Village Classes
FELTED BOOTS
February 14, 15 and 16, 2025
What could be cozier than custom-fit felted boots? Transform raw tufts of wool into dense, warm boots that will fit your feet perfectly and keep your toes oh-so-warm.
BACKPACK BASKET MAKING
February 14, 15 and 16, 2025
Come and weave your very own backpack basket using various hardwoods. Your finished product will be durable, functional and truly lovely!
LEATHER SHOE MAKING
February 14, 15 and 16, 2025
Create your own custom leather shoes with a course that covers design, sewing, and weatherproofing. After this class, you’ll experience the satisfaction of wearing beautifully unique shoes you’ve crafted yourself, designed to be both sturdy and comfortable.
SEW A LEATHER BACKPACK
February 14, 15 and 16, 2025
Spend three days in community creating an attractive leather backpack that will be both practical and durable.
BOW MAKING AND ARCHERY
February 15 and 16, 2025
In this two-day village class, you will learn the skills to build a longbow. When your bow is ready to shoot, we will spend an afternoon learning “instinctive” shooting techniques.
KNIFE HANDLE CARVING
February 16, 2025
Craft a custom knife handle tailored to your hand, learn to attach it to a blade, and create a personalized leather sheath.
ARROW MAKING
Sunday, February 16, 9:00am-5:00pm
In this one-day workshop, you'll create stylish, custom-sized arrows tailored to your draw length, while exploring techniques and topics such as point types, shaft materials, nock cutting, and fletching styles.
Meet Your Instructor
Peter Yencken
Peter started as a bowyer while working for Tom Brown's Tracking and Wilderness Survival School. He has taught the art of making bows to 2000+ people of all ages. He also makes and teaches knife (of different size and shapes) making; backpack basket making; felt boot making; as well as leather bag, hat and shoe making. Peter has been on a lifelong search for skills that help people reclaim a feeling of self reliance while also providing a focal point for observing oneself more deeply. He currently lives in Ticksville (a.k.a. Charlottesville, VA) and learns much wisdom from his daughter.