Five-Day Deer Hide Tanning Course
Date: Weekends of November 2nd and 3rd and November 9th, 10th, and 11th
Time: 9:00am start on all days
Price: $500 for the whole course (including a hide and camping on the property)
Registration and Payment: Please make payment upon registration to info@earthhaven.ca If you wish to pay cash or send a cheque instead, please let us know so we can arrange this. Please note however that to guarantee your spot we need to receive payment in advance of the workshop.
Location: 1619 Vanderwater Rd, Thomasburg, ON K0K 3H0
Facilitators: Sebastian Bauermeister
Summary: Participants will leave this course with a tanned hide, handmade tools, and an understanding of the tanning process. Stay tuned for more details to come, but for now we have outlined the tentative schedule below.
Day 1: Saturday November 2nd
We will begin the day with an opening circle. In the morning we will prepare for fleshing the deer by making the fleshing beams/ fleshing tool, and setting up the fleshing stations. After lunch we will continue tool making, start fleshing the deer and begin the bucking process (putting fleshed hide into lye solution).
Day 2: Sunday November 3rd
In the morning we will take a wander and gather punk wood. After lunch we will make the frames and hide scraper. We will have a closing circle to close the first weekend of the course.
Day 3: Saturday November 9th
We will begin the day with an opening circle. This will be followed by graining the hide and beginning to rinse the hide. After lunch we will skin the deer legs and discuss other items you can make with the deer and different tanning processes. We continue making any tools needed for the following day, and finalize the wringing and softening work area.
Day 4: Sunday November 10th
We will make the dressing solution, dress the hides and work on wringing, framing, and softening the hides.
Day 5: Monday November 11th
We will prepare the hides for smoking and final softening. We will set up the smoking station and make sure the punk wood is processed into small chunks. We will then smoke the hides. Lastly, we will have a closing circle.
