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See below for upcoming classes, presentations, and seminars that are open to the public.  If you would like to arrange for a walk or presentation, including private and small group instruction, please contact Arthur Haines by sending an email to .  Alternatively, feel free to call or write using the information supplied on the Contact page.  Registration policies for classes offered exclusively through the Delta Institute of Natural History are found here.

>>> Links to other websites offering quality instruction or merchandise (e.g., books, videos, supplies) can be found here.

>>> Videos of Arthur Haines sharing wild plant knowledge can be found here.

>>> Blog articles to build awareness and promote health can be found here.

>>>>> 2013 Classes and Presentations

Traditional Bow Making (private sessions)

April through October 2013

Archery is one of the peak primitive talents that encompasses many skill areas—plant identification, wood working and tillering, fiber arts, adhesives, stone knapping, and wood bending.  Additionally, if the bow is used for hunting, tracking, stalking, concealment, and the talents surrounding accurate shooting enter the scene.  Though some of the oldest bow artifacts date only to 9000 years ago, projectile points for arrows have been recovered from the African continent dating approximately 64,000 years old.  Hunting bows are one of the tools used to acquire animal foods that possibly separated modern humans from Neanderthals (who primarily hunted with close-quarters weapons).  Learning to make a bow represents a large step toward self-reliance and builds a historical connection to ancestral lifeways used by our indigenous predecessors.  The bow has many features that make it as useful today as it was millennia ago.  For example, in suburban areas, bow hunting is one the relatively safe ways to hunt game and is silent (so neighbors are neither alerted to your activities nor annoyed when you target shoot).  This self-directed class is for individuals who wish to hand-build a functional tool that can be used for target shooting, hunting, and/or self defense.  Students will build a bow that is roughly based on the Meare Heath Bow of England, and will learn necessary tool use and terminology for understanding bow building and shooting, including learning to make the string by hand, weather-proofing, silencers, and other topics of interest to the students.  Class duration will be variable and dependent on the student, weather, etc., but will likely take an average of three to four days for most people that are active and reasonably fit.  Scheduling will be arranged between the student and instructor and can be consecutive days or split into separate days.  Camping is available for those wishing to stay on the premises.  All the materials and tools can be provided by the instructor.  Students will complete the class with a functional bow that they take back to their homes to learn the potential that traditional bows offer.  Price for the class is 495.00 dollars.  Sessions are arranged privately (i.e., you will not be joined by additional people unless you scheduled the class with them) and will fill on a first come first serve basis.  Arrow making sessions are available as well.  Interested persons should contact Arthur Haines by email or any means listed on the Contact page.

Traditional Braintan Buckskin (private sessions)

May through October 2013

Braintan buckskin is the traditional leather of many indigenous cultures, including Native Americans.  It has allowed anatomically modern humans to protect themselves from the elements and travel throughout the world.  Though buckskin shares many qualities with contemporary leather, such as beauty, function, durability, it is a vastly different product, neither damaging to the environment nor rigid (though it can be made stiff).  Buckskin offers a method of creating strong fabric locally.  It is completely natural and helps hunters and scavengers better utilize the animals they obtain (proper thankfulness is shown by not wasting valuable portions of the animal).  Buckskin has a multitude of uses, from functional clothing that is quiet, blocks scent, and resistant to punctures, to quivers, bags, pouches, and cords.  Students will take a raw deer skin and turn it into buckskin, along the way learning the necessary skills and terms for understanding the tanning process.  Several options exist for dressing (I recommend brains, but other dressings are available, so don't avoid this critical self-reliance skill for this reason).  Class duration will be variable and dependent on the student, weather, etc., but will likely take an average of three days for most people that are active and reasonably fit.  Scheduling will be arranged between the student and instructor and can be consecutive days or split into separate days.  Camping is available for those wishing to stay on the premises.  All the materials and tools can be provided by the instructor.  Students will complete the class with a functional buckskin that they take back to their homes to learn the potential that traditional leather has to offer.  Price for the class is 450.00 dollars.  Sessions are arranged privately (i.e., you will not be joined by additional people unless you scheduled the class with them) and will fill on a first come first serve basis.  Interested persons should contact Arthur Haines by email or any means listed on the Contact page.

