Folk Craft Revival
39 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsJoin host Daniel Howell as he explores making and learning traditional skills and crafts with topic experts. From foraging to blacksmithing, weaving to hide tanning, each episode contains guidance and tips for learning to make or do it yourself. Inspired by the survival, homesteading and handmade communities this podcast covers a variety of traditional knowledge for the person that is interested in practical self-reliance, rural skills and artisan craftsmanship. Operating on the belief that knowing how to 'do things' is one of the most underrated skills in modern life and that the joy of craftsmanship and providing for yourself is rapidly becoming lost, each topic is presented in a way to provide you with the necessary information needed to get started now and make something useful in your life! Learn to make what you need, understand how things work, and imbue your life with the self satisfaction that comes from working with your hands! Homesteading, self-sufficiency, primitive technology, traditional knowledge, ancestral skills. . . Folk crafts. These are my passions, lets share them together.
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Episodes
Carving and Whittling with Brian Carver
December 15, 2022 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MB#038. -- The ability to shape wood with a knife is one of the most elemental skills to have, and plays at least a minor role in the vast majority of other crafts. Sadly, knife skills in general seem to be in decline. . . Though that's something we encourage around here! Brian, from the Carving is Fun channel on Youtube, helps educate and get folks involved in carving and came on the podcast to chat about carving, whittling, tips, techniques, and suggestions. I found this interesting becau...
Bone: Understanding the Material, it's Uses and History with David Constantine
December 06, 2022 05:00 - 1 hour - 61.8 MB#037. -- In the craft world of the modern age, bone seems to be a rather neglected raw material that is rarely used for much of anything. But that was not always so, and fortunately Dave was willing to come on the podcast and share a little bit of his experience and insight on the craft of working with bones and antlers. Dave is a re-enactor of the early medieval period and a bone crafter who specializes in replicating artifacts of that time period. We chat about the history, archaeology,...
Wool & Spinning with Josefin Waltin
November 26, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MB#036. -- How many of you have ever knitted your own garments from wool you processed and spun yourself? Just the thought intimidates me.... and also draws me in wanting to learn more! In one of Josefin Waltin's Youtube videos she shows just that - and since her channel and website showcase a variety of other wool processing and spinning content I reached out to see if she would be willing to talk to us about spinning. We cover a bit about processing wool, the time involved in spinning, ne...
Explanation (& Ramblings....)
October 04, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MB#035. The Folk Craft Revival podcast is back!!!! If you can't tell, I'm excited! I've really missed putting together this podcast -- chatting with guests and getting to know some individuals involved in heritage skills and retaining and reviving the knowledge that was once fairly common. Hopefully you've missed it as much as I have! While I'm looking forward to where things are going moving forward I also wanted to give a little bit of an explanation into why I shut the podcast down for the...
Finding Color on Your Local Landscape with Scott Sutton (The PIgment Hunter)
June 14, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 62.8 MB#034. -- Scott Sutton (aka The Pigment Hunter) joins us to chat about the art of finding color on our local landscape. We discuss how he got involved with making paints and sourcing pigments, his philosophy on sourcing materials and minimizing his personal environmental impact, some of the base methods and tools used to source pigments and process them for paints, and where beginners like you and I should start. Big thanks to Janey Chang for suggesting I chat with Scott! Links to resource...
Finding Color on Your Local Landscape with Scott Sutton (The Pigment Hunter)
June 14, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 62.8 MB#034. -- Scott Sutton (aka The Pigment Hunter) joins us to chat about the art of finding color on our local landscape. We discuss how he got involved with making paints and sourcing pigments, his philosophy on sourcing materials and minimizing his personal environmental impact, some of the base methods and tools used to source pigments and process them for paints, and where beginners like you and I should start. Big thanks to Janey Chang for suggesting I chat with Scott! Links to resource...
