Lost Skills Workshop Series

The Lost Skills Workshops are hands-on, community-based, skills-sharing workshops that encourage empowerment, sustainability and self-sufficiency by re-learning crafts and skills that may have traditionally been passed down to us, from generation to generation, for most of human history. This year’s Lost Skills Workshops will explore techniques and traditions related to cooking, health, and herbalism that have been employed in homes and in kitchens throughout the ages and are intended to encourage nourishment and healing through the things people eat and drink. Held at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre between October 17th-20th, the workshops will be exploring the benefits of herbal vinegars and fire cider, bone broth, herbs for wellness and immunity, ancient grains and sourdough, and how transformational these simple ingredients can be once you learn more about them, their preparations and their uses.

Workshop organizers Lauren Murphy and Kristin Adamczyk are excited to bring the Lost Skills Workshop Series back because, as they have found in their own lives, learning a new skill, often one that would have traditionally been passed down by an elder, has been one of the most empowering and inspiring things they have ever done. "However simple, each new skill has changed the way we interact with the world, whether it's through making our own medicine or shortening the list of items we purchase that we can now make at home with simple quality ingredients and intention," said Murphy.

The Lost Skills Workshops provide a space for learning about and experiencing traditional skills while building community around them. "I think the Lost Skills Workshops have been so successful because more and more people in this area are seeking out community-based experiences, while wanting to be a little bit more self-sufficient. In Michael Pollan’s book Cooked he says “I am a little less dependent, and a little more self-reliant than I used to be.” In essence, this is the feeling we want the Lost Skills Workshops to create for our community. We want you to walk out of class feeling a little less dependent, and a little more self-reliant," Murphy explained.

On Friday, October 21st, there will be a Lost Skills Soiree and curated marketplace celebrating the workshops and their themes for those who have taken the workshops and anyone who was interested in the workshop series but was unable to attend. Workshop attendees and guests will be invited to share their experiences over local and hand-crafted food, workshop-themed beverages by the St. Augustine Distillery, live music, seed-swapping tables and with local businesses who create workshop-related wares and ingredients.

10/17: Fire Cider & Herbal Vinegars
How to make apple cider vinegar, oxymels, switchels, shrubs, four thieves vinegar, fire cider and more.

10/18: Bone Broth
A brief history and the science of bone broth, how to prepare bone broth, how to source ingredients and other essential tips.

10/19: Herbal Wellness
Harvesting and Using Native Plants, Local Abundance with herbs & honey, how to make immune boosting syrups and VitaliTea tea blend and other ways to boost your health.

10/20: Ancient Grains and Sourdough
Learn the brief science behind and difference between ancient grains, methods of soaking, sprouting & fermenting grains, how to prepare a sourdough starter and more!

Individual workshops are $36.00 per person, per class and will be held from 6pm to 8pm in the Catering Room at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Advance purchase is strongly encouraged as class size is limited and the previous Lost Skills Workshop Series sold out well in advance.

To purchase tickets, visit the St. Augustine Amphitheatre website.