Learning New Things
Hey friends! Are you stuck at home without anything to do? Do you want to take this opportunity to learn a new skill, or skills? Have you always thought about living a more eco-friendly, more simplified life, but don't know where to start? If you are looking for any of these things, I've got just the thing for you! As you might be aware, I teach homesteading skills classes but since the current health crisis, I haven't been able to. So I thought...why not teach them here? I always like sharing what I'm doing with you all and I do try to add some teaching opportunities here when I'm not talking about myself. LOL. Anyway, let's start with learning some easy skills such as making your own food covers, salves, lip balms, and candles.
There's a whole movement over on Instagram called 'Stay Home'. You can even use the badge in your stories to show how you are surviving 'staying home'. You can learn a new skill and share it here and over there to let us all know how you're surviving. And holding up. And what you've been up to.
I currently sell several 'classes in a kit' for those of you who can't attend one of my classes. These are all classes that I teach. You can see more about my class schedule here. If you are interested in learning how to make your own, I have the following DIY kits: beeswax food covers, salves, lip balms, and candles (kits will be forthcoming this week. If you'd like to purchase one, please send me a message). You can read all the details here and here. And those totes? They're hand stamped by me!
These kits are a good teaching opportunity for those of you currently homeschooling your kids. You can learn science and math--think 'this is a solid, we're combining ingredients, we're adding heat, and it become a liquid. Then we let it cool and now it's back to a semi-solid'. And measuring out ingredients counts as math. I also teach how to convert ounces to tablespoons as part of my STEM curriculum when teaching these classes at after school programs. I'm happy to help you with that should you decide to go that route.
You can also just grab a kit and make it at home for yourself and your family. Since these kits use only three basic ingredients it's a good way to cut down on reliance to the grocery store or big box stores. And you'll be doing something good for your skin and/or the environment.
If you don't want to go through the steps of making things yourself, I do have salves and lip balms ready made. Salves come in two different sizes (here and here) as do the lip balms (here and here). Can we talk about my salves for just a sec? When I first started Chicken Librarian, I started with handmade knitted items and salves. I tried different versions of the salves until I found beeswax, sunflower oil, and lavender essential oil within just a few short miles from where I live (total distance-150 miles). And I knew that my salves would always be the same formula from then on. It was, and still is, important to me to source my ingredients locally and sustainably. So that's why you'll only find Lavender Ruffled Feathers salve. And all my products are named after a chicken feature. Because why not!
I'm constantly learning new things. Like right now I have sourdough starter that I've been feeding for a week, but I haven't a clue what to do with it. But I'll be reading more about it and then diving into yummy bread soon! I also like sharing that stuff with you all. So I'll be back this week periodically to share more learning opportunities. And teaching opportunities for that matter. How about some seasonal baking STEM ideas? Or we can learn about sourdough starter together? Or whatever you'd like! Just let me know.
'til next time
-k
xoxo