HIDE TANNING beginning course

A WEEKEND WORKSHOP IN SAN LUIS OBISPO

At city farm slo with farmer caroline

Join me for a fulfilling weekend delving into the art & practice of tanning sheepskin hides at City Farm — a non-profit, educational, & regenerative farm in San Luis Obispo, CA.

the process

We will scrape, soften, stretch, & smoke the hides to create a durable, soft, & preserved leather. You’ll walk away with a sheepskin (ideal for home decor or crafting into clothing if that’s up your alley) & a deep understanding of the methods handed down to me. All the while, you’ll spend time with like-minded community as we hone in & cultivate this rich skill set while enjoying the dreamy farm landscape & rhythms at mid-summer.

All the information

Registration opens February 28th, 2025.

To allow for one-on-one instruction time & quality materials for all, space is limited to 6 students. To be the first to hear of when registration opens, drop me a line.

•

One donation-based seat is available for an Indigenous person. Send me a note to reserve that spot — no need to wait for registration to fully open.

  • When: Friday June 6th — Sunday June 8th

    Where: City Farm SLO

    1221 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo

    Directions can be found on Apple and Google Maps. Parking instructions will be sent out the week prior to our gathering, along with any other pertinent information/reminders.

  • Friday June 6th

    2:30-sunset

    Arrive at 2:30 & settle in at the farm. We’ll begin the first step in the tanning process, scraping.

    Saturday June 7th

    8am-sunset

    We’ll begin early to beat any potential heat as Day Two tends to be more intensive. We’ll stretch & soften the hide. A catered lunch will be provided.

    Sunday June 8th

    9am-afternoon

    Our final day! We’ll complete any lingering needs for the hides, and then seal them with smoke. We’ll wrap around mid-afternoon.

  • City Farm has some shade for our breaks, but we’ll primarily be exposed to some varying elements (wind & sun in June). Please check the weather before coming to the farm each day. Farm/outdoor gear that can get messy is ideal. Work gloves can save your knuckles on scraping day (Friday).

  • Water, snacks, and anything that will be supportive to you in the learning and tanning process (notebook, pen, a blanket/chair to sit on, sunscreen, a bandana, etc.)

    There are a few lunch options nearby the farm (an urban farm perk!) & you’ll be able to take breaks as it suits you.

    In the non-physical, please bring an open mind & heart as we delve into this process & spend time with the land & this part of the animal that lived here. The tanning process will ask a good bit of you physically, and require most of your attention for the entire weekend.

    In your off hours, I recommend prioritizing gentle movement & stretching, nourishing self with food, hydrating well, & exploring what feels aligned for this brief stretch of time we’ll spend focused solely on hide tanning & our small group.

  • If you plan to visit from out of town, lodging recommendations can be provided upon request. We cannot accommodate overnight guests at the farm. Email Caroline for local recommendations.

  • $550 total per person. Includes a catered lunch on Saturday June 7th.

    10% of proceeds to the Chumash Tribe to honor their relationship to this land & this ancestral practice.

    20% of proceeds to City Farm SLO, our lovely venue.

Your Teacher

Hey there, my name is Caroline! I’m a regenerative farmer, hide tanner, folk herbalist, textile & lyric artist, & birth worker (among other things). I lead seasonal offerings & gatherings at City Farm and tan sheep hides from our flock of Navajo Churro.

I learned this practical & ancestral skill from Shele of Hollow Bone. Shele’s steady, attuned, & wise teaching style instilled in me a great reverence & devotion to this craft. It’s an honor to share it with you. I wish I could share more, but you’ll get that all in-person in June!

I have experience tanning sheep hides in many a climate — the PNW, Ireland, and the Central Coast. With the sun & mellow mornings here in SLO, it’s an ideal place for this work, and an honor to do so at City Farm, on Chumash Land, and with like-minded community.