Melody @renaissance.woman.mn lives in the Minnesota Big Woods with her husband and five children. She is a baker, archer, homesteader, homeschooler, and more. Her goal is to help people learn the old ways of working, making, and doing.

During this workshop Melody will be bringing her “nerdy historical accuracy” to expand your knowledge of traditional archery. Participants will learn the fundamentals of shooting a traditional bow while exploring the history, techniques, and skills that have been passed down through generations.

Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to refine your form, this workshop provides a safe and supportive environment to develop confidence with traditional archery equipment. Participants will lern proper stance, shooting form, and range safety while practicing under Melody’s guided instruction.

You’ll learn:

• The history and traditions of archery

• Parts of a traditional bow and arrow

• Essential range safety practices

• Proper stance, grip, and shooting form

• Arrow nocking and release techniques

• Tips for improving accuracy and consistency

• Equipment care and maintenance

• How to continue practicing and developing your skill

Melody will be bringing all the targets, arrows, and bows along so participants can have the opportunity to shoot multiple rounds, receive personalized coaching, and build confidence with traditional archery equipment.

Many of our past attendees have went home inspired to get their own bow and take up hunting to feed the family the most holistic way possible!

Tonya @thewildcarrotfarmstead is a business owner, artist, farmer, and homesteading mama to six children. 

She believes in preserving tradition by working hard, living simply, taking it slow, and not being afraid to live against-the-grain of society out on her Missouri farmstead!

She put her degree in holistic health science to use, by running a natural, sustainable skincare line featuring goat milk, farm-raised and foraged medicinal plants, and hand-rendered tallows. 

For this workshop, discover the traditional art of transforming one of nature;’s most time-honored ingredients into luxurious, nourishing skincare. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll follow the complete journey of tallow - from raw beef fat to a finished, handcrafted skin balm.

Participants will learn the process of sourcing, trimming, rendering, purifying, and whipping tallow while gaining a deeper understanding of why generations before us relied on this simple ingredient for healthy skin. Together we’ll explore the benefits of tallow, how it compares to modern skincare products, and how to customize recipes using herbs, botanicals, and essential oils.

You’ll learn:

• How to select and prepare raw beef fat for rendering

• Traditional methods for creating clean, odorless tallow

• The science and benefits of tallow based skincare

• How to infuse tallow with herbs and botanicals

• Formulating whipped body butters, balms, and salves

• Safe storage and shelf-life considerations

• Tips for sourcing ingredients and making products at home

Sarah is an artisan of cloth and thread. Her brand, Angeline Design, focuses on creating leather, barefoot, grounding shoes and linen garments for the clients committed to sustainability, craftsmanship, and quality.

Give new life to second hand fashion while building practical sewing skills in this hands-on workshop.

Whether you’re new to sewing or looking to gain confidence with clothing modifications, this class will help you transform overlooked pieces into customized wardrobe favorites.

Participants will learn how to read and interpret commercial sewing patterns, understand sizing and pattern markings, and apply those skills to real-world alterations. Working with thrifted clothing Sarah has brought, you’ll explore techniques for adjusting fit, updating styles, and making creative changes that extend the life of existing garments.

You’ll learn:

• How to read & understand sewing pattern instructions and symbols

• Taking measurements and selecting the correct pattern size

• Understanding pattern layout, grainlines, and fabric requirements

• Basic grament fitting principles

• Common clothing alterations such as hemming, taking in seams, and adjusting length

• Creative ways to update and personalize thrifted garments

• Sustainable approaches to clothing repair and reuse

Join Sarah in this workshop to learn how to make and tailor your own clothing.

She will walk you through how to read and follow a simple pattern.

You’ll also gain the confidence to alter your own clothing at home while you practice on a few thrifted pieces Sarah has brought to share. A few sewing machine stations will be set up to let you have a go and leave the retreat ready to tackle your own wardrobe.

Ramsey Harvey (she/her/hers) works at the intersections of art,
ecology, and human health. She uses experiential education to support
students and enjoys working with all ages and skill levels. Ramsey is
a multidisciplinary artist currently working in wood block printing,
willow basketry, loom weaving, natural dying, and zine production.
Additionally, she is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor
in the State of Missouri working as a trauma-informed Community Mental
Health Clinician. Ramsey lives on an urban farmstead with her partner and kiddos. You can
often find her making tea, reading poetry, and nature journaling.

Discover the beauty of transforming plants, flowers, roots, and kitchen scraps into stunning natural colors.

In this immersive workshop you’ll learn the timeless craft of natural dyeing and explore how the landscape around us can become a palette of rich, organic hues.

Participants will learn the fundamentals of preparing fibers, creating dye baths, and using natural mordants while experimenting with a variety of botanical materials. Together we’ll uncover the magic hidden within everyday plants and watch as fabric is transformed into one-of-a-kind pieces infused with the colors of the season.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify and harvest plants suitable for natural dyeing

• Preparing fabrics and fibers for lasting clors

• Creating vibrant dye baths from flowers, leaves, roots, and food scraps

• Natural mordants and color modifiers

• Techniques for achieving unique shades and patterns

• Sustainable practices for working with botanical dyes.

Each participant will go home with a Cultivate hand towel ready to display in your kitchen and bring your own fabric along to experiment with the color options Ramsey brings.

Step back in time and discover the art of preparing nourishing meals using one of humanity’s oldest cooking methods.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to confidently cook and bake over an open fire using cast iron cookware, dutch ovens, and simple homestead techniques.

Together with Melody & Anna Maria, you will explore temperature control, essential tools, and time tested recipes while preparing a meal from scratch.

Participants will gain practical experience baking rustic bread, cooking a hearty, farm-style one pot dish, and mastering the skills needed to create delicious food in the great outdoors.

You’ll learn:

• How to build & maintain a cooking fire

• Fire safety and cooking zone management

• Dutch oven and cast iron techniques

• Open fire baking

• Traditional recipes

• Tips for cooking with seasonal, farm fresh ingredients

Sarah Withers lives in Waddell, Arizona on a two-acre micro farm with her husband Zack, their four children, and their herd of dairy goats. What started as a few rows of cut flowers quickly blossomed into a full flower farming operation. Sarah sells mixed bouquets at her roadside flower stand, offers CSA bouquet subscriptions, and takes on the occasional small wedding. She farms with an emphasis on regenerative practices, building healthier soil with every season, and uses her photography background to bring the farm's story online, building connection with her local community.

Participants will learn the fundamentals of growing cut flowers, including variety selection, succession planting, harvesting techniques, and post-harvest care to maximize vase life.

After exploring the flower field, you’ll harvest seasonal blooms and foilage before learning the art of bouquet design. We’ll cover color harmony, focal flowers, fillers, and greenery selection. Participants will work together to create their own market-style bouquet while gaining practical knowledge to start growing flowers for personal enjoyment or local sales.

You’ll learn:

• How to select cut flower varieties for continuous seasonal blooms

• Basic flower farming principles for small scale and homestead production

• Succession planting techniques for extended harvests

• Soil preparation and fertility practices for healthy flower crops

• Proper harvest methods for maximum vase life

• Post-harvest handling, conditioning, and storage of cut flowers

• Color theory and bouquet composition basics

• How to create balanced, professional-looking arrangements

• Tips for pricing and selling bouquets at market or farm stands

• Packaging and presentation techniques for retail sales

• How to confidently harvest and arrange a beautiful bouquet.

Whether you’re dreaming of a flower farm, adding blooms to your homestead, or simply love working with flowers, this workshop offers inspiration, practical skills, and plenty of hands-on experience.