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DIY Blacksmithing w/ Tod Kershaw

August 31, 2024 @ 10:00 am 4:00 pm

WP Blacksmithing photo

About the Workshop: DIY Blacksmithing

What can I make with a  piece of scrap metal?  Is this something that can be worked in the forge?  Will it make a good knife or chisel? Join instructor Tod Kershaw as he guides us through these questions! 

An expert at blacksmithing functional metalwork from found and scavenged steel, Tod will share know-how about blacksmithing basics and how to sustainably source quality materials.  This class will empower students to find metal, tools and fuel and teach you what to do with it. All of the materials in the class will be 100% found, foraged, reclaimed & reused…even the coal!  This workshop prioritizes process over products, but everyone should go home with something they made.

In this workshop, participants will:

  • Look over a pile of metal, discuss what the pieces are, and talk about what can be done with them
  • Choose a piece of steel from the scrap pile and make something from it
  • Learn the basics of blacksmithing, including tool use and safety
  • Learn how to identify useful scrap steel and appropriate uses for different qualities of metal

This class will be held outdoors under a shelter on Saturday, August 31, 2024, from 10 am – 4pm near Barnardsville, NC. This class is suitable for Beginners to those with moderate experience. The minimum age is 12 with adult / guardian supervision.

About the Instructor: Tod Kershaw

Tod Kershaw (he/him) has been a Firefly Gathering instructor since its beginnings, in addition to teaching at Forest Floor Wilderness Programs and various earthskills gatherings throughout the southeast.  An engineer turned dumpster-diving fringe dweller, Tod left the mainstream, but kept his cleverness.

Equitable Pricing Model $125 – $50

* Please click here to learn about your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!

In order to make our workshops more accessible, we offer two price options for each class, with an additional Equity Discount for qualifying individuals. Please consider these options and select your price at checkout.

  • Sponsor Price $125: For those who have enough to share, thank you for being a Sponsor. This is an opportunity to contribute towards the cost of the class for someone else.
  • Standard Price $85: The Standard reflects one person’s share of what it costs to produce the class and cover basic expenses.
  • Equity Discount $50: We offer an additional Equity Discount for those from the following communities who support reparations and/or an equitable redistribution of wealth and would not have access to this workshop without this discount:

Thank you for helping transform the world into a culture of abundance, resilience, and opportunity for all.

Which Price Option is Right for You?*

*Please check your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!

Class Price includes all Materials for the Class

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Lily Harlin

Bookkeeper

Lily is an artist, creator, and dreamer. Since a very young age, she has been immersed in the natural world and draws heavy inspiration from the wild. Though her medium changes frequently, Lily’s art and expression always incorporate an element of the organic and unpredictable. She got her associate in fine arts in 2023, and now volunteers at her school as a ceramic studio monitor. She hopes to open a studio of her own one day to have a place to teach and inspire others. In addition to doing commission work, Lily has been creating many graphics for The Firefly Gathering since 2019. Lily grew up in the Earthskills community from the time she was eight years old, so having the opportunity to grow and give back in so many ways has been incredibly fulfilling. No matter where she ends up, this group of people and ideas will always hold a special place in her heart.