Which Path Will You Choose?  The Consequences of Human Domestication

16 February 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the Aimee's Livin' Magic)

This provocative lecture takes a serious (and sometimes witty) look at the current state of living and how it is affecting our vitality, self-reliance, and the health of the local ecosystems we depend on.  It begins by taking a brief look at hominid evolution over the past several million years to identify various trends in anatomy, physical skill, and intelligence.  This is contrasted with the modern expression of humans and the drastic changes to our being (and the awareness of such changes).  Domestication is defined and we explore those criteria that modern humans fulfill.  This talk touches on several aspects of contemporary civilization, including what we define as beauty, sky-rocketing prescription drug use, and the many differences in child rearing (compared with wild human populations).  Noting how how we have chosen to use creativity—primarily through methods that limit physical exertion and exacerbate separation from nature—serious questions are posed about our future and the holistic health of our children.  The lectured is offered free of charge at the WrapAround Porch in York, ME.  Persons interested in attending this lecture should contact Denny or Aimee Perrin at aimeeslivinmagic@gmail.com.

From Tree to Table:  Gathering and Preparing Acorns for Food

24 February 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the New England Wild Flower Society)

The fruit of the oak tree has been used as an important staple by aboriginal people across North America. The people of each region had their preferred species and detailed methods of collecting, storing, and processing the acorns for use in different types of dishes. Although rarely eaten today, oak trees still produce large numbers of fruits in many years and represent an under-utilized food source. Given their nutritional profile, low glycemic index value, and ability to be stored for long periods, acorns make a wonderful wild food that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Further, New England is blessed with a number of oak species that produce large acorns. This class will introduce students to methods of preparing them for food (primitive and contemporary methods will be mentioned). Some of the important details concerning acorn collection will also be noted. Discussion will include some life history strategies of the oaks that are relevant to foragers and some important myths found in wild food literature. Freshly baked acorn-flour bread will be enjoyed at the end of the class.  This class will be given at Garden in the Woods, Framinham, MA, and start at 12:00 pm (it will last until approximately 4:00 pm).  Price is $66.00 for members and $80.00 for nonmembers.    If you are interested in attending this lecture, please contact the Education Department at the New England Wild Flower Society by calling 508-877-7630 (extension 3303), emailing lreed@newenglandwild.org, or visiting http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn.

Embrace the Wild

3–5 May 2013

Join wildcrafter and Ancestral Lifeways mentor Arthur Haines for a weekend of reconnection.  During this uniquely structured class, students will participate in a number of activities designed to heal, nourish, and strengthen the individual.   The event will center on wild plants and the various avenues through which they can empower those willing to rewild themselves.  Wild food will be a focus and participants will contribute to meals with plants they gather.  Many people interested in native plants never get to see real wild food abundance.  Arthur will be sharing private gathering areas that reveal a profusion of powerful plants for cleansing, cancer prevention, and building health (including an area that was historically tended by the local indigenous people).  Another emphasis of the weekend will be wildcrafting various plants to create compound medicines that will synergistically strengthen the immune system, build resistance to stress, and increase defense against environmental contamination.  Specific plants will also be gathered to enhance and tone the reproductive systems (with gender-specific medicines).  The weekend will incorporate various ceremonies to foster expression and balance the development of new awareness.  The event is being designed to provide a weekend of deep nutrition alongside activities that will nurture organ system function and bolster different modes of cognition.  If you are looking for an event that is spent simply discussing uses of wild plants, this is not the appropriate class for you (i.e., portions of the weekend will be spent observing and practicing ritual).  Participants will be asked to push physical boundaries and be openly expressive during ceremony.  NOTE:  due to the nature of this event, it will be limited to 8 participants, creating an intimate setting for heightened learning.  Meals will be prepared by traditional chef Frank Giglio.  The class will be located in Canton, ME, at the Delta Institute of Natural History (click here for directions).  It begins at 6:00 pm on Friday and will wrap up around 1:00 pm on Sunday.  It will operate regardless of the local conditions (though various activities may be modified to accommodate inclement weather).  Camping is available on the property.  Price is $375.00 and includes all food.  To inquire about this class, contact  Arthur Haines by email or by any means listed on the Contact page.  To register, visit the registration page.

