Free Skool 2011 Winter Calendar
The Free Skool 2011 Winter Calendar is available! Look for paper calendars at cafes and community centers, particularly SubRosa at 703 Pacific Ave.
Download this as a convenient, printable PDF (albeit very very large at 11MB).
Class Catalog
Women/Trans Bike Workshop Bike Church, 703 Pacific Ave
with WTFers of the Bike Church thebikechurch@gmail.com
Bicycle maintenance has traditionally been an overwhelmingly male-dominated area. It is our goal to help support individuals who may have felt marginalized or intimidated in this setting to feel knowledgeable and confident working on their bikes and cycling. This workshop provides a safe space for women and trans identified folks to work on their bikes and learn new skills. Bring your bike, or learn with one of ours..
Sun Nov 6th, 20th, Dec 4th, 18th, Jan 15th – Noon-3pm
Winter Good Eats Westside, Contact for Location
with Carol Fox 831-421-9454
When the days grow short and chilly, wonderful hearty soups and stews and some crusty bread or crunchy wheat-free crackers fresh from the oven can warm our hearts and bodies, and bring family and friends together at the table in happy connections. This is an intimate hands-on cooking class for beginners as well as experienced cooks who want to broaden their repertoire. Vegetarian as well as omnivore dishes will be prepared. Then we eat! Requirements: Pre-register at least 2 days in advance. Max 5 in class. Donation requested to cover cost of food. Directions: Westside Santa Cruz. Call for address.
Wed Nov 30th – 5-7pm
Willow Baskets for All Contact Teacher for Location
with Daniela deguzmanlivin@gmail.com
Let's make some baskets! This class is for all who feel excited about using wild, local materials to make practical and beautiful every day objects. The first session will be about harvesting/processing the willows and weaving the bases. The second one we'll do all the vertical weaving and finnish 'em off by bending down the rim. From storage containers, to pack baskets, to bike panniers, the world of basketry is endless and limited only by your creativity. Come share your knowledge, inspiration, ideas, and enthusiasm for foraging and creating! Requirements: Come prepared with a sharp knife. Email so we can talk about materials.
Sat Nov 5th, 19th – 9:30am-12:30pm
Wild Mushroom Hunting for Fun & Profit Twin Gates
with Mike Cohen 831-419-2517
Learn about wild mushrooms that grow in our area, what mushrooms are, why they are so cool and important to our environment. Learn to identify the edible, poisonous, and beautiful mushrooms that grow in our area. We will forage, identify and eat mushrooms. I have been identifying and picking wild mushrooms locally and up and down the West coast for over 15 years. Requirements: Bring a basket, or a bag, a knife, and enthusiasm. Also a camera if you wish. Recommended books are “All that the Rain Promises and more” or “Mushrooms Demystified” both by David Arora. Directions: Twin Gates, where Empire Grade meets UCSC and Wilder Ranch.
Sun Dec 18th – 10am
Urban Ag 101 - TerraGnoma Community Demonstration
1147B East Cliff Drive
with L. Roxanne Evans 831-421-2843
Potluck vegan lunch at noon, followed by a class that will cover one of the following: Wild edibles, permaculture methods, propagating seeds and seedlings, assisting with chicken duties, constructing structures from reclaimed and recycled materials, garden maintenance and weeding, and implementing sustainable and ecological landscaping practices. Directions: TerraGnome Demonstration garden is located on East Cliff Drive near Seabright Beach. We meet in the back of a brown house with a garden gnome in the front. Rain or shine.
Every Friday beginning Nov 4th – 1-5pm
UBEW Meet & Geek Bocci's Cellar, 140 Encinal St
with UBEW ubew000@gmail.com
This is our monthly, open meeting for tech-minded people who have an interest in software and hardware projects that benefit the community. We'll share ideas, help each other with projects, geek out, consume pitchers of fermented grain (optional), and play bocci. Requirements: A background or an interest in making stuff, computer programming, building hardware or electronics, and general geek culture might be helpful in understanding what the hell we are talking and laughing about.
Last Thu of the month: Nov 17th, Dec 29th, Jan 26th – 7:30pm
Spanish Conversation SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave
with Summer & Sylvia sylvianotcynthia@hotmail.com
Let's help one another maintain our Spanish language skills by using them! We'll pick a topic to discuss each week and speak exclusively in Spanish while we're together. Requirements: Intermediate to advanced Spanish skills are required.
