WORKSHOPS
Join us for place-based and hands on learning on the farm
At Kiyachi we feel most connected when experiencing the learning. Join us at one of the many workshops taught by community leaders and wisdom holders for immersive experiences with tools, knowledge, history, and of course…fun!
Workshops are rooted in the land and nature. But amenities on site include power, bathroom, water, and some snacks. Workshops list the total run time, and the cost for each is inclusive of materials and supplies.
Art of Plant Craft with Jon Hammond
This is an immersive workshop, more than just a lecture. An overview of a many Tehachapi critical native plants from local expert and heritage craftsperson with Jon Hammond will be followed by a hands on workshop to demonstrate and for participants to experience creating their own cordage, weaving, net bags, based on indigenous skills.
Participants will then move from learning to doing through a hands-on exploration of traditional plant-based crafts. Using natural materials and techniques inspired by Indigenous and heritage skills of the region, participants will learn the fundamentals of making cordage, weaving, and constructing simple net bags and other useful fiber creations. The workshop will highlight how plants can be harvested, prepared, processed, and transformed into strong and functional materials using simple tools and time-tested techniques.
No previous experience is needed. This workshop is ideal for anyone interested in native plants, ethnobotany, traditional crafts, Indigenous technologies, natural materials, or local history.
Flintknapping with Gary Pickett
Learn a million-year-old technology and create one of humanity’s oldest and most important tools! Taught by prehistoric craftsman Gary Pickett, this hands-on workshop takes you back to the beginning of human innovation, when stone, wood, fiber, and fire were the foundations of everyday life.
Discover the fascinating art of flintknapping as you learn how early people selected stone, controlled fractures, shaped sharp edges, and transformed raw material into functional tools. Participants will explore the basic principles of percussion and pressure flaking, stone selection, tool design, and the problem-solving skills that made stone tools such an important part of human survival and technological development.
No previous experience is necessary. Whether you’re interested in primitive skills, archaeology, wilderness survival, traditional crafts, or simply want to try something completely different, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to slow down, work with your hands, and experience one of humanity’s earliest forms of craftsmanship.
Acorn to Table with Jon Hammond
Join us for an immersive workshop exploring the traditional knowledge and practical skills of harvesting and preparing acorns as food. Acorns from our local Oak trees are a nutritious, healthy, and abundant food source that has sustained humans and wildlife in California for tens of thousands of years. Come learn how to identify the different kinds of acorns, and learn complete processing methods, both traditional and contemporary.
Then we’ll cook five different recipes. Alongside the hands-on experience, the workshop will explore the ecological role of oaks, local seasonal cycles, and the deep relationship between people and landscape throughout history in the Tehachapi region. This workshop offers a meaningful opportunity to slow down, engage with ancestral food traditions, and deepen connection with the natural world through one of California’s oldest staple foods.
No previous experience is necessary.
Upcoming Workshops Below
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Upcoming Workshops Below 〰️
Cordage Making
Learn to use foraged, wild-growing plants to make prehistoric twine, and start work on a coil basket! Guided by heritage craftsperson Jon Hammond, you’ll discover the history of this prehistoric craft, learn to extract the natural fibers from various plants, discover ancient methods of cordage-making, and work your new cordage into a simple coil basket.
Hide Tanning
Step into one of humanity’s oldest crafts through this immersive brain-tanning workshop. Guided by an experienced instructor, participants will learn the traditional stages of hide preparation, softening, smoking, and preservation using natural techniques practiced across cultures for generations. Through hands-on work and storytelling, the workshop invites participants to slow down, engage deeply with the materials, and gain a greater appreciation for the skill, patience, and respect involved in transforming a raw hide into supple, usable leather. Ideal for those interested in traditional crafts, ancestral knowledge, and nature-based living skills.
Leatherworking
Explore the world of leather arts through a hands-on workshop focused on traditional craftsmanship and practical skill-building. Guided by an experienced artisan, participants will learn foundational leatherworking techniques including cutting, tooling, stitching, dyeing, and finishing. Through a slow and intentional creative process, transform raw leather into a functional and personalized handmade item while gaining appreciation for the heritage and artistry behind leather craft. Suitable for beginners and those looking to deepen their connection to handmade traditions.
Fire Making (Winter Experience)
This is an immersive workshop, more than just a lecture. An overview of a many Tehachapi critical native plants from local expert and heritage craftsperson will be followed by a hands on workshop to demonstrate and for participants to experience creating their own cordage, weaving, net bags, based on indigenous skills.
We will explore seasonal uses of plants that align with native and heritage skills of the region.
Explore the artistry of making fire, and discover the timeless craft of wood selection, differences, kindling making, and fire starting in this hands-on workshop. Led by a local heritage craftsperson, engage with creativity and craftsmanship to learn the intricate techniques of starting and tending a new fire. Connect with tradition and transform local foraged material into the spark-less ignition.
Nature Journaling
Slow down, look closer, and connect with the natural world through nature journaling. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn simple techniques for observing, sketching, and recording what they notice outdoors. Using a combination of drawing, writing, questions, and field observations, participants will create journal pages inspired by plants, wildlife, landscapes, weather, and other details in the environment.
No artistic experience is required—nature journaling is about curiosity and observation rather than creating a perfect drawing. Participants will practice noticing patterns, asking questions, documenting discoveries, and developing a deeper connection to place.
Forest Bathing
Breathe deeply, and experience the forest in a new way. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” this guided workshop invites participants to step away from everyday distractions and intentionally connect with the natural environment through their senses.
Participants will be guided through a series of gentle activities focused on noticing sights, sounds, textures, scents, and movements within the forest. Rather than hiking for distance or identifying species, the experience emphasizes presence, curiosity, relaxation, and connection to place.