I belong to a list serve that announces events and classes that of interest to me. Today is a listing for a class on growing mushrooms. The $25.00 includes all of the supplies needed to grow three logs of shitakes which is actually quite a lot of mushrooms. I have already taken the class as has Bruce and it’s quite good. Yesterday, I went to sewing circle and finally learned how to put together the pattern for slippers that I have struggled with for the past year. The experienced sewers didn’t charge for their services and there were several machines available as well as fabric and notions. This center is free. On Friday, I worked at a nursery where one can exchange labor for plant credit. The owner teaches as you work and I learned quite a bit about growing bamboo as well as getting some plants I really wanted for my day’s labor.
I think that most places offer this kind of opportunity for learning new skills. In the coming years, the skills necessary to do things you may have traditionally hired someone else to do and the ability to reuse, repair or recycle things you used to replace will be critical. Those skills exist and our task is finding the experts and learning from them. Networking is a new word for the old habit of asking around. Schools, churches, community centers and service clubs usually have bulletin boards with this kind of information. If you don’t see what you want then post a “looking for” notice.
So what do you do? Knit, sew, bake bread or make yogurt, Ill bet there is someone out there who wants to learn what you have to teach. Maybe you could start the group that shares skills and talents. As an aside, mot people aren’t that fussy. I finished Phoebe’s slippers and they pretty mush look like a first time attempt of a blind monkey but I know how the pattern works and the next pair will be better. I was so grateful to have someone willing to walk me through it that I was certainly not critical of the results. Next up is having a woman come to teach a class on maintaining our machines. We will all pitch in a couple of bucks for her gas and time and walk away knowing how to clean and oil our machines and fix the small problems that always seem to come up.
I am off to the dentist this morning for my 6 month cleaning. I keep up on this stuff. I plan to die with all my teeth while dancing a jitterbug with a devastatingly handsome gentleman at my great, great, granddaughter’s wedding.
April 12, 2010 at 7:00 am
I like classes, never get to them these days, but I would if i could.
I learned how to take care of my machine from my grandma. She believed that if you operate something, you should be able to maintain it. the new ones are pretty touchy though, so a lesson would be good.
April 12, 2010 at 7:02 am
It’s true that most of us have skills others would like to learn. And I have to pass along something I learned when I transitioned into teaching while still being a life-long student. You don’t have to be a certified expert in something to teach it. Just standing up in front of a class of interested adults gives you instant credibility. Really. If you’re doing something on a regular basis, even if it’s not professional quality work, you can teach it, at least to beginners. And there are lots of beginners out there and those who want to begin. So teach!
April 12, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Nice timing – I needed the encouragement today. My first attempt at gardening last year was a dismal failure – probably because I bit off too much. But today there’s an email that a new vegetable garden for the food bank will be installed in five huge blocks that used to be planters (now not ornamentally planted due to budget cuts)… and would anyone like to volunteer to help the local service club maintain the gardens? First organizational meeting is Wednesday at lunch – can’t wait! And if I can get some lettuce and carrots planted into old litter buckets at home, I might reclaim some of last year’s enthusiasm.
April 13, 2010 at 6:06 am
Very good point Kate. In fact, my best teachers never have credentials. Hey Herbal pagan. We aren’t that far away. I’ll call you with the date and you can join us. Joy. I am so glad you are willing to try again. Expert gardeners failed last year. It was not the year to judge your gardening skills by.
April 13, 2010 at 5:50 pm
A friend called me recently and asked if I was interested in learning how to knit socks. I reckon that is great – and so useful as well. I have never been able to knit, but I may as well try once more. In return they want to have an edible forest garden like what I’m trying to set up at ours at the moment, so I’ll be going over and helping them with that. I’ve also been showing people how to make cheese – not that I’m a professional or perfect at it, but at least I can show the process I’m following. My friends love it, although the local cheese company, when they heard someone is making cheese at home, was pretty annoyed as they didn’t think I followed ‘industry practices’, what with milking at home by hand (plus of course they charge for their courses, even though I wouldn’t be any competition at all).