If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.
— Henry David Thoreau
Bread and Bagel Making
Master Baker Anne Burnside of Prairie Flour Bakery and Taproot Nature Experience host adult workshops on artisinal bread baking in Anne's wood-fired brick oven.
Anne walks us through the basics in this hands-on workshop, and shares with us some of her philosophy on bread baking and life. The workshop does not teach you everything you need to know to bake bread; rather, it can serve as a beginning to a lifetime of learning the rich art of baking bread. In addition, it is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
Taproot and Anne also offer a bagel making workshop. This is a hands-on class that teaches what ingredients you need, how to mix the batter and dough and shape the bagels, how to make bagels that are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, how long to boil and to bake, and how to top the bagels.
These events are open to adults and focused, interested older children. The cost is $35 per person.
Several Taproot adults attended a bread-baking class with Anne last November, and a bagel class in March. They were fabulous! With the bread, the fire, delicious snacks, and wonderful company, it was about the nicest way to spend a day that we could imagine.
Alternative Heating and Cooling
February 28th, 1p.m. – 3p.m. Visit the Taproot Farm and House to see – and feel – alternative heating systems in action. We will show you three types of alternative heat: a masonry wood stove, solar thermal heat with radiant floor tubing and domestic hot water, and passive heating. We will also discuss how house orientation, insulation, glazing (windows), thermal mass and overhangs can all contribute to a warm, energy efficient house.