Practical Ethnobotany

17–19 May 2013

(offered in conjunction with the New York Flora Association)

Plants have been and continue to be immensely important to people.  They provide food, medicine, materials for shelter, fuel for heating dwellings and cooking food, fibers for cordage and clothing, wood for tools and hunting weapons, etc.  Aboriginal people knew which plants could be used for various purposes, where to find them, and how to process them.  They possessed an intimate relationship with plants that began with learning how to identify them and deepened as they learned their smell, their taste, the quality of their fibers, the timing of their flowers, and so on.  Contemporary people still rely heavily on plants, but, unfortunately, most people in developed countries are no longer able to find, collect, and process the materials they need to sustain their lives.  Not only has this led to populaces that are entirely dependent on agribusiness and manufacturers, but it has also removed people from direct participation in the circle of life.  This, in turn, has created populations who do not know the functions and values of wild places (both large and small) and has led to apathy for protecting these open spaces.  This weekend-long class is designed to offer exposure to a broad range of ethnobotany topics to the participants, focusing primarily on food, wildcrafted medicine, fiber arts, and friction fire.  The weekend will begin Friday evening with a thought-provoking lecture on wild vs. agricultural food, and progress with hands-on time spent in the field interacting with wild plants.  Safety, nutrition, phytochemistry, and sustainable harvesting will be common themes as we discuss, harvest, and sample wild foods.  Throughout the weekend, we will celebrate the union of indigenous knowledge and modern research.  This class will occur in the Ithaca, NY, area.  Participants should come prepared for the elements and uneven ground.  People interested in registering for this class should contact David Werier at info@nyflora.org.

Late Spring Foraging Along the Androscoggin River

1 June 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the Maine Primitive Skills School)

Follow in the foot-steps of the Anasagunticooks and learn to see and gather the bounty of wild plant foods along the Androscoggin River.  Traditional people around the world understand that food does not just represent calories but it supplies also important nutrients and protective compounds.  For these people, food is a defining feature of their culture and is incorporated into their collecting tools, containers, songs, and rituals.  Important to note is that people who still enjoy their traditional diet are free from many of the chronic ailments that plaque modern societies in every country―cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, inflammatory diseases of the digestive and musculoskeletal systems, and autoimmune disorders.  Aside from such serious topics, wild plants offer variety in our diet and can provide unique flavors and textures to liven up dishes that may be frequently prepared in our households.  Join in the spirit of Euell Gibbons and see how wonderful it feels to gather your own food.  This field class will begin with a brief explanation of the protective benefits of wild foods and then delve into identifying and gathering various late spring wild edibles.  Seasonal differences will be discussed and preparation techniques for the different plant parts examined.  Class will be held from 10:00 am to approximately 3:00 pm in Brunswick, ME (directions will be provided to participants).  This single-day class will be led by Arthur Haines and will be limited to 12 students.  This is an outdoor class, so be prepared for whatever weather occurs and uneven and/or rocky ground.  A bagged lunch will be needed and a hand lens for examining small plant structures (used for identification) may be helpful.  The price of the class is $100.00.  If you are interested in enrolling for this class, please contact Maine Primitive Skills School by calling (207)-623-7298, emailing mpss@gwi.net, or visiting www.primitiveskills.com/survival-course-reg.html.

Late Spring Foraging on Marthas Vineyard

8-9 June 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the Polly Hill Arboretum)

Lecture on Saturday:  "Preserving Native Plant Knowledge for Their Future".  This lecture is designed to expose the audience to a wide-range of useful plants that grow wild on the New England landscape.  Plants that can be used to nourish, heal, and craft are discussed.  Specific examples of vitamin content, antioxidant ability, and herbal therapy will be shared.  Through use of images, stories of indigenous use, and contemporary scientific study, an argument is made that the waning use of wild plants (for food, medicine, fiber, etc.) is correlated with a decline in health of both our bodies and our local landscapes.  Foraging, wildcrafting medicine, and other such pursuits connect us to the wild world and create a bond, one that deepens with use.  The critical need for preserving native plants and their habitats cannot be fully realized without interacting with them (i.e., viewing them from afar does not reveal their full value to people).  Join Arthur Haines as he make a case for preservation through use.  The lecture will be given from 1:00 to 2:30 pm.  People interested in attending this lecture should contact Karin Stanley karin@pollyhillarboretum.org.

