**Funded - because Permies ROCKS** Traditional Skills School- "Driftless Folk School" KickStarter

I am not affiliated with the Driftless Folk School, but I think I would like to be. They are trying to build a permanent site for their classes. And only have a couple of days left to meet their goals.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/342371785/driftless-folk-school-puts-down-roots

I don't know if sharing kickstarter projects like this are appropriate...I couldn't find anything against this, although I feel sort of weird for doing so.

Morgan - thanks for bringing this to our attention - it looks like a GREAT project!



Growing Roots and Raising the Roof

Students and instructors re-discover their innate creativity and connection as a community of 'makers' at the Driftless Folk School. We are entering our eighth year of teaching inter-generational, classes on farms, in schools, private homes, community buildings, and anywhere we can find space. The next stage of our school's bright history is to "put down roots" on a beautiful 120 acre farm in rural La Farge, WI. Our campus home will offer our students and local community:

•a place that is recognized nationally as a center for skills training in hand crafts, homesteading, agriculture, natural building and earth skills that are quickly disappearing in our culture.
•a place that models resilient technology and land stewardship
•a place that reflects the ingenuity of our teachers and students and the local community
•a place that enlivens the spirit, inspires imagination and strengthens the bonds of belonging
•a place that celebrates the seasons and the distinctive diversity of the Driftless region of SW Wisconsin.



Community at work

I apologize to anyone who may have wanted the maple syrup. Anyone who missed out on it is invited over for waffles...if they get funded. If not, no syrup for me...no waffles for you. While I am not affiliated with DFS, I feel that their success would be greatly beneficial to the town that I am trying to put roots in. Now you know one of my motives.

Agreed - this is a worthy project. They have 7 days to raise about $9,000.

I want waffles.

Well this project needs just under $5K in five days to make it. Thanks to all the awesome folks who've donated so far - donating $4000 in just two days! Will they make it?

And I love some of their very creative perks! Wild game dinners, hot pots feasts and Chinese massage...wish I lived closer!

Is a slightly negative POView allowed here?

I'm not understanding why much / most / all of the cash needed for these projects don't come from the projects?? Why not run classes in building these cabins - with students contributing sweat equity. Doing is the WOFATI way to learn and I'm sure Paul doesn't do it without an expectation of profit. Why not these dudes???

Further, the people who intend to teach there ought to be able to kick in the cash to help themsleves??? $25k is not a major ask but among the HOW MANY classes (teachers) they say they have??? It seems like chicken feed. I note the $150 pledge bonus is a ticket to a one day course. Sounds like pre-selling tickets, a fine idea. Sell a season ticket - sell a book of vouchers - if this "non-profit" (at $150 per ticket per day there must be some decent "non-profit" somewhere.

Sorry, this doesn't do it for me - kickstarters seem to better suit a genuine inventor or innovator.

We need more schools like this! Back it, baby!

Looks like they are a non-profit that has grown to the point where they need their own space to expand their programming. They have recently received land and this is a capital fund to help buy the materials for the buildings.

From their website:

Why We Need Your Support?
--The money we are requesting is for all of the supplies to complete the buildings and put in the road.
--We have professional local designers, builders, and workers volunteering to build our first buildings.

Also:

We Have Found Home - First Buildings Begin
--a timber-frame outdoor classroom (16' by 20') community constructed. Facing an amphitheater of hillside seats for performances.
--a beautifully crafted 3 season cabin for two interns and
--a road into the 5 acres of campus

And recall that Paul has done numerous kickstarters to help fund projects in The Lab and on The Land. What these folks are doing is no different.

Thanks to Paul's mention of this project in the dailyish email, these folks raised over $4000 yesterday - their biggest day yet! Way to go Permies - funding, building and being the change we all want to see in the world!

They have just over $3000 to go to meet their goal.

They are starting to build the foundations of the buildings. Here are some pics:

Intern Jess burning support posts to stop rotting



Lowell auguring post holes:

Funded!

Holy cats!!! Permies people are fundraising animals! You guys rock! Waffles at my place...open invitation to anyone that finds themselves in western Wisconsin.
The t shirts are mine, I don't want anyone stretching out the neck holes...I hate when they get like that.