differs from other adult education classes.
Kristina Schnepf: I did quite a bit of research to identify whether there was a need in our area truly for an additional educational environment, and what I found was that the opportunity lied in kind of longer- form classes, more focused and intentional. Where you come, you spend a day or two focused on something you're not running and picking up the kids and dropping them off and getting dinner and whatever and squeezing a. 2 hour class. In between, it's meant to be kind of retreat, like slower instructions. So there's a lot of practice gaining competence and confidence in that craft.
Tina Sawyer: Sure. So would you say Christina in light of recent ice storms that had happened in Northern Michigan and in the UP that had forced many residents with power outages to face some old school issues... that maybe some of your classes offered may benefit people if something like that should have ever happen again.
KS: Yeah, part of the intent of folk schools in general and green door folk school specifically is to teach youthful. Really kind of getting people back from buying everything they consume and and being able to fix things that they own and take care of things and build things and not only for themselves, but to help their neighbors. You know, it sounds kind of old fashioned, but in reality it's very much whether we have ice storms or not. It's very much what people are craving and you know as to to be in connection with their neighbor.
TS: Will there be any classes such As for that off the grid type learning?
KS: Yeah, We do. We are, we're. Actually working on a survival skill type class for the summer. So we're trying to get the right instructor and the right kind of environment for that. We're also going to be doing a repair cafe. Which is a a free community event that will happen at the Public Library and. City there will be a bike repair station, electronics repair, garment repair, toys with the intent of helping teach them how to fix that short in your blender or toaster or whatever that you know makes you have to throw it away and buy a new one, and that will be coming in June.
TS: I can't fix anything I try. I watch the YouTube class and I... Sometimes you just need that hands on.
KS: Exactly. And having somebody show you like on your item like this wire goes right there. And so when this happens again, you've got it. We're doing a cooking class, but it's not just a regular cooking class. You'll actually be going to the farm and getting some of the materials that will be used in the class. And then. Spend some time in a beautiful kitchen preparing. Things and then complete the meal with a focus on the art of gathering just how you interact and create community around the table. We actually have had such an amazing response. We could not have expected how excited people are about what we're doing.
TS: Are you seeing more of older people or is there a mixture or are you hoping to make it more diverse?
KS: Diversity is absolutely a a goal in our initial classes we have found is this beautiful mix of generations. Our first class is in carbon class and we had somebody that was 27 and somebody that was maybe 82, you know, and everything in between. And male and female and whatever. And those people sat there in a circle, carving their spoons, talking about all kinds of things, talk about housing and whatever and sharing perspectives. But we may never have that interaction again.
TS: And is there anything else that I haven't asked a question about Christina that you'd like to add?
KS: Yeah. The only thing I might add is the the level of community that we've seen created in these classes has been really, really remarkable. We've seen everything from one of our gardening classes. The class has shared all their emails and is going to do a garden tour among themselves, separate from the school. And it it proves our theory and all the research that you know you hear about in the world right now that people are just craving community and being part of something. And bringing people together under a common craft or skill or capability and letting people be human. It's really beautiful.
Learn more about the Green Door Folk School HERE.
