Course:
Place-TEK
Learn about the relationship between people, materials and the Land.
Course Overview.
Join us at our woodland camp for a transformative experience exploring the deep connections between craft, kinship, and the land. This course offers a unique opportunity to engage with the natural world in meaningful ways by discovering how human relationships can be thoughtfully nurtured through the materials and ecosystems that surround us. By carefully considering the diverse and often unexpected natural materials within your watershed environment, you’ll learn how these elements serve as a foundation for a deeper sense of place and belonging.
On this journey, you'll discover the connections that link us to nature, revealing untold stories of the land. Explore traditional skills and age-old knowledge to foster a deep relationship with the vibrant, more-than-human world. From crafting with local materials to building shelters and practising subsistence, you'll gain a deeper understanding of coexisting with the land sustainably.
As we live, eat, and learn together as a community, we will gather around the campfire daily to share stories, reflect on our experiences, and strengthen our relationship with Land. These shared moments will deepen our sense of kinship and help us recognize how profoundly the land supports us daily. This course is more than just an exploration of crafts—it's a joyful journey into the heart of the community and a chance to cultivate a deep relationship with the environment that nurtures and sustains us.
Through this immersive experience, you’ll gain valuable skills and insights that will enrich your connection to nature and to those around you, fostering a lifelong relationship with the land and community.
You will learn how to:
Use traditional ecological knowledge to develop a deep understanding of natural materials.
Recognise the role of natural materials in creating a sense of ‘place’.
Understand the future role of TEK in creating deep, regenerative relationships with the Land.
We will cover;
Crafting Workshops: Engage in creating tools, baskets, or pottery from locally sourced materials, embodying the tactile and tacit knowledge of place-based living and illustrating how materials shape our connection to the land.
Animal Tracking and Plant ID Sessions: Through guided observation and interaction with local fauna and flora, participants will explore how multispecies geographies form and how kinship emerges through shared landscapes.
Watersheds and Exploration: We will learn about the local watersheds and how it affects the Land. We will also explore how these water systems connect diverse ecosystems and human communities across the landscape.
Traditional Ecological Practices: Learn subsistence techniques such as planting, seed saving, and harvesting, grounded in TEK, to understand sustainable food systems and regenerative land use.
Crafting with Fibres and Natural Dyes: Learn how to forage for and use local plants to create natural dyes and fibres, recognizing the role of place-specific materials in shaping cultural identity and ecosystems.
Foraging and Preservation Techniques: Learn foundational subsistence skills, such as foraging and preserving food, which embody TEK and foster a more profound kinship with natural cycles and ecological health.
Storytelling Circles with Ecological Themes: Join storytelling sessions to share traditional narratives that connect human experiences to natural landscapes, highlighting how watersheds shape culture.
Be the first to know when this course is available.
Private Course Option
Details
Instructor: Paul Moseley
Places: We have a small group size of a maximum of 8 guests to ensure we create a subtle atmosphere in the woods and that you get a very high amount of interaction time with the instructor.
Duration: 4.00 pm Friday to 4.00 pm Sunday
Accommodation: This course is run from a woodland camp, where you will set up your tarp or tent and share a communal campfire and other facilities.
Location: Run in a beautiful private woodland area in Staffordshire. You will receive the exact directions with the booking pack.
Kit: A complete list is provided on booking, but you will need only warm clothing, a sleeping bag, and other basics.
Other Information
This course is fully catered, and all meals are prepared as a community. Please inform us of any dietary requirements.
Under 18's must be accompanied by a participating adult
Please note the terms and conditions before you book
This course is also available to groups and organisations that wish to undertake this learning journey together. Please contact us to discuss this further.
