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   Winter has settled in and the busy holiday season has passed. Now is the time to reflect and learn new skills during this slower time. Classes and activities at Balsam Moon Preserve of rural Pine River are abound and residents are welcome to participate.

   The 2nd Friday monthly Potluck & Ponderings gatherings return starting Friday, January 9, 5:30 to 8 p.m. This is a time to gather, sharing food around the table, and then meeting around the fireplace for discussion on one question drawn from a jar. February 13 and March 13 are additional Friday gatherings scheduled.

   The Transformation Game is being offered January 10 and 11 (Saturday and Sunday) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. This personal growth tool is non-competitive and an opportunity for up to four participants to focus on a personal challenge or goal and grow with input for reflection and new perspectives. This experience may also be scheduled on a custom basis should these dates not work.

An example of a shrink pot, make your own on Jan. 24. Photo Submitted.

   A Wood Carving Shrink Pot class will run Saturday, January 24, 1 to 5 p.m., taught by local wood worker Mike Austad, who taught spoon carving last year. Participants will make their pot from green wood branches using a variety of tools and techniques either leaving the bark on or stripping it, and then decorating it as desired.  These pots are based on the ease of carving green wood and the fact that wood shrinks as it dries. The technique has been around thousands of years and were the beginnings of coopering, barrel making, and more free-form.

   Broom-making 101 is set for Sunday, March 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. taught by local broom-maker Mark Smith of Nisswa. Smith taught the class last year for the first time and it was a big hit with participants being able to make up to two whisk brooms applying different techniques. Old time skills are learned in this class that result in beautiful hand-crafted useful tools, or it can be used as decoration.

   “Sustainable Living in Uncertain Times” guided by Doug Weiss is a four part series offered Saturdays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. beginning February 21 and ending March 14. In uncertain times, providing for one’s needs in a sustainable manner takes on a sense of urgency. Explore foundational issues such as: complexity, systems thinking, net energy, and food sovereignty, as well as applications including sustainable living at home, conservation of energy, food security, regenerative agriculture, sustainable community structures and social networks. These topics will be discussed in the context of life in North Central MN. You may participate in individual sessions or all four for the full picture view.

   BMP is a non-profit organization sharing an alternative, sustainable, spiritual place of peace, honoring the earth and all living things. They offer trails, demonstrations of solar uses and alternative building methods, gardens, a labyrinth, a children’s story walk along one trail, overnight stays, pizza nights in the summer and opportunities to gather in community sharing our common humanity. They are located 10 miles west and south of Pine River (CR 2 to CR25 at 3148 Bungo Creek Ln SW).

   Classes are offered on a sliding fee scale and many are limited. Some classes require you to bring tools such as a hatchet and straight long-blade carving knife for the shrink pot class. To sign up for a class or for more information about Balsam Moon Preserve visit the website at: https://balsammoonpreserve.wixsite.com/balsam, check Facebook, email [email protected] or call (218) 587-3808.

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