Description

   Balsam Moon Preserve (BMP) is offering Wooden Spoon Carving 101 on Saturday, March 15, 1-5pm.  Instructor Mike Austad of rural Pine River has been carving spoons for about 10 years, along with a variety of other wood crafts, and is excited to share his passion of working with wood. 

There are tricks to the trade including being mindful of the wood grain and how it works when carving, skills using a hatchet to begin initial shaping of your wood block, the variety of carving knives available and what's best for the shaping you desire (“hands on” class requires you to purchase and bring two basic carving knives - approx. $90 for the two, details on the website). 

Participants may sign up as “hands-on” and actually work with the knives you purchase and wood, hatchets and axing stumps provided by Austad.  Another option is to participate as an “observer” and not have to purchase the carving knives if you are unsure of wanting to pursue the craft. There is a sliding fee scale for this class and participation is limited to six.

Austad has been working with wood most of his life and picked up spoon carving in retirement.  He finds the wood off his property or via tips from friends who know he's always ready for more wood to create spoons, bowls and more.  This is his first time teaching a class and he's eager to share this fun craft with others desiring to create and use natural resources for functional uses. There’s a certain pride in crafting usable tools / utensils from wood you’ve harvested off the land via a fallen tree.

BMP is a non-profit organization sharing an alternative, sustainable, spiritual place of peace, honoring the earth and all living things. Additional sessions through 2025 include: mushroom and wild edibles foraging, wattle fence creation, cooking with wild mushrooms, seed saving and more. They offer trails, demonstrations of solar uses and alternative building methods, gardens, a labyrinth, a children’s story walk along one trail, overnight stays, pizza nights in the summer and opportunities to gather in community sharing our common humanity.

     To sign up for a class or for more information about Balsam Moon Preserve visit the website at: https://balsammoonpreserve.wixsite.com/balsam or FB, email BalsamMoon3148@gmail.com or call 218-587-3808.