Raspberry Island Folk School

What's Raspberry Island Folk School?

Our summer 2023 classes are now complete. Thanks to the students who were here -- we enjoyed meeting you!

We need to take a pause now because of some health issues that are still unresolved and are a priority right now. We hope to see you next year!

We admit, the term "folk school" may be a bit grand for what we do -- but Raspberry Island Folk School is a folk school in its truest sense: simply a place where people learn new skills using their hands.

We started offering summertime classes in blacksmithing and pottery on our island several years ago, mainly taught by Gary. Over the years, offerings included workshops taught by well-known and sought-after instructors in the folk arts.

We've been featured on the TV show Common Ground on Lakeland PBS (thank you, Scott Knudson!). You can see the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NCfcofcDn8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR03CH9WAaVF7ta5ryoqfI7WhWbkW-bMJnOpBz_1vq8daO13rNBWWy-LxAI

Raspberry Island is located on beautiful, historic Big Sandy Lake, about 2 1/4 hours straight north of the Twin Cities, and about an hour west of Duluth. (For more information about life on Raspberry Island, see http://raspberryisland.blogspot.com/)

All seven acres of Raspberry Island, looking from SSE to NNW

We hope you can join us this summer for an art and nature break!

Because we run our folk school from our home, visitors are welcome by prior arrangement only by calling Gary at 218.851.6085. Classes are held only from May to September; there are no winter classes. Thanks!

Classes 2023

Thank you to all the students who took blacksmithing and puukko classes this summer! All classes are now finished for 2023.

Beginning Blacksmithing

THIS CLASS IS FULL

Saturday, May 20, 2023
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Instructor: Gary Hill

Course fee: $50 (includes all materials)

Limited to 6 students, age 14 and older

A beginning class in the principles of blacksmithing using a coal-fired forge. No previous forging experience required. This one-day class includes starting and maintaining a coal fire in the forge. The project will apply most of the typical techniques used in blacksmithing, such as hot-cutting, tapering, twisting, bending, punching, and riveting.

What to bring: Bag lunch, water bottle, safety glasses, boots, ear protection, leather gloves and cotton clothing.

Beginning Blacksmithing

THIS CLASS IS FULL

Sunday, May 21, 2023
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Instructor: Gary Hill

Course fee: $50 (includes all materials)

Limited to 6 students, age 14 and older

What to bring: Bag lunch, water bottle, safety glasses, boots, ear protection, leather gloves and cotton clothing.

Forging the Finnish Puukko with Birchbark Handle

THIS CLASS IS FULL

Saturday, June 17 and Saturday, June 24, 2023

9:00-5:00

Instructor: Gary Hill

Course fee: $150

Limited to 4 students, age 14 and older

The Finnish Puukko is a traditional short-bladed knife for the working man or woman, commonly carried in a sheath on a belt. This class will involve forging the blade from carbon steel, shaping, hardening, tempering and fabrication of a handle from multiple layers of birchbark cross sections stacked on the tang. (Sheath-making will not be a part of the class.)

What to bring: Bag lunch, water bottle, safety glasses, boots, ear protection, leather gloves and cotton clothing.

Forging the Finnish Puukko with Birchbark Handle

THIS CLASS IS FULL

Sunday June 18 and Sunday, June 25, 2023
9:00-5:00
Instructor: Gary Hill
Course fee: $150
Limited to 4 students, age 14 and older

The Finnish Puukko is a traditional short-bladed knife for the working man or woman, commonly carried in a sheath on a belt. This class will involve forging the blade from carbon steel, shaping, hardening, tempering and fabrication of a handle from multiple layers of birchbark cross sections stacked on the tang. (Sheath-making will not be a part of the class.)
What to bring: Bag lunch, water bottle, safety glasses, boots, ear protection, leather gloves and cotton clothing.

Pottery

Open Pottery Studio

We are considering the possibility of having “Open Studio” time this summer. If you have had some experience with pottery and would like access to equipment to rekindle that interest alongside others of like mind, this may work for you. Gary plans to put together a schedule of when he will be in the studio, and if there are three or four others who are interested in working together at those times, it would be more fun than working alone to fill the kiln. We have wheels, slab rollers, kilns, glazes and all hand tools for your use at a nominal fee if you bring your own clay.

