NOMIWOMAN SPOTLIGHT Meet Sierra LaRose of Kingsley Folk School A barn raising, hands-on learning and a community coming together — it sounds like something out of another era, but it’s happening right here in Northern Michigan. Sierra LaRose, founder of Kingsley Folk School, is inviting the community to help build a year-round classroom that will make room for more classes, shared skills and connections. Tell us about Kingsley Folk School and your upcoming barn raising! The Kingsley Folk School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit I founded in 2021 with the mission of creating a space for folks from all walks of life to share the skills of our collective heritages. We began by renting a small room in downtown Kingsley, where we held workshops like cheesemaking, fiber spinning, music, glass blowing, herbal tincture making and stamp making. We also held classes like sauerkraut making, tree grafting and Lambing 101 at satellite farm locations in the area. In 2024, we moved all our classes to our farm just outside of Kingsley, but have only been able to offer seasonal classes during the warmer months. With demand and attendance growing, we’ve been fundraising to build a year-round classroom. On the day we celebrated our five-year anniversary with a small party of board members and volunteers, we came across a barn kit just down the road that was perfect for our needs and cost very close to what we had raised for our classroom. We purchased it and moved it to our farm, but now we need the community’s help to build it! We’re hosting a barn raising on the weekend of October 24 and 25 and welcome volunteers to help with the process. We also need funds and materials to finish the barn with flooring, insulation and interior furnishings as we move forward with this project. What do you want the women of Northern Michigan to know about Kingsley Folk School? Kingsley Folk School is not just a place to learn new skills; it’s a place to make friends and lasting connections with folks in the area. People come with the shared intention of learning a new skill and find that meeting others with the same goal is often as rewarding as learning the skill. Our classes are affordable and built around locals. We welcome folks from all areas but hope to foster connections within our Northern Michigan communities to strengthen resilience, self-reliance and interdependence. Where can people learn more or get involved? You can find us at KingsleyFolkSchool.com, where our upcoming classes and workshops are available for registration. You can also learn more about our mission and upcoming projects. Learn more about the Barn Raising! Want to be featured in a NoMiWoman Spotlight? Email kerry@northernmichiganwoman.com |