Field class on Sunday:  Come learn to see and gather the bounty of wild plant foods in the late spring season.  Traditional people around the world understand that food does not just represent calories but it supplies also important nutrients and protective compounds.  For these people, food is a defining feature of their culture and is incorporated into their collecting tools, containers, songs, and rituals.  Important to note is that people who still enjoy their traditional diet are free from many of the chronic ailments that plaque modern societies in every country―cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, inflammatory diseases of the digestive and musculoskeletal systems, and autoimmune disorders.  Aside from such serious topics, wild plants offer variety in our diet and can provide unique flavors and textures to liven up dishes that may be frequently prepared in our households.  Join in the spirit of Euell Gibbons and see how wonderful it feels to gather your own food.  Participants will spend time on the Polly Hill Arboretum grounds (Marthas Vineyard, MA) learning to identify and sample various wild food plants.  As part of the class, various wild medicines will also be discussed.  Come prepared for the elements, as this class will be spent outside.  It will last from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (or so).  Registration:  People interested in attending this field class should contact Karin Stanley at karin@pollyhillarboretum.org.

Wildcrafting Herbal Medicine

28 July 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the Maine Primitive Skills School)

Coping with and recovering from illness, injury, and debility has always been part of being human.  And for these complaints, plants have served as the major source of medicine.  This class will examine the use of wild plants, fungi, and lichens for healing sickness and injury and supporting the body. Students will learn a suite of species that grow in New England that can be used for many common ailments, such as colds, infections, gastrointestinal upset, headaches, dermatitis, insomnia, etc.  The species discussed on this day will mainly be those that have modern study corroborating indigenous use.  Methods of collecting will be discussed, as well as directions for making various types of medicine (e.g., infusions, decoctions, poultices, tinctures, double extractions).  A double extraction of a wild-collected mushroom (such as chaga, hemlock reishi, or turkeytail) will be prepared during this class and students will leave with this medicine that can be used for bolstering immune system function, as a powerful antioxidant, killing viral pathogens, and fighting cancer.  Throughout the day, stories and examples will be shared demonstrating how plant-based medicines have preserved life and influenced aboriginal and contemporary people.  Healing with plants provides people and families with another avenue of self-sufficiency and furthers connection to the landscape.  The class will be taught by Arthur Haines (who personally uses plants, fungi, and lichens for all medicinal needs).  Class will be offered at the Delta Institute of Natural History in Canton, ME (click here if you need directions) and run from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Bring lunch, footwear for uneven ground, and proper clothing for whatever the weather may be on that day.  The price of the class is $100.00 and it is limited to 12 people.  If you are interested in enrolling for this class, please contact Maine Primitive Skills School by calling (207)-623-7298, emailing mpss@gwi.net, or visiting www.primitiveskills.com/survival-course-reg.html.

Fall Foraging

27–29 September 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the Maine Primitive Skills School)

