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Earthskills Gathering 2019

Fri Sep 20, 16:00 - Mon Sep 23, 15:00

Blue Hippo Farm, Greyton

ABOUT

Welcome to the EARTHSKILLS GATHERING – a hands-on celebration of heritage crafts and skills in support of a low-impact lifestyle, Africa style! 


How it works:

Prebooked participants will sign up to learn the crafts/skills on offer during five scheduled sessions of two hours each during this three-day event. 


No more than 10 participants will attend each workshop session, unless otherwise indicated. 


(Important note: In order to maximise this learning opportunity for those attending, Skills Tickets are limited to 100 participants, excluding our volunteer and support team, so don’t delay your booking!) 


Registration for the sessions will happen between 8.30am and 9.30am each morning, giving those who are still finding their way into the crafts the opportunity to try out a few different skills during the festival. 


Four repeat spaces will be allocated for each workshop (following the first one), for those wishing to deepen their learning in a particular skill/craft.


The following skills have been confirmed for this event: 


Woodcarving (Right Mukore)

Cordage / net-making (Rene Bahloo)

Bush skills (Rein Buyze)

Xhosa basket weaving (Handmade NPO)

Forging (Keegan West)

Khoi medicinal plants (Chief Stephen Fritz)

Wild clay (Belinda Blignaut)

Pondo mat making (Handmade NPO)

Felting (Karen Platte)

Leatherwork (Dael Lithgow)


In addition to learning practical skills to support a low-impact lifestyle, participants will be treated to live music (Howz the Moon, on Saturday, and Luyolo Lenga, on Sunday) and story-telling by the Balisa Nathi Storytelling Collective each evening round the fire, as well as a wholesome vegetarian meal (catered by Loretha of FreeRangeFoods in JBay), also on Saturday and Sunday evening. 


All other meals are self-catering. 


As this is a FAMILY-FRIENDLY event, a Youth Programme (for children aged 3 to 6, 7 to 10 and 11 to 13 – three different groups) will run alongside our workshop sessions, so be sure to bring the kids!

TICKETS INCLUDE

Full Event Skills Ticket LATE BIRD includes: 
5 scheduled craft/skills workshops 
3 nights camping (using own tents and gear) at Blue Hippo farm
2 vegetarian meals (Saturday and Sunday evenings)
Khoi ceremony, live music and story-telling
Unlimited access to farm walks and swimming 

* The reduced price Full Event Skills Ticket for those staying elsewhere includes everything but the camping. 

Full Event Youth Ticket (age 7 to 13) includes:
Access to all relevant Youth Programme activities, running alongside our craft/skills workshops
3 nights camping
2 vegetarian meals (Saturday and Sunday evenings)
Fun, friends and a visit to the farm animals. Did we mention the foefie slide?

Full Event Youth Ticket (age 3 to 6) includes:
Access to all relevant Youth Programme activities, running alongside our craft/skills workshops
3 nights camping
2 vegetarian meals (Saturday and Sunday evenings)
Fun, friends and a visit to the farm animals

Limited Access Skills Ticket (camping) SAT/SUN only includes: 
4 scheduled craft/skills workshops
1 night camping (using own tents and gear) at Blue Hippo farm
1 vegetarian meal
live music and story-telling
Access to farm walks and swimming for the duraton of your stay

Limited Access Youth Ticket (age 7 to 13) SAT/SUN only includes: 
Access to all relevant Youth Programme activities, running alongside our craft/skills workshops
1 night camping at Blue Hippo farm
1 vegetarian meal

Limited Access Youth Ticket (age 3 to 6) SAT/SUN only includes: 
Access to all relevant Youth Programme activities, running alongside our craft/skills workshops
1 night camping at Blue Hippo farm
1 vegetarian meal

Limited Access Skills Ticket (camping) SUN / MON only includes: 
3 scheduled craft/skills workshops
1 night camping (using own tents and gear) at Blue Hippo farm
1 vegetarian meal
live music and story-telling
Access to farm walks and swimming for the duraton of your stay

Limited Access Youth Ticket (age 7 to 13) SUN / MON only includes: 
Access to all relevant Youth Programme activities, running alongside our craft/skills workshops
1 night camping at Blue Hippo farm
1 vegetarian meal

Limited Access Youth Ticket (age 3 to 6) SUN / MON only includes: 
Access to all relevant Youth Programme activities, running alongside our craft/skills workshops
1 night camping at Blue Hippo farm
1 vegetarian meal

Indaba ticket (for earthskills activists and practioners) includes:
1 night farm camping accommodation (23 September, own gear needed)
1 vegetarian potjie meal
Access to collaborative Earthskills Indaba sessions

MORE INFO

More about the Earthskills Gathering venue:
Blue Hippo Farm is situated 4km from the picturesque village of Greyton. This beautiful farm is a safe haven for those wanting to unwind, play and explore, and offers good bird watching, hiking and swimming in the dam. 

During our event, you will also be able to meet the resident alpacas and find out more about their care and how to work with the wonderful fibre they produce. 

Camping facilities include a communal kitchen area and outdoor fire, as well as access to the Tipi Village ablutions (toilets and showers). Camping and craft zones will be indicated on arrival.

https://www.bluehippofarm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Hippo

More about our ethos:
Earthskills Africa strives to …

emphasise process over product
embrace local cultural traditions and diversity
share practical, sustainable solutions that support a low-impact lifestyle
empower others – in a way that is personally and culturally relevant and meaningful
create functional (rather than purely decorative) craftware, tools and materials 
support personal creative expression
ensure ethical and sustainable materials sourcing and supply chains
emphasise and actively facilitate connection – to self, to the earth, to one another
where appropriate, impart knowledge on ancient wisdom and practices – remembering the roots that inform our practices today

A note on our ticket exchange: 
In the interest of transparency, please note that Earthskills Africa (the Earthskills Gathering organiser) is a registered NPO (228-077 NPO) seeking to carry out much-needed work within local communities in an effort to empower youth at risk through practical skills rooted in cultural traditions and sustainable earth-skills practices. Should funds allow (when all event expenses are paid), any additional monies raised through this event will be alloacted towards our soon-to-be-launched Earth Keepers programme. If you wish to be notified of our use of these funds, please email [email protected], using simply the subject line “Funding notification”, and we will add you to the mailing list used for such notifications.

A last note:
We are working hard to ensure that every aspect of our offering adds value towards a more connected, sustainable and earth-friendly way of life. If you’re unsure about your choice of craft/skills for this event, or the crafts you hope to learn are unavailable on the day, be assured that this is the first event of many, and exposure to any of the skills on offer is exposure to a hands-on life well-lived! 
 
We looking forward to sharing this event with you!

EARTHSKILLS AFRICA
[email protected]

DIRECTIONS

Earthskills Gathering 2019
Blue Hippo Farm, Greyton
Blue Hippo Farm, Caledon Rd, R406, Greyton, 7233
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