Attention all Freeskoolers!

As the Fall-Winter Session winds down, we’re looking forward to another session beginning: new classes, new ideas, new facilitators, new friends. The next session will run from February 1 until April 30.

**The last day to submit proposals for this session is December 31, so please act fast!**

Send all submissions to ithaca_freeskool@riseup.net or drop them by the Silent City Distro (115 E MLK Street, above Autumn Leaves in the Workers Center).
In regards to your class, please include:
-Class Name
-Facilitator
-Date(s)/Time(s)…as specific as you can be
-Location
-Description…as concise as you can be

We’ll be assembling the calendar in early January, and we’ll have a kickoff fundraising event towards the end of that month (more exciting details to come). Keep in mind that you decide how often you’d like your class to meet; some classes meet weekly, while others meet only once. Share any skills you find valuable, entertaining, stimulating…or facilitate discussion groups on topics of your choosing. There are so many ways to participate.

We look forward to hearing from you! Please send this link to folks you know, and spread the word! Any questions? Just give us a holler at the aforementioned email address, we’d be happy to help.

with bells on,
The Freeskool Collective

I know we need to take care of this terribly unsustainable system asap. But I need to postpone the Clog the System class for a later date. There’s already a few people signed up for this class, so, if you’d like to participate. Please e-mail me and I’ll send you the details! Great. Seeyah. clover56(at)riseup.net

in the meantime, check out CLOG THE SYSTEM

The new calendar is now available for pick-up in Ithaca, or download if you want to print it yourself. Get it here!

Note, two new classes have been added and several dates have been adjusted. Please make sure your calendar says “Second printing” on the cover.

If you can help distribute the calendar please get in touch with us.

Our new calendars are done and are being distributed! Look for them everywhere. Thanks to the whole collective for all the efforts that went into making another Freeskool term a possibility and thanks to the teachers, students and supporters who make the Freeskool the grassroots community initiative that it is.

Coming Soon:

Downloadable PDF of new Calendar!

Teacher Orientation Materials!

Freeskool Teacher’s Potluck and Kickoff!

The Ithaca Freeskool Fall Session is nigh…

SHARE YOUR SKILLS!
now accepting class proposals for the fall session: October 1-December 31

The deadline to submit your Freeskool proposal: September 1st!

What we need to know by September 1st:
(So we can put your way cool class on the calendar)

* your name and public contact info
* your class name
* your class date(s) and time(s) and location!
* an accurate yet brief (a few sentences) description of your class
* any requirements for students (books, equipment, RSVP, etc.)

Send submissions to: ithaca_freeskool@riseup.net

Click here for ideas and inspiration!

The Freeskool potluck was a real success – I can’t believe how many people fit in Ghostcat’s kitchen. The food was great, a huge crowd of old and new friends came and shared and talked, Shira did some video interviews with folks that we’ll be adding to the website, and people stayed late into the evening hanging out and getting to know each other. Thanks to everyone for coming!

During the potluck we had a white board up where we made two lists, Classes We Want, and I Can Teach. People could add whatever they wanted to either list, and people could make tick-marks next to items to show support for them. We made this list so that as we think about what classes we all want to offer next – anyone can be a teacher! – we’ll have an idea of what classes will meet people’s needs and desires.

In the future we’ll try to be even more organized and will try making surveys and using other tools, but in the meantime, let’s just talk, low-tech style! Please add to these lists by posting comments. Maybe there’s a class you could offer and you want people’s opinions. Or you could post about a class you could team up to teach, or write a comment supporting an idea someone’s already listed. We’ll refer to this post and any comments made on it as we plan the next semester of Freeskool classes, and will be sending teachers here so they can see this feedback, so please post your responses and ideas.

CLASSES WE WANT…
Foraging walk (Marvin can help with) 4
Un-schooling (All ages) 2
Hula Hooping 2
Water catchment (Marvin can help with) 2
Encouraging creative process 2
Fire arts 7
Writer’s round table 4
Sewing (with or without a machine) 3
Belly dancing 2
Massage skill share 2
Car mechanics 3
Beginning gymnastics 3
Group therapy 7 (McKenzie can teach) W/ puppets?
Pirate Radio 2
Astrology 2 (Jenny can teach willtheway00@yahoo.com)
Henna 3
White privilege discussion group 3
Life drawing 2 (Stephanie Plude can model)
Acro- yoga 3
Welding 2
Guerrilla gardening with homeless outreach 2
Guitar basics (Marvin can teach)
Local herbs and medicinals 2
Consent

I CAN TEACH….
HTML (Ari)
Graphic design (Ari)
Free Store (Shira) 2
Radio interviewing, DAT and Flash Recorder (Jim), Audio editing, shortcut 360 editions 6 stations (Susan)
Making bio-diesel and veggie oil filtering 2 (urthbound@gmail.com)
Intro to massage therapy- need a space- 1 (Marvin)
Basics of human development (McKenzie)
Contemporary poetry and creative writing (Sharon)
Bookbinding 1 (Sharon and Ari can both teach)
Water Catchment 2 (Seandembrosky@gmail.com)
Art model training 1 (Stephanie Plude) needs a space
DIY devil sticks (marina)
Animal rights intro/discussion (Ari) 1
Straw-bale workshop (Marina and Dacha) 2
Facilitation 2

Freeskool Organizer Meeting on Thursday, August 13, 7-8.30pm, at the Worker’s Center above Autumn Leaves used bookstore on the Commons. To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=145066973064&mid=e4d12eG20cb9df6G2e4c1bcG7

Missed a class? Loved a workshop so much that you want to relive it? As part of D.I.Y. Movie-Making, we’re filming other Ithaca Freeskool classes and making them available online for anyone who wants to participate.

Sharon of the Dacha Project taught us how to make vegan pumpkin cheesecake at the “Thank You America” House in Ithaca on July 29th, 2009. Hang out with some Ithacans while they collaborate on a recipe, share vegan tips and chat about strategies for sustainable living. Join the Facebook group to find out about future Vegan Cooking Skillshares.

The Complete Recipe from Sharon:

New & Improved Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust (you can also buy a prepared graham cracker crust if you feel like lazing it a bit or are in a hurry!)
- 24 whole graham crackers
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup margarine, melted

Place the graham crackers into a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to make fine crumbs.

Pour the crumbs into a bowl and add the sugar and melted margarine. Stir well. Note: We found that adding a few spoonfuls of tofutti cream cheese helped to add integrity to the crumb-consistency – it was a bit too dry given what the recipe called for.

Pour the mix into a pie pan and use your hands or the back of a large spoon to press the mixture into the bottom and sides of the pie pan. Makes enough for 3 pie crusts!

1st Layer
- 8 ounces Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (look for the non-hydrogenated version in the yellow container)
- 12 ounces light firm silken tofu (or extra-firm)
- 1/2 cup agave nectar (or sugar)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Put the ingredients in a food processor and puree until completely smooth.It should be silky smooth – not chalky or lumpy. Spread mixture into the bottom of the crust.

2nd Layer
-12 oz. firm silken tofu, pureed
-8 oz. nondairy cream cheese (Tofutti or a tofu cream cheese from your local deli)
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp. flour
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda

Do the same as above – puree ingredients in the food processor & spread over the lemon layer. Bear in mind that the pie will rise during baking! Bake at 350°F for 60 minutes. Allow to cool for 30 minutes, cover with plastic wrap or the top of the pie container.

This should make enough for around 3 pies!

Check out the video and stay tuned for a water catchment Freeskool class by Sean in the coming months…

Via Share Tompkins.