Farmer, Weaver, Baker, Goatherder

Naturally, I can only choose a few favorite professions to do from the many.

For more on Steiner's 12 Archetypal Professions, I highly recommend the important work of Suzanne Down!

Women's Writes of Passage December 24 - January 6, 2020
A Course for the Holy Nights Inspired by Steiner's 12 Professions and the Soul Powers They Represent. Online

The Annual Puppet Boot Camp: A Five Day Intensive
The 2019 topic was Steiner's 12 Professions: The Moral Value and Artistry of the Worker Archetype in Story, Puppetry, and Fairy Tales. Boulder CO

Each Archetype has other professions which fall under it; the Archetypes can also work together. Each has a series of gestures which embody its work, and she is the expert at using these gestures and puppetry in a therapeutic way to bring the essence of these ancient professions to children, helping them to feel a sense of stability and purpose in an ever-changing world.

Monday, January 13 - Farmer

• recall Fire, add Fire to MLB
• brainstorm a list of ancient professions
• reveal Plants & Elements chalkboard drawing
• discuss the Farmer
• read The Work People Do: Farmer by Betsy Imershein

Tuesday, January 14 - Weaver

Morning

• read From Wheat to Pasta by Robert Egan
• work with the younger students to make fresh homemade pasta using eggs, semolina flour, olive oil, and sea salt





• enjoy the pasta with our homemade butter and Italian seasoning
• read Farmer George Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomas

Afternoon

• recall Farmer, add Farmer to MLB
• discuss the Weaver
• read Thérèse Makes a Tapestry by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs
• warp loom for new tapestry ("Yggdrasil and the Nine Norse Worlds")
• crockpot dye wool yarn with onion skins and with beets

Thursday, January 16 - Baker

Morning

• discuss the Baker, read The Unbeatable Bread by Lyn Littlefield Hoopes
• work with the younger students to make Cinnamon Muffins and enjoy them with our homemade butter

Afternoon

• recall Weaver, read "Birthday" chapter from Farmer Boy
• read The Crane Wife by Odds Bodkin
• add Weaver to MB
• check on results of crockpot dyed wool yarn
• have special guest come in to share her childhood on a cotton farm in the 1950's

Friday, January 17 - Goatherder

Morning

• begin weaving on tapestry loom, introduce paper weaving projects

  Tabby Weave and Twill Weave
  from Weaving Without a Loom by Veronica Burningham, pages 14-15

  Dancing Map Dolls (state maps - Highlights "Which Way USA?" series)
  from Kids Weaving by Sarah Swett, pages 16-21

  

Afternoon

• recall Baker, add Baker to MLB
• discuss the Goatherder
• read chapter 2 of Heidi by Joanna Spyri
• begin TASTINGS!

  MILK

  Organic Valley Cream on Top Grassmilk (cow)

  Meyenberg Goat Milk (goat)

  
  YOGURT

  Brown Cow Cream Top Whole Milk Yogurt (cow) - Maple

  Redwood Hill Farm (goat) - Plain

  Bellwether Farms (sheep) - Strawberry, Blackberry, Vanilla

  
  CHEESE

  Natural Valley (goat) - Monterey Jack, Colby-Jack

  Mt. Sterling Creamery (goat) - Mozzarella

  Cypress Grove (goat) - Purple Haze
  fresh goat milk cheese with lavender and fennel pollen

  Ponce de Leon (sheep) - Manchego

  Mt. Vikos (sheep & goat) - Feta

  Carr Valley Cheese (goat & sheep & cow) - Menage

Thank you so much to Miss Grace for coming in to tell us about her childhood. Born in 1950 in rural Louisiana, her family had (and still has) 120 acres of land, 20 of which were planted in cotton. She began helping in the fields at age 4 or 5. It was fascinating to hear the differences between life then and now. What were students most curious about? The wringer-washer!

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