Blacksmith classes

Basic introduction to blacksmithing. 3 workshops to choose from. Skill level, beginner to intermediate. 
8 and up is best, adults are welcome to sign up with kids!

I can only take 2 people at a time in the shop.
Learn how to taper, draw out and scroll hot steel to form shapes for functional items, such as a fire poker, a towel rack or scrolled trivet.  A lesson in Physics!       I am not a knife maker. knives require special heat treating and annealing, however we can make the shapes if return student would like to try it.
S1,  11-1  Saturday's beginning October 18 (runs 4 weeks) $180 11-2pm
S2  6-9pm  begins  Wednesday October 22nd,  evening  6-9pm (special 2 night project/class) We will make  a camp cook set. A very useful camping tool! This class is $190 plus $25 materials fee.S3 6-9pm begins Wednesday November 5,  evening  6-9pm (special 2 night project/class) We will make  a camp cook set. A very useful camping tool! This class is $190 plus $25 materials fee.
S4 6-9pm begins Wednesday November 19,  evening  6-9pm (special 2 night project/class) a small trellis for your garden plants/vines.   This class is $190 plus $25 materials fee.
    
Must sing a waiver. Village Green/Vera Johnson is not responsible for any injuries
 
We'll hammer iron, learn proper posture and holding techniques, shop safety and more
I'll demo then you can try your 'arm and hammer'
Must wear canvas or denim pants, fitted cotton long sleeve shirt, wear layers. Flannel shirt, denim shirt, leather shoes. No synthetic materials. They can melt and burn skin.
Hair must be tied back. NO Fleece, no baggy clothes.
I would be willing to discuss the hourly rental of the studio with interested adults.
I have been a practicing blacksmith for over 15 years, taking classes from Scott Shattuck at the Duwamish trade center through SSCC, Continuing my education through weekend workshops with David Lisch, master damascus knife maker (I do not make knives,
we practiced other skills) and apprenticed for Shannon Buckner of 'Bent productions'

camp cook set

Vera 206-819-8544

10223 26th Ave SW Seattle Wa 98146 

Street parking. Shop is onsite at Village Green

Privacy panels. Gardening and creativity go hand in hand

 mostly salvaged materials,by Vera and friends

Vacation home West Seattle

                                          Welcome to

'Tall Cedars cottage' at Village Green

                                               https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/784061

   

Do you have Family coming to town and need a place for them to stay?

Do you want to have a 'friends weekend' and do some black smithing, pottery or learn about beekeeping? Want to Organize a retreat? Let's talk!

This Cozy Farm style house is situated on 2 acres of woods and gorgeous organic gardens...home to chickens, ducks, honeybees owls and plenty of birds. Wood stove, some hardwood floors, 2 large bedrooms with queen beds, 1 medium size bedroom with twin/dorm bunk beds, washer/dryer, 1 bathroom, and street parking. Nestled below the giant cedar trees this 3 bedroom offers charm and lush park-like grounds for rest and relaxation ~ A true organic gardener's delight and 'get away from it' all kind of retreat!

Where else can you stay in West Seattle and visit chickens, ducks and honeybees?

3 Bedrooms

1. Dragonfly room overlooks the front gardens, (2 twin beds)

2. Moss rose room with a view of the roses and chickens, (full sized be)

3. Birds nest room, with a view of the cedars from the bed, like being in a tree house (queen bed)

                                             

                  

Rental of the grounds is not included. Separate fees apply. Please inquire. Hourly Rates for daytime/evening workshops are available, please inquire. Available for Retreats, educational workshops, meditation space, cooking classes, herbal classes, vacation rental. . .what do you want to host here?

                                   https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/784061

                                                                                        

                                        

                                               *Backyard Wildlife Habitat Certified*

Vera can also help you plan and host your Wedding, take photos or host a private event. Gardens can accommodate 50-75 guests. However weddings and events are a Separate rental/reservation and you need to ask for more information.

 

                                Vera is Ordained and can perform weddings

Unique in that we are a working urban farm and educational resource to our community.

                                                

Did you know ??? I teach pottery, black smithing and many other lost skills workshops in addition to gardening, permaculture and beekeeping.

                                          

Antique rose simple syrup

Antique rose simple syrup

Made from ancient (historical old roses) rose petals grown organically here on the property.

Can be used in many different ways…


*Sparkling waters flavored to taste (talking rain)
For non alcohol spritzers…
2 tbsp syrup in a 12-14 oz glass
ice
10 oz sparkling water
dash of fresh lemon or lime juice
stir, taste, adjust
add a fresh leaf of herb of choice-flower petals add a nice touch

 
Enjoy!

*Proseco and syrup to taste

*Herbal tea sweetener

*Sweetener for herbal tea popsicles

*Sorbet

*Ice cream

*Flavored ice cubes


For more information on how to make this syrup, please see my website instructional video:
http://villagegreenpn.com/2012/09/17/lemon-verbena-simple-syrup/

Research some old roses: What makes an old rose an old rose?


http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/I/bo3618985.html

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/105962in.html

She let go...

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.
She let go of the fear.
She let go of the judgments.
She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.
She let go of the committee of indecision within her.
She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.
Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.
She didn’t ask anyone for advice.
She didn’t read a book on how to let go.
She didn’t search the scriptures.
She just let go.
She let go of all of the memories that held her back.
She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.
She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.
She didn’t promise to let go.
She didn’t journal about it.
She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.
She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.
She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.
She just let go.
She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.
She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.
She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.
She didn’t call the prayer line.
She didn’t utter one word.
She just let go.
No one was around when it happened.
There was no applause or congratulations.
No one thanked her or praised her.
No one noticed a thing.
Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.
There was no effort.
There was no struggle.
It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.
It was what it was, and it is just that.
In the space of letting go, she let it all be.
A small smile came over her face.
A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…
~ Rev. Safire Rose

Bee-Killing Pesticides Found in Over Half of Plants at Major Retailers

This is why I GROW, buy and sell bee safe plants, un-sprayed. Because I've known for YEARS that this has been an issue.  I've gardened organically for years. I've tried to run Village Green by my own values and standards.

All big commercial growers use these, it's the market demand for perfect plants that sets this standard. Find a small grower (like me) who grows local, sustainably grown plants that are not sprayed. NOT easy to find.

It's not easy to get people to change their habits and patterns. Go to hardware store or grocery/drug store for for building supplies or whatever...., "ooooh, pretty plants" (no thought as to how they are treated) buy, plant, contribute to the problem. UNTIL people refuse to support the industry, it will only get bigger and the people's voice will get smaller. I've been talking about this for a very long time. Finally, it's in print where hopefully millions will read it and take a minute to see how they might be supporting this massive greedy industry that only tells you part of the truth.
it's not something the media tells us, nor the giant profiting chemical companies, trust me, if humans invented it, it's worth asking LOTS of questions about it

  

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/06/25-1