— Buckskin Leather Workshop —
a.k.a. hide tanning
Learn to craft handmade leather
—from deer hide to soft buckskin—
during this incredible 4-day workshop.
Go home with the buckskin that you process in class.
DETAILS
Join us for this 4-day workshop lead by Ryan MacLeod at Benzai Bloomstead.
Thursday, April 25 —
Sunday, April 28
Price includes all meals, 4 days of childcare, overnight accommodations, materials and tools.
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
In this 4-day workshop, students will move through an age old process to turn raw deer hides into wonderfully soft buckskin (aka suede leather). We will use a process called combo tanning to preserve the hides, which includes elements of bark tanning and brain tanning. Students will learn the physical process while developing an understanding of what is happening inside the most sustainable fabric on earth as you facilitate one of the most amazing transformations of an organic material to something you will have forever.
You can keep these whole as a sacred item, or use it to make bags, shoes, clothing, and more. All materials and tools are provided for this class. Please note this will be a physically demanding class, can be quite messy, and we will be working long days. But the reward is well worth it!
Special Feature:
A local chef and co-owner of Left Bank Butchery will be cooking for us during this workshop!
Expect hyper-local, grass-fed/pasture-raised beef and pork cooked over the fire, plus ample fresh vegetable options from our incredible local CSA. Plus, one evening during the workshop, our resident tiny-home builder & river stewardess—Anita Lorraine Moore—will sling pizzas at our wood-fired cob oven, made from the clay dirt of this land.
If you’d like to bring your own food, the workshop location has a full indoor kitchen that you are welcome to use. You may store things in the fridge, and use the stove, microwave, air fryer, slow cooker, pots, pans, etc.
For local dining, we highly recommend the Saxapahaw General Store, less than 10 minutes away.
About Ryan MacLeod
Ryan “Possum” MacLeod is an endless explorer of just about anything he’s curious about. Ryan is a couples therapist, a performing musician, and an avid earth skills enthusiast, weaving ancestral practices into his life and work. Be it hide tanning, friction fire, plant medicine, or bow building, he considers all of these practices as both a way to forge a forever connection to the earth and as a doorway to healing our relationships with self and others.
As a student of Luke McLaughlin’s Deep Remembering Wilderness Immersion program, Ryan made his first contact with tanning animal hides. Describing it as “participating in genuine alchemy,” he has since deepened his study of the practice with Matt Richards of Traditional Tanners and author of Deerskins Into Buckskins. Ryan takes pride in being the “neighborhood weirdo” who is processing animal skins in the backyard next to his kids’ playset, but the biggest joy is passing the these gifts to others as a way to build community.
Ryan lives in Winston-Salem with his wife, two children, and their cat.
FAQs
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Can kids/teens participate? This workshop is for ages 18+. We are happy to consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Just send us a message.
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We welcome folks to spend the night on-site. We have four options for that:
Camping: We have lots of space available for camping—this is a 32-acre property with two creeks, open pasture and healthy forest. We also have an outdoor kitchen, cobb pizza oven, outhouse, water stations and an outdoor shower.
Bell Tent: We have one bell tent available for campers. It's quite large - with a 14.5ft diameter. We also have sleeping pads and/or a Queen-size air mattress that participants are welcome to.
Guest Room: We have 1 private bedroom with a queen-size bed. Full bathroom and full kitchen shared with the workshop attendees.
Fold-out couches: The indoor studio space has three sleeping couches in the main area that people are welcome to use as long as they’re willing to tuck their sleeping gear away during the day so that other workshop participants can easily come and go through the space.
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Meals for the workshop are being provided by Jason Powers, a local chef and co-owner of Left Bank Butchery. And, one evening during the workshop, our resident tiny-home builder—Anita Lorraine Moore—will sling pizzas at our wood-fired cob oven, made from the clay dirt of this land.
If you’d like to bring your own food, the workshop location has a full indoor kitchen that you are welcome to use. You may store things in the fridge, and use the stove, microwave, air fryer, slow cooker, pots, pans, etc.
For local dining, we highly recommend the Saxapahaw General Store, less than 10 minutes away.
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Yes! We will provide all the necessary tools and materials, including a deer hide for you to work with and take home.
The deer we’ll work with all lived on this land or nearby. They were hunted with respect and processed with dignity. Their meat feeds local families, and our tanning workshop ensures that their beautiful hides do not go to waste. It’s all part of honoring their lives.
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Yes! During this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn both brain tan AND bark tan. This video shows some of the key differences between brain tan, bark tan, grain-on leather and buckskin.
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Our group will have full access to the 32-acre property, including the indoor studio space with a full kitchen and bathroom. While we work with the hides, we will be outdoors.
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Great question! It’s right here. Your presence on the property indicates your agreement with this waiver.
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Yes. The reality is that the same amount of money feels vastly different to different folks. We don’t want people to miss this opportunity because of cost. So, we are happy to offer discounts and pay-what-you-can pricing in the hopes that folks will pay what feels generous for their means so that this offering is possible and that the instructors, hosts, chef and land all earn enough to feel valued and supported. Please message Morgan via email to discuss pricing options beyond what’s listed here.
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My first buckskin. Pure joy.
Credit and gratitude to Luke McLaughlin and the Holistic Survival School. I treasure this experience.
A Note from Morgan
Friends, I am thrilled to invite you to learn hide tanning this Spring at Benzai Bloomstead. This is a sacred practice to me—one that connects me to the land around me, to the practices of ancient humans, to the realities of life and death, to alchemy, to community, to my own physicality, and to the tactile pleasure of completed buckskin. This is a four-day workshop, taught by my dear and trusted friend Ryan MacLeod. This workshop is an opportunity to dive into an immersive experience for four days—working the deer hide, sourcing bark tannins, tending fires, cooking in the open air, sleeping under the stars, tasting the wild foods of this land, sharing stories, sitting by the creek, and whatever magic arises with this group.
With Love & Enthusiasm,
Morgan