Ann Arbor Free School DIY Fest to be held this afternoon

While I think I’m a little to old, angry and anti-social to participate personally, I thought that I’d pass along the following information about today’s workshops being offered by the folks at the Ann Arbor Free Skool. For those of you unfamiliar with the whole the free skool movement, here’s how the Ann Arbor group explains it:

The purpose of the Ann Arbor Free Skool is to provide free, accessible and inclusive classes, workshops and events that promote the exchange of ideas, knowledge, alternatives to consumerism & capitalism, empowerment and community through teaching, learning and self-sufficiency.

We are working to create free classes, workshops and skillshares in and around Ann Arbor.

We mean “free” as in lunch and “free” as in speech.

We would love to have you join us as: an organizer, teacher, student, flier putter-upper, info distributor, etc.

The topics covered will include a wide range but often fall under the categories of social justice, sustainability, alternatives to consumer capitalism and liberation.

And here’s the overview on today’s event.

IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY! COME OUT TO DO-IT-YOURSELF FEST (2PM-11PM, LUTHER HOUSE – 1520 HILL ST) TO LEARN SOME NEW SKILLS AND MEET SOME NEW PEOPLE AND DANCE TO SOME BOOTY-SHAKIN’ MUSIC!!!!!!

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!!!

FULL DAY OF SKILLSHARES AND WORKSHOPS, including Vegan Cooking, Guerrilla Gardening, Bicycle Reconditioning, Conscious Movement (Spinning Poi, Juggling, etc.), Yoga, Stencils 101, and many more…

LIVE PERFORMANCES ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY from Dr. Device, Ghoulie, Future Genies, Patrick Elkins Shadow Puppet Show and more supris…es!!!!

FREE STORE — Bring whatever you have that you think someone else would like (clothes, knick-knacks, food, art, tools, books – anything) and pick up some jazzy “new” treats for yourself. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll take home.

COMMUNITY POTLUCK AND BONFIRE — Bring a dish to pass for The Shared All Day Potluck. We need your help to make this happen. No food = No potluck.

Wondering what the Free Skool experience is like? Check out photos of past classes, events, and DIY Fests at our flickr photo albums. And, Yes! We have video too! You can watch us on YouTube. Just type in “Ann Arbor Free Skool” in the search.

And, here, if you’re curious as to what the event is likely to be like, is footage from last year.

Those of you looking for something a little less social to do today, can join me at the U-M Natural History Museum, where they’ll be unveiling their new exhibit on whale evolution featuring the 50-foot-long skeleton of the 37 million year old Basilosaurus.

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11 Comments

  1. TeacherPatti
    Posted April 9, 2011 at 9:25 am | Permalink

    I’ve heard of this before and while I’m not angry (usually) and not anti-social, I definitely feel way too old. Nevertheless, if there is ever an Old Person’s Old Skool for the Slightly Angry, I’d be in.
    Seriously, it’s a cool idea and I hope they swag out today in a stupid way (the kids tell me that this is a good thing)

  2. Hugh Grant
    Posted April 9, 2011 at 2:48 pm | Permalink

    Some day we’re all Fuck(ashima)ed??

    http://counterpunch.org/kamps04082011.html

  3. Wendy K
    Posted April 9, 2011 at 3:00 pm | Permalink

    I could teach them the benefits of wearing shoes and refrigerating food.

  4. Lance Crocket
    Posted April 10, 2011 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    I’m tempted to make fun, but it’s a damned good idea. I’d love to learn about canning. Perhaps we could do something in Ypsi.

  5. Andy C
    Posted April 10, 2011 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    A class in lawn care would be good too.

  6. Posted April 10, 2011 at 3:45 pm | Permalink

    I like the idea of a free school. I’d love to learn some stuff about butchering, canning, hunting, sewing, carpentry, and any number of other things. Maybe when the people start rising up, we can seize one of Ypsi’s recently decommissioned schools and turn it into a free college.

  7. Caring Parent
    Posted April 10, 2011 at 9:12 pm | Permalink

    Given the recent push to eliminate child labor laws, the Free School is proving to be way ahead of the times. In the new economy, learning about butchering, canning, hunting, sewing, carpentry, will put these kids way ahead of the outdated public school emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic! (I humbly suggest they add shoe shining and utensil sanitization to the curriculum. Andy C’s idea is good, too.)

  8. furborg
    Posted April 12, 2011 at 2:26 am | Permalink

    I can teach about furry sex, how to initiate a fur pile, and how to get body fluids out of fur.

  9. Alice Krum
    Posted April 12, 2011 at 10:47 am | Permalink

    Growing Hope is excited to be presenting:

    Vegetable Gardening 101
    DATE: Mon. April 18th

    Come learn vegetable gardening basics from an experienced master
    gardener! Melissa Kesterson is an experienced organic gardener,
    past-director of local non-profit Project Grow, and a lead master
    gardener helping support congregations growing for donation in Food
    Gatherer’s Faith and Food program this year!

    You can expect to learn about:

    • Site Location and Garden Size
    • What to Plant; Plant Rotation
    • Soil Preparation
    • Garden Design
    • ABC’s of Watering
    • Strategies for Handling Pests

    TIME: 6PM-7:30PM

    LOCATION: SPARK East, 215 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti

    COST: $5 (or $3 for Growing Gardens members)

    HOW TO ATTEND: Drop-ins are welcome or pre-register by calling (734)
    786-8401 or emailing info@growinghope.net

  10. TeacherPatti
    Posted April 12, 2011 at 12:43 pm | Permalink

    I can teach you all how to darn socks, can foods, make and preserve pickled goods and brew beer. I also learned how to make cheese once and could probably remember how if I had to.

  11. Steve Swan
    Posted April 12, 2011 at 1:47 pm | Permalink

    I know how to efficiently and effectively pass STDs.

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