AM SESSION: Living Roots Folk & Field School: Autumn Session

At Living Roots Folk & Field School, children will have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of seasonal, hands-on skills that nurture creativity, resilience, and a connection to both nature and community. While each week is guided by the rhythm of the season, your child may explore:

• Fiber arts like felting, weaving, and simple sewing
• Hand-dipped candles and beeswax wraps
• Bread baking, churning butter, and crafting herbal teas or honeys
• Natural dyeing using plants and flowers
• Ink-making and botanical printing
• Basket weaving, broom making, and simple woodworking
• Making journals, field guides, and printing their own t-shirts
• Growing herbs and exploring worm composting
• Building bat boxes or gourd birdhouses
• Pressing apples for cider or making applesauce
• Primitive clay work and pottery
• Bookbinding, stamp carving, and creating zines
• Nature journaling and storytelling
• Learning to make cordage and herbal salves
• Working with mushroom logs and natural materials

We’ll also explore the deeper values behind each skill- resourcefulness, observation, and care- and give children the time and space to make things that are both meaningful and beautiful.

Living Roots is more than a crafting class- it’s a return to rhythm. In a fast-paced world, this program invites children to slow down, work with their hands, and connect with nature’s pace. Through traditional folk skills and seasonal observations, we nurture curiosity, creativity, and a deep sense of place.

We follow the Wheel of the Year, using the turning seasons as a guide for both our projects and our celebrations. Children learn not just how to make things, but why these skills mattered- and still matter. It’s about preserving wisdom, building confidence, and fostering a spirit of community care that lasts far beyond the classroom.

Living Roots runs for 12 weeks during the fall season, meeting each Wednesday from 10am-12pm at Tanglewood Hollow. Children should come dressed for the weather, as we’ll also aim to spend time outdoors whenever possible.

Each session includes hands-on projects, storytelling, community building, and a rhythm of reflection. While most classes take place at our home base, once a month we’ll explore off-site locations around the Concord area- woods, fields, or waterways that deepen our connection to the natural world.

All materials are provided, and projects are designed to be accessible to a wide age range, allowing for creativity and individual expression. Families are welcome to drop off or stay nearby- our goal is to create a welcoming, warm environment for all. Please note: we are unable to accommodate younger siblings within our area during Living Roots Folk & Field School.

To help us keep our space cozy, welcoming, and functional throughout the season, we ask each family to provide:

- A pair of indoor shoes or slippers that can stay at Tanglewood Hollow for the duration of the program.
- A dedicated mug for tea, cider, or warm seasonal drinks- we’ll store it for them here.
- Appropriate clothing for the weather, including layers for any outdoor time.
- Clothes you don’t mind getting messy! Many of our projects involve natural dyes, ink, clay, or plant-based materials that may stain.

We encourage durable, comfortable clothing that allows your child to fully engage with our projects without worry. Expect dirty hands, inky sleeves, and proud smiles.

Living Roots Field & Folk School is led by Allyson Mulcahy and Sarah Dunham-Miliotis, two homeschooling moms, seasoned nature nerds, and longtime educators with backgrounds in environmental education. Together, they bring a shared love of traditional skills, outdoor exploration, and child-led learning. With years of experience guiding children in both structured and freeform settings, Allyson and Sarah create a warm, welcoming space where curiosity is encouraged, hands get messy, and learning comes alive through connection to the natural world.

Meet them below!

Living Roots runs in all kinds of weather- rain, shine, or snow flurry! As long as it’s safe to do so, we’ll be outside exploring, crafting, or celebrating the season, so please dress your child accordingly with warm layers and weather-appropriate gear.

We follow Concord, NH’s public school system for weather-related cancellations. If Concord schools are closed due to inclement weather, our program will be canceled for the day as well.

Due to the nature of this program and the limited number of spots available, we are unable to offer refunds after registration. If a session needs to be canceled due to weather or illness, we will extend the program by adding make-up days so your child won’t miss out on the experience.