Mondays – 6-7pm
santa cruz sk8 club! Saturn Cafe Lot, Pacific Ave
with Natalie and Anna southpawjamz@yahoo.com
This is a competition-free group of skateboarders who are interested in meeting other people to skate and hang out with. We encourage you to come, whether you have never touched a board or are pro. All ages and genders welcome; ladies especially encouraged! we will be meeting at the parking lot behind Saturn Cafe and make our way toward various skate spots around town that will be inclusive for all abilities. Requirements: Bring something to ride. Helmets and pads are a plus.
Mon Nov 7th, 21st, Dec 5th, 19th, Jan 2nd, 16th – 3pm until we're bored of boards
Running a Free Skool Subrosa 703 Pacific Ave
with Free Skool Collective freeskoolsc@riseup.net
A discussion on things we’ve learned about starting and running a free skool, getting and keeping people involved, engaging students, teachers, and organizers, dealing with spaces, and other free skool issues. Get info on how to get involved. We invite folks from other Free Skools elsewhere to share their experiences. Requirements: Bring snackies and a willingness to share what you’ve learned.
Sun, Jan, 22nd – 1-3pm
Quilting Circle: Revenge of the Grandmas Fábrica, 703 Pacific Ave
with Wes thespoon@thespoon.com
Quilting as Communal and Personal Liberation: Imagine old women sitting around a porch sewing together, listening to a far away banjo, and talking about their lives. We are those old women, young and old, regardless of gender. Not a class focused on traditional quilting and sewing styles, but an excuse to come together, exercise our artistic creativity and radicalism, make something useful and beautiful, and build friendship. Though we will be working on individual projects, we will help and influence each other. Requirements: Try to commit to every class so we can get to know each other. Fabrica has lots of materials, but bring any sewing materials you have.
Every other Fri: Nov 4th, 18th, Dec 2nd, 16th, 30th – 6-8pm
Publishing and Layout SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave
with Magpie winter@graceless.info
An introduction to publishing, ranging from DIY zines to putting books into the book trade. Layout and graphic design basic concepts as well as instruction in Adobe InDesign.
Thu Nov 10th, 17th – 3-5pm
Police Obsolescence Project at Occupy Santa Cruz
with SCCommunity Safety Workgroup sccommunitysafety@gmail.com
Working toward a world without police. Some of the efforts of this workgroup include the Blue Light Safety Project, copwatch, know your rights, police accountability, alternatives to calling the police, and education about police, courts, and jails. Requirements: Please check out the group at policeop.blogspot.com before you come.
Every Thu, except Nov 17th and 24th – 5-6pm
Point Lobos Day Hike Logo's Parking Lot, Center St
with David & Sylvia sylvianotcynthia@hotmail.com
Join us on an easy day hike where we'll explore the incredible natural & human history of the beautiful area known as Point Lobos State Reserve. Requirements: Bring a lunch and water for yourself. Heavy rain cancels. Sorry, no dog companions on this trip. Directions: We'll meet in the Logo's parking lot at 10am and then carpool to Point Lobos.
Sun Dec 11th – 10am SHARP
Pirate Radio Engineering Free Radio, Contact Teacher
with Uncle Dennis uncled@freakradio.org
The theory and practical knowledge needed to construct and keep a pirate radio station on the air. Topics include electricity, electronic theory, DC and AC circuits, audio and RF circuits, radio wave theory and propagation, antennas, station siting, FCC rules and regulations. Transmitters, audio equipment, computers and telephone equipment. Each class will include lab time where theory will be demonstrated. Students will construct simple circuits using soldering irons and hand tools, then test them. Students will get practical experience with station maintenance at Free Radio Santa Cruz. This is not a broadcaster or DJ class. Class size limited to 6. Requirements: Basic algebra and trigonometric math. Students will need to purchase soldering iron, some hand tools and electronic parts. A multimeter is recommended, but not required. Contact teacher for location.
Mon Nov 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, Dec 5th, 12th, 19th, Jan 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, Feb 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th – 7-9pm
Mass Media, a Critical Intro SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave
with Shaun Phillips shphilli28@gmail.com
This class will be introductory discussion on critical analysis of mass, commercial media looking at censorship by omission and what this means; where you can find people-oriented alternatives to keep you informed; how this can help participants understand current affairs from a global, human, perspective; and inspire us (hopefully) to join together to make positive, global, social change.
Sat Jan 7th – 1-2pm
Make Stoves From Trash Bike Church, 703 Pacific Ave
with AJ and Steve sschnaar@riseup,net
Learn to make camping stoves out of old cans. They're nearly free to make, work just fine, and weigh a lot less than the fancy stoves sold at outdoor stores. We'll use old tomato cans to make efficient wood-burning stoves, and soda cans for making small alcohol-burning stoves. Requirements: Please bring some old 12oz aluminum cans and some 4 inch steel cans (like tomato sauce comes in).