Foraging, Homesteading and Self Reliance with Jesscy Dean
March 12, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 49.4 MB#033. This week I’m chatting with Jesscy Dean (aka The Wild Homesteader) about foraging, food preservation, sourcing your own food, and old skills like that in general! Food seems to be the theme of this conversation, and why not? It is THE fundamental skill set that! While a lot of our conversation revolves around food, Jesscy is involved in a number of other crafts and we talk about her felting, hide tanning, and general ethos of self reliance as well. Links to resources mentioned can be...
The John C. Campbell Folk School with Dea Sasso
March 06, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 47.9 MB#032. -- Dea Sasso, a Resident Artist from the John C. Campbell Folk School joins us to chat all about the school, it's history, types of classes it offers, how it has changed her life, and much more! Our conversation centers around learning about the school for those who have never heard of it. The folk school has been a fixture of the local area for almost a century, and in addition to providing hand-on learning to the nearby communities, it has also been actively involved in preserving an...
Getting Started with Natural Navigation with Tristan Gooley
February 19, 2021 13:00 - 54 minutes - 35.9 MB#031. -- Are you paying attention to the landscape around you? Can you explain the differences and changes you observe? Although it may seem foreign to many of us in the modern world, people around the globe have navigated for centuries using the clues found on the natural landscape around them. In this episode I chat with Tristan Gooley who has made it his work learning and teaching how to interpret the signs we see. Or indeed, the signs we don't see, but are there if we learn to pay attent...
Making Charcoal and Biochar with Rebecca Oaks
January 28, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.5 MB#030. Rebecca Oaks, author of the book Making Charcoal and Biochar, joins us to discuss charcoal, it's history and uses, traditional methods of making it, what it looks like from a small scale charcoal burners perspective, and suggestions for making some at home. I will be undoubtedly making a few batches this summer-- for use in the garden and the grill if nothing else! In the quest to learn to make things from the ground up, charcoal making is arguably one of those fundamental skills that ...
Primitive Skills and Nature Connection with Sammy Kells
January 17, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MB#029. Sammy and I chat about his introduction to primitive/survival skills, what draws him to them, woodworking, traditional southern Appalachian crafts (banjos in particular), ocarinas and more. For Sammy, nature connection is the primary reason behind practicing survival skills, and we chat a bit about that and some of the teaching he has been involved with. Links to resources mentioned in the episode can be found at: folkcraftrevival.com/29
Blacksmithing, Apprenticeships, Pushing your Limits and Becoming Better at your Craft with Sam Ritter
January 01, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 48.3 MB#028. -- In this episode I chat with professional blacksmith Sam Ritter about his journey as a craftsman. We chat about how he got introduced to blacksmithing, what his path was to going full time, why it was important for him to be around and learn from a master smith, becoming better at your craft and pushing your capabilities, his use of modern tools in a traditional craft, and much more. We also spend a bit of time chatting about traditional apprenticeship and journeyman stages and how ...
Fish Leather and Ancestral Skills with Janey Chang
December 24, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 60.6 MB#027. Janey joins us to do a quick dive into how to tan fish leather using tea leaves (or other tannin sources). We also chat about her introduction to fish skin tanning and ancestral skills in general, why she loves ancestral skills, oil tanned fish leather, natural dyes, teaching others and nature connection. I loved the enthusiasm that Janey brought to the conversation! Links to resources mentioned in this episode can be found at: folkcraftrevival.com/27
Fleece Rugs, Sheep, Heritage, and the Shetland Islands with Helen Hart
November 18, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MB#026. -- In this episode I chat with Helen about some of the traditional crafts she's involved with, how she became involved in them, and what draws her to them. We talk about keeping sheep, natural dyes, fair isle knitting, burning peat, the fleece rugs she makes, and so much more! Like many of us she is a dabbler in many traditional crafts, with a passion for learning about heritage crafts-- in particular those from the Viking era. Oh yes, and I also spend way too much time asking about ...
