A week at the Folk School is about much more than taking a class. Many students choose to stay in the school’s rustic dormitories (although AirBNBs are another option). You can walk to class along wooded paths or across the rolling hay fields. Meals are served family-style in the dining hall and announced by the ringing of a giant bell. Special diets are accommodated.
Each day begins with “Morningsong” in the common room. After class, there are activities planned like the Tuesday night folk dance, demonstrations by that week’s teachers, and the Thursday night jam at The Crown on the hill in Brasstown. The week ends with the student show, where all the classes display their work. If you can stay Friday night, there’s always a performance on campus.
And of course, you’ll be in class for six hours each day. My class begins with simple recipes and a focus on the process of bread-making. We have lots of discussion on the first day, covering the science of dough and how it affects bread: Why does using a poolish add flavor? Why do sweet breads require special yeast? How can ovens be adjusted to improve crust and loaf expansion?
By Tuesday we’ll be feeding sourdough starters and churning out loaves of bread. Mid-week, students are invited to choose their own recipes or to continue working with mine. The class covers the entire process so beginners should be comfortable; more experienced bakers can make additional recipes. (Contact me if you’re wondering if the class is right for you.)
You can learn more about the Folk School at their website.
Here’s a blog post from one of my students.
Photos from my June, 2014 class.
Registration for my classes is available at the Folk School’s website. (They should appear here when they are open for registration.)