Sun Dec 4th – 5-7pm
Macroeconomics & the Stock Market for Radicals Contact Teacher
with Sumit Sanyal sanyal_sumit@yahoo.com
The discussions will try to locate our individual financial situation in the larger political and historical context. Session 1: 100 years of US (with some global context) macroeconomic history and it's attendant political drivers. The juicy/gory details of the stock market crashes of the 1929 and 1987 - how it's the same shit over and over again. Session 2: Stocks, bonds, options, trading, HFT's, algo's and robots. Some anecdotes ... the math and the mumbo jumbo behind trading. Session 3: Policy implications. Impacts of the *fed* and *glass-stegall*. Impacts of reagan and thatcher. Some economists - Keynes, Friedman, Austrian school etc. Session 4: Speculations about the future. Requirements: A little bit of math and statistics will help - but can totally be skipped if it's boring.
Thu Nov 3rd, Dec 1st, Jan 12th, Feb 9th – 7-8:30pm
Lyme Prevention for the Whole Family Westside, Contact Teacher
with Carol Fox 831-421-9454
Tricky Dick the Tick and Jo the Slow Doe bring you Lyme Disease prevention tips with a song and a smile. This class is suitable for kids (7+) but will be interesting to adults as well, and emphasizes a positive message about a few simple steps we all can take to stay safe in the woods. Myths debunked, questions answered. Knowledge is power! Prizes for the best drawings of cute little deer and creepy crawly old ticks. Teacher is an RN and Lyme survivor. Requirements: Desire to protect yourself and loved ones from devastating illness. Directions: Westside Santa Cruz. Call for address.
Sat Jan 14th – 10am-Noon
Knots For Fun and Function 170 Hagemann Ave
with Jeffrey Smedberg unionize@calcentral.com, 469-9467
Everyday and exotic ways to make rope and cord do your bidding. Activists will benefit from knowing a few knots, whether tying up your banner at the rally, pitching your tent on the Capitol Mall, tying your shoes so they don't come undone, tree sitting, tarping your load for the caravan, or surviving in the woods. Share your favorite knot. Learn a new solution to a knotty problem. Requirements: Bring a piece of rope or cord, if you have one. Directions: Hagemann is on the Santa Cruz eastside off Soquel Ave. at Walgreens.
Sat Nov 19th – 10am-1pm
Intro to Bikes, Bike Maintenance, and The Church Bike Church
with Bike Church Mechanics thebikechurch@gmail.com
A practical overview of the bicycle, from brakes to shifting to proper tool usage. Also a useful introduction to our shop for newcomers. Bring your bike, or learn with one of ours.
Sun Nov 13th, Dec 11th, Jan 8th – 12pm-2pm SHARP
Icarus Project Santa Cruz Zami! Co-Op, 807 Laurel St
with Lizard 707-974-4885
An Icarus Project strives to create a community that will discuss mental illness outside of convention frameworks. Through developing a strong sense of community, we strive to recreate the way we examine ourselves and our mental capacities. With a focus on how external forces (i.e. racism, sexism, homo-/trans- phobia) affect our daily lives, we strive to acknowledge how mental 'illness' is often in concert with these forms of oppression. By forging our own support systems outside of the pharma- industrial complex, we are recreating how we understand ourselves and madness.
Mon Nov 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, Dec 5th – 4:30-6pm
Generator Lighting for Bicycles Bike Church, 703 Pacific Ave
with Josh muirjoshua@gmail.com
The days are getting shorter, time to get some lights on that bike! This class will show you how to set up lights for your bicycle that require no batteries. We'll look at old generators, as well new, and gain the skills to assemble a complete lighting system. You will get to use a volt meter and a soldering iron. . . what fun!
Sun Nov 20th – 5pm-7pm SHARP
Fruit Harvest and Processing Contact Teacher for Location
with Fruit Tree Project fruittreesc@gmail.com, 831-421-9367
Fruit is falling all over town and the Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project is working to make use of the bounty. We can't say for sure so far ahead of time but likely we'll be picking slightly unripe persimmons on Nov 13th to air-dry, harvesting apples and pressing cider on Nov 27th, biking around to pick persimmons for eating and baking on Dec 11th, and biking again for citrus and late-ripening apples on Jan 8th. These dates could change, and more will likely be added so please contact us for details or check our website: www.fruitcruz.org
Sun Nov 13th, Nov 27th, Dec 11th, Jan 8th – 11am-3pm
Friction Fire Making (The Sacred Fire) Contact for Location
with Agustín 831-252-0461
In this class we will go over bow drill and hand drill fire making techniques. How to gather local materials in a good way and make your own friction fire kit. Much more than another groovy primitive skill, fire making is an opportunity to connect with something deep and beautiful. We will discuss the spiritual significance of fire and how it can help us to stay sane in a crazy world, navigate intense transitions, and heal deep wounds. If you have fire making materials and or skills, please come and share them.
