Last weekend we attended Keeper of the Old Ways; a two-day homestead festival. We went Friday just the two of us to explore and meet new people and my in-laws brought the kids to us on Saturday. We had many classes to attend so we divided up to learn more. Kathryn and I attended an emergency medicinal herb class while Adam and the other three kids attended a pork processing class. Kathryn and I explored for awhile and met up with some folks we knew because the pork class was two hours. We met up for an early lunch and to chat with some more friends. After lunch we walked around and the kids learned a new way to start a fire, blacksmith skills and the picked the brain of a guy who makes beautiful knives and other weapons out of rocks and minerals. Kathryn and I attended a goat milk lotion class followed by a goat cheese class. Adam and the other 3 learned how to graft fruit trees and how to manage livestock guardian dogs. We finished our day overwhelmed with new information and wiped out but thankful for time away as a family. Only 3 of us stayed awake for the 2 hour drive home while we listened to The Two Towers.

Sunday we spent the afternoon catching up on homestead projects after being gone for 48 hours.

I decided to add in foraging to our homeschool week. The kids usually get frustrated with me because I pull off the road often to forage all kinds of things. Well, I taught them Monday morning what we were looking for and once they spotted certain “weeds,” they got so excited to forage! All the herbs are dehydrating now to either make teas or tinctures.