I’ve always been a good student. In the classroom, I was an eager listener and studied hard for tests, but some of my best studies happened outside of school. In fact, my best subject was learning how to fit in. I was an accomplished student of cultural norms, and through my studies I molded and manipulated myself to succeed in American society.

Yet after decades of adapting to my environment, I craved authenticity in myself and others. So when I retired a few years ago, I entered a period of corporate detox. It was a time of disciplined unlearning – at once uncomfortable, liberating, confusing and healing. Shaking my addiction to productivity, my focus on being agreeable and giving up on the idea that your value is tied to your work, were hard patterns to break.

So when I began the ambiguous process of creating a folk school it was important to me to not regress into my old patterns. I wanted to manifest rather than manipulate. To listen rather than know. To pause rather than push. To trust rather than pressure.

So I listened, accepted our limitations, acknowledged what I didn’t know, and slowly took action and made decisions that were right in the moment. And when I looked around, this community had gathered to support us.

Some of our region’s most accomplished experts and artisans agreed to teach before we even knew where classes would take place. Curious people registered for our early classes despite the fact we didn’t yet have a track record. Strangers reached out to offer their buildings, barns, workshops and land as class locations. People donated tools, bikes, books and time in support of Green Door’s mission.

Green Door Folk School has tapped a need – a need for fun, play, creativity, dirty hands, and learning with others – and people want to be part of it. Having now completed our inaugural spring season of 11 classes, with 14 instructors, impacting nearly 100 students new hobbies have been born, new relationships forged and among the learning of new skills I’d like to think that there is some unlearning happening too.

I didn’t plan this. In fact, a few years ago I couldn’t even have imagined what we have created here.

I’m proud to say my unlearning is happening, which is in turn opening new avenues for learning. I would have never guessed that Green Door Folk School’s first student would be me. 

Thank you to everyone who has had an impact, great or small, on Green Door Folk School!

A Special Thanks to the Following:

  • Timberlee Hills for classroom space
  • Cedar North for classroom space
  • SEEDS for classroom space
  • Leelanau Poor Farm for classroom space
  • Traverse Area District Library for partnering on the Repair Café
  • Tom Wall for donating a set of Foxfire Books
  • Wanda Lord and her friends for donating sewing machines