Home Butchery and Using the Unusual Bits with Jake Levin
October 02, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MB#025. Do you raise and butcher your own livestock? Process the game animals you hunt? Regardless, this time of year would have been the traditional butchering season in northern latitudes and just about every rural family would have been processing their yearly meat in addition to putting up their harvest for the winter. Many of us no longer raise, slaughter, or butcher our own animals anymore (something I think keeps us too removed from the reality of what is going on with our food), but I...
Blacksmithing with Vern Barker
September 18, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MB#024. In this conversation we discuss getting started in blacksmithing, what you'll need, where to find tools, what to look for before buying, general guidelines for smithing, etc. We also cover some suggested resources and Vern's experiences teaching blacksmithing. Fun conversation! Links to resources mentioned can be found at: folkcraftrevival.com/24
An Overview of Flintknapping with Mike Cook
September 03, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MB#023. This week we're talking flintknapping-- learning about making and using stone arrowheads and knives. We discuss the knapping from a high level perspective, with a little bit of how-to and the principles involved, a bit of considerations for using your stone blades and tips, things to keep in mind when getting started, etc. I consider flintknapping to be a foundational skill, almost all other technologies are based around having a blade in order to cut with, and I thoroughly enjoyed cha...
Exploring the History, Archaeology, and Construction of Throwing Sticks with Michael Frank
August 14, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 44.8 MB#022. In this episode we delve into throwing sticks (rabbit sticks, boomerangs, whatever you wish to call them) and how to make and use them. Michael is also an archaeologist by education so we discuss some of the historical and archaeological examples from around the world. Throwing sticks are perhaps one of our earliest hunting tools and it is always fascinating to learn how to create something like this that was a very natural weapon common to a large percentage of the world. From a funct...
A Beginners Guide to Scrimshaw with Rich Williams
July 31, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB#021. -- In this episode we talk through the principles of scrimshaw and how it is done, from prepping your work piece to tools needed, techniques used, legality issues, and so much more. We also discuss the history of scrimshaw as a nautical art and how it has progressed through history to the present day. If you're curious about trying scrimshaw, or simply like to learn about the common crafts and arts of our past, this episode is for you! Links to resources mentioned can be found at: fo...
Building and Designing Rocket Stoves with Tom Mills
July 24, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 54.3 MB#020. -- Could you use a cooking source that heats up quickly, uses very little fuel that is easily gathered from your landscape, and is something you can build with a minimal amount of time, cost, or skill? A rocket stove just may be the answer! In this episode I talk with Tom Mills (from the GreenShortz DIY Youtube channel) about his experience in building rocket stoves and some of the principles involved as well as his suggestions for folks building their first one. Like many of you I am ...
Willow Chair Making with Justin Roberts
May 29, 2020 20:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MB#019. -- You know those old-time rustic bent willow chairs? I think of them as being a product of the Great Depression, others think of them as being emblematic of gypsies. Regardless, they are one of the mostly forgotten folk crafts of our past.... And today we're talking about how to make one with Justin Roberts of Walk the Willow! I've been curious about these chairs for years, but have never known anyone who could show me how to make one. Fortunately, Justin was willing to chat about it!...
Yurt Building, Coppicing, and Green Woodworking with Alex Cole
May 15, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 64.8 MB#018. We talk about a variety of fun topics in this episode including yurt building (and touch on some other traditional/natural building techniques), managing a coppiced hardwood forest, English green woodworking, and traditional lime wash and lime production in the UK. Alex and his wife run Little Foot Yurts which produces handmade yurts from coppice wood they've harvested themselves. Additionally, they also run an event catering business renting out the yurts they've made, and teach works...
Locating Wild Clay: Finding, Processing, and Testing Clay for Pottery with Andy Ward
May 08, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MB#017- If you're interested in making your own pottery you first need to know how to find and process the clay that is local to your area. In this episode we're discussing how to find and identify local wild clays for making your own handmade pottery. We also dive into how to refine and purify that clay, as well as temper it and test it. Andy does a lot of replica pottery that revolves around the archeological pottery of his area, so we also discuss the cultures of the Southwestern U.S. and h...
