Experience Level: Beginner

Learn about the process of making sourdough bread at Beginner Sourdough Breadmaking on Sundays, Sept. 27 or Oct. 11 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Kitchen and Carriage House.

Instructor Hannah Fink will cover the basic biology of a ferment and what it means to a sourdough culture, how to mix sourdough, how to maintain a healthy starter in your home and the importance of baking with regionally grown grains. Students will also get hands-on experience as they learn to mix sourdough.

Prepared dough will be available to showcase baking and for students to prepare a snack toward the end of class. Students will take home their own jar of sourdough culture, a sample of gains from Janie’s Mill, as well as printouts of everything covered, simple recipes and a thorough list of resources.

$100/person*. Registration will close 10 days before each course begins or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring a container to take home their sourdough (5-quart capacity preferred)

Experience Level: Beginner  

Carve your own useful or decorative wooden spoon at Woodcarving Basics: Spoons on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 1-5 p.m. in The Studio.

Instructor Lou Ann Koebel will teach students how to safely use a carving knife and practice the three basic carving cuts. Each student will create a unique and functional wooden spoon to give as a gift or use in their own kitchen!

$85/person*. Registration closes on Sept. 25, or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring a carving glove and basic spoon carving set for right or left hand.

Experience Level: Beginner 

Learn the skills of improvisation, including scene creation and team dynamics at Improve Your Improv on Thursdays, Sept. 10 through Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Music Barn. 

Instructor Kyle Tasch returns to The Farms to teach this popular course, which will be jam-packed with improvisational fun that uses both short-form games and long-form scenes. 

This will not be a class to sit down, hear lectures, and take notes.  Students will be performing as much as possible to emphasize the mechanics needed to act out an entertaining and meaningful scene on the spot with no lines. There are many elements of improv that are not only useful on stage, but also in everyday life – wherever you might be put on the spot! 

Students who have already completed this class are welcome to join again. Beginners and those experienced in improv are all encouraged to join! 

$25/class. Registration will close two days before each class. 

— Sept. 10
— Sept. 17  
— Sept. 24  
— Oct. 1
— Oct. 8  
— Oct. 15

Experience Level: Intermediate (Ages 15+; parents/guardians are not required to register with their children, but all minors must have a parent/guardian on-site.)

Take your watercolor skills to the next level at Intermediate Watercolor  Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4 from 12-4 p.m. in The Studio.

Instructor Deb Marett will lead this class tackling some of watercolor’s most rewarding challenges. Using photos of Allerton’s gardens as inspiration, students will explore techniques for painting lush garden scenes, creating glowing light subjects against dark backgrounds, capturing fields of flowers without painting every bloom, and simplifying complex landscapes into fresh, expressive paintings.Students will also cover some basic drawing skills and discuss tips for choosing a scene that will make for a successful painting.

$170/person*. Registration closes Sept. 25 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring:
– Watercolor paint
– A flat palette/mixing tray large enough to work with several colors at once
– Brushes (flat and round, one of the flats at least 1” wide (flat). At least one squirrel hair brush recommended, but not required).
– Watercolor paper – 100% cotton highly recommended
– A sponge or rag
– Photos (either printed or on a phone) to paint

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn printmaking processes at Lino Cuts & Prints on Sunday, October 4 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Mansion Library.

For a very long time, printmakers have transferred images from specially prepared plates to paper, fabric, wood and metal. In this workshop, instructor Billie Theide will help students learn to design, carve, prepare ink and transfer images to make unique works of art. Each student will get a toolkit that will enable them to continue to work at home.

$145/person. Registration will close September 27 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced; should have taken “Intro to Tarot” (ages 18+)

Expand your knowledge of tarot at Mystic Mondays: Advanced Tarot on Monday, Oct. 5 from 6-8 p.m. in the Mansion Library.

Instructor Charlie Rainbow Wolf will go deeper into the different types of tarot cards and spreads, offering more chances to learn different ways to read the cards.

$60/person*. Registration closes Sept. 28 or when the capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring a notebook, pen, and a tarot deck of their choice. 

Experience Level: Beginner

Craft traditional witches' brooms using locally grown dried flowers and foraged materials at Besoms: A Witch’s Broom Workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Illinois Arboretum Shed.

Learn about the lore and history of besoms in the world of the occult and witchcraft. This is the perfect Halloween or fall activity! Students will take home their own handmade besom made from natural materials!

$65/person. Registration will close Sept. 29 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn about the art of stained glass at Intro to Stained Glass: Pumpkin on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in The Studio.

Instructor Kari Keller will teach students how to cut, shape and assemble a stained-glass pumpkin to take home. Grinding, fitting and soldering will be covered.

$100/person*. Registration will close Oct. 1 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should wear closed-toe shoes. Safety glasses and gloves will be provided.