Teaching Fundamental Outdoor Skills;

Developing Outdoor Competency; and 

Building Backcountry Confidence

Whether you are a person who is living more simply and providing more for yourself or you are a hunter who has pondered what other gifts an animal provides, this workshop will provide you skills to use as much of an animal as possible.

                                                                                             

Dynamics of Traditional

Animal Processing

                                                                                             

Understanding how to grow or raise one’s own food and how to process that food may soon be basic human skill again. One hundred or so years ago, more people were self-reliant when it came to providing food for the table. As industrial food production took over this process and created a dependence on the producers being the food supplier to the population, people lost these skills. More and more, people are seeing significant challenges in food quality and availability and are seeking out the skills to again be self-reliant when it comes to their food supply.

                                                                                             

Developing Fundamental

Knowledge and Skills

                                                                                             

The traditional Animal Processing Workshop provides students with the opportunity to learn to slaughter, skin, eviscerate, quarter, butcher and cook a medium sized animal (sheep or goat) in a traditional way, using little more than one’s knife.  The methods taught are what one would use to provide meat for a family, similar to methods used on a small farm or while hunting.

                                                                                             

Developing Fundamental

Knowledge and Skills

                                                                                             

The workshop’s two primary goals are first to help people learn ways of being in more control of the food they eat by knowing how to process an animal for food and second to encourage respect for the lives given for food by showing ways of using more of the animal for a healthier diet and for utilitarian items. 

Anatomy of the Animal

Cooking Methods

Hide Tanning

Sinew Bone Intestine Processing

Utility Items from Sinew, Bone, & Intestine

Whether you are a person who is living more simply and providing more for yourself or you are a hunter who has pondered what other gifts an animal provides, this workshop will provide you skills to use as much of an animal as possible.

                                                                                              

Workshop Formats

                                                                                              

We present two different levels of animal processing workshops:

The Traditional Animal Processing Workshop 3-day Workshop is the primary workshop.  It  is guided by the instructors with detailed explanations of every step of the process.  After the instructor demonstrates a step the students share the completion of the step.  The students have ample time to experience the process and ask questions.  This is a three day workshop.

The Traditional Animal Processing 5-day Workshop starts with the curriculum of the standard workshop and is followed by the opportunity for the students to process an animal in small groups of four to six students.  The instructor is more a coach than a guide in this segment of the workshop.  The instructor is available to answer any questions and assist in the learning process, however the approach of second phase of this workshop is for the students to completely process an animal independently.   This is a practical workshop that gives the students an understanding and ownership of the process, which comes only from hands-on learning with time to explore the process.

We often have requests to come to a farm and help process animals for individuals or a family.  These requests allow us to help folks process their animals and provide instruction simultaneously.  For these events, we will tailor the instruction to your interests.  Please contact me for more details and to discuss your interests.

                                                                                              

Registering for a Traditional

Animal Processing Workshop

                                                                                             

The Traditional Animal Processing Workshop is typically 3 – 5 days.  Since each workshop is individually designed for your organization or group we will discuss the design for your particular workshop.

For more planning information…

To start the conversation and discuss a workshop with Jeff or to register for a workshop …

                                                                                              

Let’s Discover,

Explore,

Learn

                                                                                              

                                                                                              

Workshops Provided at

Skills Gatherings

                                                                                              

Florence, Arizona (South of Phoenix) ~~ February

Traditional Animal Processing Workshop
Annually, the week of Feb. 14th, at Wintercount Primitive Skills Gathering
Three – five day workshop.
For more details regarding Wintercount, please visit wintercountcamp.com.

Registration for this workshop is the first day of the gathering.   Please sign up early since the workshop typically reaches capacity very quickly.

Tabonia, Utah (East of Salt Lake) ~~ June

Traditional Animal Processing Workshop
Annually, the week third week of June, at Fire to Fire Gathering
Three day workshop.
For more details regarding Fire to Fire, please visit firetofire.com

Registration for this workshop is the first day of the gathering.   Please sign up early since the workshop typically reaches capacity very quickly.

Rexburg, Idaho ~~ September

Traditional Animal Processing Workshop
Annually, the week of Sept. 14 at the Rabbitstick Gathering
Three – five day workshop.
For more details regarding Rabbitstick, please visit the Backtracks site.

Registration for this workshop is the first day of the gathering.   Please sign up early since the workshop typically reaches capacity very quickly.

Boulder, Utah ~~ October

Traditional Animal Processing Workshop 
Annually the first or second weekend in October at the Harvest Festival
Two – three day workshop.
For more details or to register, please contact us.