Tue Dec 20th, Jan. 3rd – 3:00-5:00pm
Free Skool Hike & Picnic Meet at Twin Gates, Empire Grade
with Everyone freeskoolsc@riseup.net
Our quarterly free skool celebration! Come and take a short hike with us and enjoy a winter picnic. Students, teachers, organizers and community members get together to enjoy a hike, food, and new and old friends. Have fun, meet people, scheme, eat, and talk. Requirements: Bring food, drink, and games to share. If it is lightly drizzling, we are still on. Directions: Twin Gates, where Empire Grade meets UCSC and Wilder Ranch.
Sat, Jan 21st – Noon-4pm
English Country Dance First Congregational Church, 900 High St
with Michael King 831-426-8621
A lively form of folk dance popular in the Renaissance era. Live music (sometimes). Beginners welcome. Singles or partners. Come join the fun! Donations gladly accepted to pay for hall rental, but they are NOT required. Directions: The church has two halls, and two parking lots. We meet in the upper hall, next to the upper lot.
Thu Nov 10th, Dec 8th, Jan 12th, 26th – 7-9:30pm
Dynamic Mixed Level Yoga San Lorenzo Park
with Kayla Rae Mulford 831-277-8367
A mixed level dynamic yoga class. We will begin with breathing practices, then we flow through postures to create heat, followed by seated postures where we relax, breath deep, and listen to music! Contact for rainy day location. Requirements: An open mind mind and earnest effort.
Mon Nov 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, Dec 5th, 12th, 19th, Jan 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th – 4:30-6pm
Day Planners DIY 811 Broadway
with kai apex@riseup.net
Do your days run together? Do you get that niggling feeling that you've forgotten something important? Day planners are an easy and efficient way to track your plans. Let's get together and make creative hand-bound pocket-sized nearly free calendars for the next year. We'll learn basic binding techniques, and make template pages using the magic of photocopying. Requirements: We'll use large sewing needles, blank paper, pens, sturdy fabric or leather, buttons, and strong thread. Bring what you can, and we'll all share.
Wed Nov 16th – 6-7:30pm
Darn it! 811 Broadway
with kai apex@riseup.net
Holey socks? Torn cardigan? Knit and woven materials are easily and seamlessly patched by darning! In this class we'll use yarn or thread to weave together our torn and holey garments. This method can be used to invisibly patch or reinforce a variety of fabrics, and is remarkably easy to learn. Requirements: Bring a hole you want patched! We'll use thread or yarn and strong needles, and a darning egg. Bring what you can, but there will be some to share.
Wed Nov 30th – 6:18-7:18pm
Council of All Beings Contact Teachers for Locations
with Cathleen and Steve 831-338-1578, rowantre@cruzio.com
"May we speak in all human councils on behalf of the animals, plants, and places of the earth." Join us as we learn about the non-human inhabitants we share our place with. Each Council member chooses a plant, animal, or place which they feel especially drawn to, learns about its life and spends time with it or in its habitat. At our meetings, we share our knowledge, do some nature awareness training, think about how we can stand up for the other beings, and enjoy being in the more-than-human world.
2nd Sun: Nov 13th, Dec 11th, Jan 8th – 3:30-6:30pm
Community Safety Workgroup SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave
with SC Comm Safety Workgroup sccommunitysafety@gmail.com
"Without police, wouldn't there be chaos and violence?" We get asked this legit question all the time. It's time we began to wrestle with some possible answers. This workgroup is an attempt to put together a replicable process for communities to build security and safety beyond the societally proscribed police state and institutional apparatus. This is a structured workshop to plan ways to keep our communities safe at all levels. Requirements: Be down with basic premises: We are working transparently. We want to work collaboratively, outside of institutional solutions. We are committed. We are here to act. What we are wanting is possible and desirable.
Thu Nov 17th – 5:30-7pm
Comics Hangout Santa Cruz Diner
with Doodle baerie@riseup.net
Like to draw? Like to write stories? Like to do both at the same time? This is not an intentional skill-share, this is where we can come together, hang-out and work near each other. Over the meetings we will explore different public places in Santa Cruz conducive to gathering and creating, starting with the Santa Cruz Diner. Bring your own project and supplies. Requirements: Bring your own project and supplies. Others may have some to share, but don't rely on it.