Rug Braiding (....& a bit of Rug Hooking) with Dianne Tobias
April 17, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.9 MB#016- Rug Braiding, that unique American craft developed as a way of turning scrap cloth into something useful. . . and gorgeous too! Learn about the craft of making traditional braided rugs as well as the art form it has evolved into. In this episode we discuss the origins of braided rugs, how they're made, how the craft has evolved, and getting started on making one of your own. Links to any resources mentioned can be found over at: folkcraftrevival.com/16
Pole Lathes, Production Work, and What is "Craft"? with Jarrod Dahl
April 10, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour - 51.2 MB#015. We talk about the construction and use of pole lathes, compare them with modern electric lathes and discuss what drew Jarrod to pole lathes to begin with and why he chose to focus on turning rather than other traditional crafts. This was a fun conversation that also delved a little into the philosophical realm as we talk about the reasons for pursuing production work, focusing on one design or craft to obtain mastery, "realcraft", and functionality. Catch the links to any resources me...
Fundamentals of Wet Felting with Rosemary Wells
April 03, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 53.7 MB#014. Want to learn to felt? Have wool and need something to do with it? Consider trying felting! In this episode of the Folk Craft Revival podcast we discuss the basic method and theory behind wet felting wool as a way to create hats, boots, mittens, vests, rugs, etc. I was introduced to felting last fall when I took a class from Rosemary and made my own hat and I think it's the type of project many of you will enjoy! Links to any resources mentioned in the episode can be found at: folk...
Dry Stone Walls with Bryce Hollingsworth
March 09, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MB#013 - Today we're talking construction, dry stone construction! Dry stone masonry is an age old craft, we have examples of it going back centuries.... amazingly you can still find a lot of it intact too! If you're like me, the first examples that pop into mind are the stone walls found throughout the UK and the new england states here in the U.S. I've always been fascinated by them, I love craft that endures for so long. Plus it's beautiful! This week we're talking with modern craftsman Br...
Introduction to Human Powered Machines with Tamara Dean
February 27, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 49.5 MB#012- Thanks for tuning in! This week we're chatting about human powered machinery and tools with Tamara Dean, author of The Human Powered Home. Her book definitely got my gears going on useful things I could make to help out around the place, and it presented material in a way that made creating or modifying these machines very approachable! If you're interested in self-reliance, understanding the principles behind how a lot of machines operate (homemade & vintage), building stuff yoursel...
Native American Flutes with Charlie Mato-Toyela (Blue Bear Flutes)
February 20, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 53.9 MB#011- We talk craft, work ethic, music, perfectionism.... and a little bit about flutes too! Charlie Mato-Toyela from Blue Bear Flutes joins the podcast in this episode to discuss Native American flute making. If you're interested in the principles of flute making and what it means to be a flute maker this episode is a great one! . . . For that matter, it's a great one anyways! I think just about everyone loves the soft sound produced by Native American Flutes. There aren't many instruments...
Fingerweaving basics and history with Kris Daman
February 07, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 42.7 MB#010 - We discuss basic fingerweaving methods and what was most commonly made using this method. In addition, we talk about the some of the history surrounding fingerwoven materials (primarily belts and sashes) and what native materials were utilized in North America pre-contact and during colonial times. Most importantly, this sounds like a project that is portable and can be done somewhat distracted once you learn. . . I'm always glad to hear about projects like this since I don't always...
Traditional Winter Camping with Kielyn Marrone
January 24, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 52 MB#009- Woven snowshoes, wool clothing, canvas tents with stoves, toboggans-- the old school equipment used by trappers in the forests of the northern United States and Canada. In this episode we discuss winter camping and expeditions done in a traditional manner! Since it's winter, why not discuss winter and ways to enjoy it more thoroughly? Kielyn Marrone from Lure of the North joins us to discuss how she and her husband got started in traditional winter expeditions and what that looks like...