If you are interested in Open Studio, please contact Gary at hillx001@umn.edu for more details and costs.

How to Register for a Class, What to Bring, Driving Directions, and Contact Information

To register for a class, print and fill out this form, and mail or scan/email it as indicated on the form. If you use the postal service, email Gary at hillx001@umn.edu a week or two after mailing to confirm that we have received your form.

WHAT TO BRING

Your instructor will let you know what materials and tools you'll need for your workshop. Bring the following as well:

Appropriate clothing and footwear for your workshop (this usually means old clothes you don't mind getting dirty or stained)
Insect repellent
Personal beverages and snacks, medications as needed

WHERE TO FIND US

Raspberry Island is located on Big Sandy Lake, about 10 miles north of McGregor, MN, just off Highway 65. Our landing is at 50569 218th Place (see map below). This is where our dock is, and where we will pick you up when you arrive. There is parking available.

Note: Use the directions provided below rather than GIS, as GIS often leads people to the wrong place.

Mailing address and phone:

Gary and Janet Hill

209 W 7th St

Duluth, MN 55806

Gary's cell phone: 218.851.6085

Janet's cell phone: 218.259.4090

Gary's email: hillx001@umn.edu

Janet's email: janethillnew@gmail.com (email is preferred)

REFUND POLICY

If we must cancel a course, students will receive a full refund of any payments made for that course. Students who cancel their enrollment more than 21 days prior to the first day of the class will receive a refund of the class fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee to cover preparation costs. To honor the time and energy our instructors invest in preparing for courses, students who cancel their registration 21 days or fewer prior to the first day of the course are not eligible for a refund.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From the south: From the Twin Cities, follow Highway 65 to McGregor (about 2 hours north). Driving north out of McGregor, MN on Highway 65, go 9 miles. On the way, you'll pass Zorbaz restaurant on the right, and Eagle Point Resort after that. When you come to mile marker 127, start looking for a sign that says "Bridge Road." Turn right on Bridge Road (the street sign is Long Point Place). Go 1/2 mile, and turn left on 218th Place. Go a couple tenths of a mile, and you'll see our mailbox: 50569 218th Place. The best way to park is to continue up the road and turn around, and come back to park on the lake side of the road. Be sure to leave room for the postal worker if it's a weekday or Saturday.

From the north: Coming south from Jacobson on Highway 65, you'll see Big Sandy Lake on your left. You'll pass the overlook/memorial on your left, and Fisherman's Bay tavern on your right, and then you'll need to start looking for a sign that says "Bridge Road." Turn left on Bridge Road (the street sign is Long Point Place). Go 1/2 mile, and turn left on 218th Place -- this is the first opportunity you'll have to turn left. Go a couple tenths of a mile, and you'll see our mailbox: 50569 218th Place. The best way to park is to continue up the road and turn around, and come back to park on the lake side of the road, along the wooded roadside there by our driveway.

Accommodations and Photo Gallery

Accommodations

For 2 or 3 day classes, free optional accommodations are rustic (outhouse facilities; no running water). If you prefer to tent, there are places to set up camp. If rustic living isn't your thing, we can recommend local hotels and resorts.

Beds are available in our cabins (shown below) on a first-come/first-served basis, free of charge. You will need to bring your own bedding (sleeping bag and pillow).

Photos of Classes and Class Projects

2022

Gary's Beginning Blacksmithing class

Below: Bud Larsen's Raku From the Ground Up class

2021

Chrissy Valento's flat-felting class, 2021

Gary Hill's sword made from Damascus billet (billet was made in Jeff Harper's 2019 workshop)

Birch bark weaving with John Zasada and Jack Sneve, August 2019

One of our free blacksmith classes for high school students, cooking lunch with their new hand-forged hot dog forks.
The only requirements to get free classes if you're a teen (aged 14-18): show some enthusiasm for blacksmithing,
and be on time at the boat landing!