Every Monday – 7-9pm
California Prison Resistance SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave
with David and Stascha stormypetrel@gmx.com
In this class we will be learning about the histories of inmate organizing and resistance within the California prisons. We will also discuss current hunger strikes and the ways we can stand in solidarity with those struggling on the inside. Bring stories and ideas of prisoner resistance and solidarity to share.
Tue Dec 6th – 6:30pm
Bike Brakes Bike Church, 703 Pacific Ave
with Paul thebikechurch@gmail.com
Brakes that work well are key to staying safe on your bike, especially as we come into the rainy season. This class will cover how to assemble, maintain and repair most common brake systems. We will focus on V-Brakes, but will also cover cantis, U-brakes, caliper brakes, and to a lesser extant, coaster brakes, disc brakes, drum brakes and hydraulicly activated brakes. Learn what type of brakes go with your bike, how to set them up, change your pads, do fine-tuning adjustments, and trouble shoot common brake problems. Bring your bike, or learn with one of ours.
Sun Nov 27th – 12-2pm
Between the Covers Contact Teacher for Location
with Stacey staceyffalls@yahoo.com
Did you ever read a great book and wish you had someone to discuss it with? Let's get together over coffee or beer and discuss books. I'm drawn to books that feel intellectually or emotionally challenging, deal with complex themes, or have large implications for society, for example authors D. M. Thomas, Rushdie, Dostoevsky, or Coetzee. I mostly read fiction, but am open if others in the group want to read some non-fiction or essays. Requirements: For the first class, let's start by reading Elizabeth Costello by J.M. Coetzee. Come with at least some of it read.
Tue Nov. 22nd, Dec. 20th, Jan 17th, Feb 21st – 6-7:30pm
Become a Runner! 1st meeting at Westside Lighthouse
with Summer summerthyme@riseup.net
"Do you need a change, like a new pair of running shoes to make a quick escape before this place effin kills you?" (RVIVR) Have you always wanted to run more, but don't know where to start? Are you afraid of being 'bad' at running? Whatever your motives are, join others in learning and practicing how to run well and run fun at any distance in a mutually-supportive setting. We'll start small and work our way up. All shapes, sizes, colors, genders, classes, creeds and levels of experience welcome. Fancy shorts and new shoes not necessary for participation. Requirements: Clothes appropriate for running in; water container if desired.
Mon Nov 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, Dec 5th, 12th, 19th – 10-11:30am
Basic BellyDance 811 Broadway, but contact teacher
with Kim and Kai apex@riseup.net; 408-688-7047
A beginner dance/movement class for all body types, genders, and ages. Come learn the basic bellydance moves & techniques. We hope to create a comfortable and safe space for empowerment through movement. We really hope that you join us! Requirements: Comfy pants rather than skirts; yoga pants work well. Bring clothes you can move in! We'll provide fun hip scarves, and donations for the space are appreciated. Directions: Location subject to change if when we find a space with mirrors, so contact teacher before class.
Thu Nov 10th, Dec 8th – 7-8:30pm
Ashtanga Yoga Basics San Lorenzo Park
with Eugenia 831-688-2163
We will explore three of the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga, specifically pranayama (breathing practices) meditation and asana. This is not strictly an asana class, but rather a place to explore our subtle as well as our gross body through breath awareness, various meditation techniques, including yoga nidra, and various hatha yoga postures. Please bring a towel or blanket to sit on. Dress in loose comfortable clothes, but dress warmly if the weather is chilly.
Requirements: Students will be asked to sign a liability student waiver agreement before participating. Directions: Meet at the duck pond in San Lorenzo Park and we will find a nice plot of ground to practice on. Please note: Class will not take place if it is raining.
Sat Nov 12th, 26th, Dec 10th, 24th, Jan 14th, 28th, Feb 11th, 25th – 2-3:30pm
Anarchy: From Social Scene to Social Change SubRosa
with Steve sschnaar@riseup.net
A Discussion on Anarchist Tactics and Effectiveness: As valid as much of anarchist analysis may be, in practice it often seems more of a subculture than an effective resistance movement. Born out of working class struggles working across racial lines to build a revolutionary movement through broad-based organizing, the anarchist flag is now carried mostly by white punks from middle-class backgrounds unskilled at organizing outside their own peer group. What might it take for anarchism to reach beyond its existence as a fringe social scene to build meaningful alliances and effect social change? Requirements: There is a short reading; please contact teacher ahead of time to get a copy.
Sat Dec 10th – 5-6:30pm
Anarchy & Compassion Communi-tea Room, #7 Squid Row
with John Malkin jsmalkin@hotmail.com
Discussion and practice of integrating anarchist philosophy and action with nonviolent communication, meditation and compassion.
DIY Guide
