Community Calendar

Saturday, October 31st: 9am-12pm
An introduction class on how to harvest and craft with roadkill deer. Participants will be shown visual examples on how to differentiate salvageable from unsalvageable deer. We will also discuss road safety, roadkill salvage permits, and utilizing as much of the deer as possible. The class will end with a fun game and venison lunch.

Sunday, November 1st: 8am-until finished
Participants will arrive at 8am for a guided roadkill drive. Depending on how many attendees arrive, another person may be asked to drive. Volunteer drivers will be provided with detailed maps. We will examine every roadkill deer we pass, in order to determine if the animal is salvageable or not. If we find a salvageable deer, we will bring it back to Tillers for a butchering demonstration, which will take up most of the day. Participants will come home with meat, as well as other parts of the deer they wish to take. Participants should bring a sharp knife, and a change of clothing. Please wear warm clothing, it will likely be cold outside. Participants will learn:

- How to identify a salvageable deer
- Road Safety
- How to fill out a salvage permit
- Spotting hidden damage and ruptured organs
- How to fill out a CWD test
- Butchering skills
- Utilizing as much of the deer as possible

This beginner class will teach how to kill chickens (optional), and will show how to pluck, process, skin, gut, and butcher chickens. We will also harvest livers, gizzards, and hearts. Students will each take home their butchered and processed chicken.

Saturday, October 31st: 9am-12pm
An introduction class on how to harvest and craft with roadkill deer. Participants will be shown visual examples on how to differentiate salvageable from unsalvageable deer. We will also discuss road safety, roadkill salvage permits, and utilizing as much of the deer as possible. The class will end with a fun game and venison lunch.

Sunday, November 1st: 8am-until finished
Participants will arrive at 8am for a guided roadkill drive. Depending on how many attendees arrive, another person may be asked to drive. Volunteer drivers will be provided with detailed maps. We will examine every roadkill deer we pass, in order to determine if the animal is salvageable or not. If we find a salvageable deer, we will bring it back to Tillers for a butchering demonstration, which will take up most of the day. Participants will come home with meat, as well as other parts of the deer they wish to take. Participants should bring a sharp knife, and a change of clothing. Please wear warm clothing, it will likely be cold outside. Participants will learn:

- How to identify a salvageable deer
- Road Safety
- How to fill out a salvage permit
- Spotting hidden damage and ruptured organs
- How to fill out a CWD test
- Butchering skills
- Utilizing as much of the deer as possible

This two-day workshop gives you the opportunity to build 2 brooms from start to finish. We start both brooms the same by wrapping a core onto a handle. After that we will finish one with woven stems and the other by plaiting with basket reed or with cut corn stems. Then we will stitch them to finish.

Please join us the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM (barring special events or bad weather which will be announced on our Facebook page), for "Beginning Birding Walks," led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, just off SR 43. All skill levels are welcome.

We will enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).

This two-day workshop gives you the opportunity to build 2 brooms from start to finish. We start both brooms the same by wrapping a core onto a handle. After that we will finish one with woven stems and the other by plaiting with basket reed or with cut corn stems. Then we will stitch them to finish.

The perfect place to dive into broom making! This class begins with the basics—whisk brooms and cobwebbers—and builds up from there. Students will get hands-on experience with several types of brooms, including hearth brooms, turkey wings, kitchen brooms, and more. Each project introduces new techniques, so students will grow their skills (and their broom collections!) with every step.

Welcome to our hands-on workshop where you’ll learn the basics of using edge tools in woodworking! This event is perfect for beginners looking to improve their woodworking skills. Tool setup, safe handling, and basics of sharpening will all be covered. These skillsets are an essential addition to any woodworker’s toolbox. Bring a tool that you’d like to sharpen!

The perfect place to dive into broom making! This class begins with the basics—whisk brooms and cobwebbers—and builds up from there. Students will get hands-on experience with several types of brooms, including hearth brooms, turkey wings, kitchen brooms, and more. Each project introduces new techniques, so students will grow their skills (and their broom collections!) with every step.

Please join us the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM (barring special events or bad weather which will be announced on our Facebook page), for "Beginning Birding Walks," led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. This event is free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, just off SR 43. All skill levels are welcome.

We will enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).