FolkSchools in Nova Scotia Canada
Donation protected
We are the Life.School.House!
Life.School.House has a vision of building a non-traditional learning community that celebrates local wisdom, builds connections in community, and reinforces the social value of barter and exchange. How are we going to do that? It's pretty simple really... we have opened up our home in Dartmouth Nova Scotia as a folk school and inspired 8 other families to do the same, all across the province! We are a network of community leaders who offer free space to anyone from our community who is willing to come and share their knowledge of arts and traditional skills in small group workshops with anyone who wants to learn. The workshops are 100% non-monetary, and so facilitators receive bartered items from the participants in exchange for their knowledge. These simple exchanges are often the best part of the experience for both the giver and the receiver, second only to the new communities that are build in each and every session.
Basic carpentry, Thai and Indian Cooking classes, Leather Book Binding, Fermentation 101, Indoor Gardening, Folklore, Wild Harvesting, Canning and Pickling - we offer it all at no charge to limit any barriers to participation.
Our dream is to expand this concept across the province, continuing to support others who want to use their own residential space to teach and learn together. Nova Scotia is rich with lived experience and warm and friendly homes. Folk schools are an uncomplicated way to host community in fun and engaging ways, as we are all teachers and students.
Why fund us?
We believe that barrier-free access to education will support a culture of lifelong learning in our communities from which a stronger province will grow. In order to remove any barriers to access, we work very hard to source supplies at little or no cost whenever possible, and otherwise distribute the expenses among the participants who are able to contribute. For instance, a few phone calls and visits to upholsterers results in enough leather for a Leather-Bound Journals Bookbinding class. Groceries for Indian cooking classes are a bit more challenging to secure for free and therefore we support a great deal of these expenses ourselves. There are times when we have to decline certain classes because we are unable to secure more expensive materials. Your help will ensure that supplies are no longer a barrier for the classes.
Here are some examples of feedback we've received from applicants and participants:
"I love that you offer these classes, I have been struggling to find an special classes/activities to be able to bond with my 14 year old daughter as her youngest sibling is on the autism spectrum and can take a lot of patience and time. Thank you for organizing these events!!"
"My husband I just opened businesses in Downtown Dartmouth and we may be able to partner to support your endeavor. Wanted to let you know we are here and always interested in supporting our community and love what you are doing!"
Dartmouth Makers Collective: "we’d love to introduce a new amazing opportunity for Makers and Creatives.
The new Life School House spearheaded by Jennifer DeCoste, located on Portland Street creates opportunities for Makers to share their talents on a barter system.
#greatthingsarehappeninginDartmouth "
Jessie Crabill - Great workshop, great facilitator, great people, great food! And what a great idea! Life.School.House!
Life.School.House has a vision of building a non-traditional learning community that celebrates local wisdom, builds connections in community, and reinforces the social value of barter and exchange. How are we going to do that? It's pretty simple really... we have opened up our home in Dartmouth Nova Scotia as a folk school and inspired 8 other families to do the same, all across the province! We are a network of community leaders who offer free space to anyone from our community who is willing to come and share their knowledge of arts and traditional skills in small group workshops with anyone who wants to learn. The workshops are 100% non-monetary, and so facilitators receive bartered items from the participants in exchange for their knowledge. These simple exchanges are often the best part of the experience for both the giver and the receiver, second only to the new communities that are build in each and every session.
Basic carpentry, Thai and Indian Cooking classes, Leather Book Binding, Fermentation 101, Indoor Gardening, Folklore, Wild Harvesting, Canning and Pickling - we offer it all at no charge to limit any barriers to participation.
Our dream is to expand this concept across the province, continuing to support others who want to use their own residential space to teach and learn together. Nova Scotia is rich with lived experience and warm and friendly homes. Folk schools are an uncomplicated way to host community in fun and engaging ways, as we are all teachers and students.
Why fund us?
We believe that barrier-free access to education will support a culture of lifelong learning in our communities from which a stronger province will grow. In order to remove any barriers to access, we work very hard to source supplies at little or no cost whenever possible, and otherwise distribute the expenses among the participants who are able to contribute. For instance, a few phone calls and visits to upholsterers results in enough leather for a Leather-Bound Journals Bookbinding class. Groceries for Indian cooking classes are a bit more challenging to secure for free and therefore we support a great deal of these expenses ourselves. There are times when we have to decline certain classes because we are unable to secure more expensive materials. Your help will ensure that supplies are no longer a barrier for the classes.
Here are some examples of feedback we've received from applicants and participants:
"I love that you offer these classes, I have been struggling to find an special classes/activities to be able to bond with my 14 year old daughter as her youngest sibling is on the autism spectrum and can take a lot of patience and time. Thank you for organizing these events!!"
"My husband I just opened businesses in Downtown Dartmouth and we may be able to partner to support your endeavor. Wanted to let you know we are here and always interested in supporting our community and love what you are doing!"
Dartmouth Makers Collective: "we’d love to introduce a new amazing opportunity for Makers and Creatives.
The new Life School House spearheaded by Jennifer DeCoste, located on Portland Street creates opportunities for Makers to share their talents on a barter system.
#greatthingsarehappeninginDartmouth "
Jessie Crabill - Great workshop, great facilitator, great people, great food! And what a great idea! Life.School.House!
Organizer
Jennifer Brenton DeCoste
Organizer
Dartmouth South Central, NS