Getting Started in Wildlife Tracking with Casey McFarland
January 17, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 55 MB008- I had a great chat with Casey McFarland about the why's of wildlife tracking, getting started with tracking, connection with place, and overall getting to know and interact with the natural world. Casey has several decades of tracking experience, is co-author of several field guides/tracking books and is the current president of Cyber Tracker North America (an organization devoted to reviving and promoting wildlife tracking). Overall, this is a phenomenal episode where we discuss tracki...
Integrating Traditional Skills Into Modern Life with Neal Ritter
December 17, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MB#007- What traditional skills and crafts are actually useful in modern life? In this episode we discuss the integration of traditional skills into modern life with Neal Ritter (who was kind enough to to come on and share his philosophy with us). I really enjoy his all around holistic and positive outlook on things. We discuss subsistence living, what traditional & primitive skills he enjoys practicing in his life (without purposefully making it difficult), where he definitely prefers to go m...
Knowledge Vs Experience
December 14, 2019 02:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MB#006- Some of my recent thoughts and reflections on knowledge vs experience. The difference between having an intellectual understanding of how something works or is done, and having DONE it before and what a difference that can make.
Weaving With Willow-- Making Willow Baskets With Nick LaHaise
December 05, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 77.7 MB#005. Learn to weave with willow! Nick LaHaise from Hearth Folk School joins us to discuss weaving willow baskets. We cover everything from harvesting willow to handle attachment. This episode provides a great introduction to willow weaving for beginners and is a great refresher for those who have dabbled with weaving in the past. Check out the links to any resources mentioned in the episode over at folkcraftrevival.com/fcr5
Bark Tanning Rabbit Hides & Other Small Furs
November 21, 2019 16:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MB004- Learn to tan without chemicals! Jessie Watson Brown from the Oak and Smoke Tannery joins us to discuss bark tanning furs and teach us some of the ins and outs of traditional bark tanning. If you raise rabbits for meat, hunt small game, or know anyone else who hunts this episode is an essential tool in learning how to utilize the fur! Warning: from here on you won't look at animals quite the same.... you'll be eyeing that roadkill rabbit on your way home from work wondering what you cou...
Traditional Mead Making-- Brewing Mead Using Wild Yeast with Jereme Zimmerman
November 08, 2019 23:00 - 57 minutes - 39.9 MB#003- Learn how to make mead using traditional methods! Mead is one of the simplest alcoholic beverages to make, and is perhaps one of the oldest as well. In this episode Jereme Zimmerman, author of Make Mead Like a Viking, joins us to discuss mead making using wild yeast and limited kitchen equipment. We go through the process from start to finish using a basic one gallon example batch to explain what is happening and why. Perfect introduction to traditional brewing for a beginner or some...
Making and Using a Bow Drill Fire Set with Donny Dust
November 08, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 53.6 MB#002- Have you ever wondered how to start a fire without modern materials? Do you want to develop the skill of making a fire by friction? Listen in to learn methods, tips, and techniques from primitive skills practitioner and wilderness survival instructor Donny Dust as he teaches us how to make and use a bow drill fire set! Making and using fire is perhaps one of the most fundamental skills of human existence. It is what sets us apart and makes us unique. . . It is also one of the lost s...
Welcome to Folk Craft Revival!
November 08, 2019 21:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MB#001- A podcast for traditional skills enthusiasts! Do you love to learn new skills? Exploring our past? Work with your hands to create what you use? Welcome! Join Daniel Howell (the host) as he talks about his history with traditional skills and crafts and discusses the upcoming focus of the Folk Craft Revival Podcast. If you want hands on actionable information on making, learning and doing projects ranging from primitive through the artisan era, this podcast should be your new go-to resou...