homesteading Archives - Waterford Craft School

Herbal Remedies & Cold Process Soap Making

Maureen Anderson, teacher, goatherd, beekeeper, shepherdess, soap maker, mother of eight and grandmother of 10, has had a lifelong interest in farming, homesteading and herbal medicine.

She began this journey of learning when she was a child, taught many of these skills by a grandmother who instilled a love of herbs, family life, and wildcrafting. At her historic Home Farm, Maureen hosts workshops and classes on sustainable living, herbal medicine making, wild food foraging, and cheese making.

In March of 2020 she created the Toano Open Air Market in response to the community’s need for a safe and reliable place to shop, and for the local farmers’ and artisans’ need for an income during the pandemic closings. Maureen is the creator of The MotherVine radio program and owner of Tasha’s Own Goat’s Milk Soap and The Home Farm.

17th Century Wood Carving: Cutting Board

For the past ten years, Ian Hart has been interested in researching, understanding, and reproducing traditional wood and metal work, mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries. During his senior year in college at the American College of the Building Arts, he assisted in the instruction of the freshman class in traditional metalwork. He spent several summers working at folk schools (Adirondack Folk School, Tillers International, and Touchstone); a portion of that time was spent teaching classes, which ranged from ornamental ironwork, spoon and bowl carving, and carved furniture. He is a Demonstrating Artisan at the Waterford Fair (2021, 2022). To learn more about Ian’s work, check out his Instagram page @vigilanceforge.