This hands-on class is designed for those with with an interest in self-sufficiency, human health, and a deeper relationship with plants.  Foraging provides many avenues of connection with nature and fosters a greater appreciation of the many things that local landscapes can provide for us.  It has become increasingly clear through many independent studies that diets rich in wild foods promote health and defend the body from many of the debilitating ailments that plague modern societies (e.g., obesity, diabetes, arthritis, coronary disease, periodontal disease).  Students should expect to spend much of the weekend outside identifying, collecting, and preparing wild plants for food (so be prepared for weather and uneven terrain).  Class will focus on gathering plant foods and medicines that are appropriate for the season (nuts, legumes, fall roots and tubers, and wild rice--as available).  Throughout the class, simple tools will be used and reference will be made to primitive and contemporary methods of processing plants.  As well, wildcrafted medicine and utilitarian plants will be discussed to provide a more holistic understanding of how plants can positively affect our lives.  Wild nutrition is both a link to the past and a gateway to a sustainable future.  This class will be taught by Arthur Haines and will be offered at the Delta Institute of Natural History in Canton, ME (click here if you need directions).  All food will be included and prepared by Chef Frank Giglio (http://frankgiglio.com/).  Expect local, wild, and/or organic food offerings from the four food kingdoms prepared in a traditional manner (i.e., a Weston Price-inspired menu).  Some locations will be visited off site so please be prepared to carpool short distances from the property.  Price is $375.00 and class is limited to 10 students.  Class begins at 6:00 pm on Friday and ends at 12:00 pm on Sunday.  If you are interested in enrolling for this class, please contact the Maine Primitive Skills School (207-623-7298) or visit www.primitiveskills.com/survival-course-reg.html.

Foraging for Wild Food

5 October 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the NOFA-NH Herbal Network)

Experience the joy and freedom of foraging for wild, nutritious edibles in your own backyard. Expert wildcrafter Arthur Haines will lead you through a variety of New England ecosystems in search of delicious autumn harvests. Understand the importance and nuances of plant identification to help you on your own foraging adventures. -- Traditional people around the world understand that food does not just represent calories but it supplies also important nutrients and protective compounds. For these people, food is a defining feature of their culture and is incorporated into their collecting tools, containers, songs, and rituals. Important to note is that people who still enjoy their traditional diet are free from many of the chronic ailments that plaque modern societies in every country―cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, inflammatory diseases of the digestive and musculoskeletal systems, and autoimmune disorders. Aside from such serious topics, wild plants offer variety in our diet and can provide unique flavors and textures to liven up dishes that may be frequently prepared in our households. Join in the footsteps of Euell Gibbons and see how wonderful it feels to gather your own food. This field class will begin with a brief explanation of the protective benefits of wild foods and then delve into identifying and gathering various autumn wild edibles.  Seasonal differences will be discussed and preparation techniques for the different plant parts examined. This class is offered at the Moore Farm in Alton, NH, and runs from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  The tuition is $40.00 (a 20% discount is offered to NOFA-NH members).  The event will be restricted to 20 participants.  Students should come prepared for the elements and uneven ground. Visit www.nofanh.org to register online.

Botany and Plant Identification for Herbalists

6 October 2013

(Offered in conjunction with the NOFA-NH Herbal Network)

Harvesting wild plant medicine is immensely rewarding, but how can you be sure that the plant you're picking is really what you think it is? Do you have stinging or dead nettle in your soup pot? Comfrey or foxglove for your salve? Arthur will lead this interactive, informative, and fun in-the-field workshop. Using the plants along your path, he'll explain the basics of plant taxonomy, identification, and the most useful resources. These are important skills for anyone interested in backyard herbalism but especially for product makers who want to definitively identify the species they wildcraft. -- Plant taxonomy includes a broad array of topics that involve the study of plant diversity.  In order to describe and communicate that plant diversity, a set of vocabulary is needed that precisely defines terms.  These terms are often found in identification keys and descriptions of species in reference manuals.  Though many people consider this to be unnecessary jargon, it is a major stumbling block that prevents people from learning about and identifying plants.  Due to the vast array of structures and their sometimes very subtle differences, terminology is a critical part of plant study.  In this workshop, we will examine medicinal plants found on the property and use them to introduce taxonomic vocabulary and expand on everyone's knowledge.  As well, we explore ever changing scientific names, including the reasons why they change and how one can stay abreast of this field. Collectively, plant identification (and its necessary vocabulary), along with a better understanding of nomenclature, allows a greater degree of self-reliance through easing the use of technical manuals and medicinal compendia (which generally use scientific names for indexing).  The class will be both informative and fun.  This class is offered at the Moore Farm in Alton, NH, and runs from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  The tuition is $40.00 (a 20% discount is offered to NOFA-NH members).  The event will be restricted to 20 participants.  Students should come prepared for the elements and uneven ground. Visit www.nofanh.org to register online.