The Wild Earth Woodworking School
Hudson, WI
“Education
is the most important tool you’ll invest in.”
George Vondriska's Wild Earth Woodworking School offers hands-on woodworking classes covering a variety of topics. Learn more about our school by visiting our main page
Instructors at The Wild Earth Woodworking School:
George Vondriska
George was in 6th grade when he had his first shop
class. A great teacher, Bill Mathis, influenced George
tremendously. He decided he wanted to be a shop teacher, just like Mr.
Mathis. George went on to take every shop class he could, get his
teaching degree in Industrial Education, and teach junior and senior high
school. George has found his niche in teaching adults.
One of the highlights of George’s teaching career was three
years with the Peace Corps in Swaziland, Africa. He taught hand tool joinery in
a rural high school, developed curriculum for country wide implementation, and
helped train new Peace Corps Volunteers.
George has made three woodworking videos and demonstrated
tools for Delta, Shopsmith, Takagi, and Record Tool. He has taught woodworking
to employees of Andersen Windows, Northwest Airlines, and the
Pentagon. George has contributed numerous stories to American
Woodworker Magazine, from tool tests to product reviews, and is currently
writing for Woodworkers Journal. George
holds one patent on a woodworking tool, but is always hatching a new idea or
two.
Emily Vondriska
Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Biology-Education, with a concentration in Naturalist. After teaching
high school science for several years, she decided it was time for a learning
experience overseas. Emily and George became Peace Corps Volunteers in
Swaziland, Africa. Emily taught science but also took on several side
projects to help the villagers. Much of her real teaching experience came
from the villagers, the rural projects, and the wildlife that lived in the area.
Upon returning to the States, Emily implemented what she saw and learned in
Africa in her original artwork. She also picked up a few more skills from
working in several florist shops, training dogs, and from living on a
farm with George. Emily hopes to teach others much of what she's
learned, getting them creatively involved with things both wild and natural.
Dave Abraham
Dave
is living proof that anyone can become a skilled woodworker. He started with no
natural abilities. He almost failed wood shop in school, but enjoyed working
with the tools and the wood.
Dave purchased his first home over 20 years ago and, having
more time then money, he started teaching himself how to make the things he and
his wife wanted for their new home. The first projects weren't pretty but each
one got a little better. Now his family and friends know Dave as the guy with
all the tools. He is the go-to guy when they need that fireplace surround or
cabinetry built. He takes great joy in taking a pile of wood and turning it
into something that may still be around and being enjoyed long after he is
gone.
Because of all the struggles Dave went though to learn
woodworking he has a great deal of patience and understanding for the students
that are just starting out. He has been where they are and knows that with a
little effort and education they can do great things.
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown founded an instrument kit manufacturing company
called Musicmakers Kits, Inc., in 1978 with the purpose of helping people build
their own performance-quality stringed instruments. The company, located in Stillwater, Minnesota, has grown to be a
worldwide supplier of musical kits, plans and supplies over the years.
One of Jerry’s basic goals in business has
been to “de-mystify” the field of instrument making, making this old-world
craft accessible to average hobbyists with normal hand tools. He particularly enjoys hearing from
customers who send photos and stories about their instrument-making fun. A quick glance through Musicmaker’s
collection of testimonials indicates that Jerry has a real ministry wrapped up
in this business. “The most rewarding
part of this venture,” he says, “is when we get a letter from a grandfather
with pictures of his beaming granddaughter standing next to a beautiful harp he
built for her – that’s what motivates us.”
Jerry considers himself a “kitchen musician”, playing guitar, banjo, and hammered dulcimer by ear most of his life. He has written a 150-page harp-making manual, titled Folk Harp Design and Construction, and he frequently gives instrument-making workshops and classes around the country. For more information on Musicmakers Kits, click here to go to their web page.
Laura Fairweather
Laura has always been drawn to nature. To her, the forest is a sanctuary and Mother Nature creates an array of magical forms. Whether it is studying a twist in a tree or picking up a unique piece of driftwood, Laura has been fascinated with what she could possibly create out of wood. Through her own adventure, she has discovered how to take the materials nature has to offer and make interesting and functional rustic furniture.
Laura has been working with adults for 13 years
and enjoys teaching and sharing different skills and experiences. She would
like to share the craft of making rustic furniture with students and teach the
endless possibilities nature and wood have to offer.
A.J. Moses
AJ Moses was raised by a father who taught him “You can do
anything if you just have the confidence to try.” A retired public servant and ‘second career’ software programmer,
he gradually acquired an interest in woodworking as a hobby over the last 10
years.
A strong advocate for the recycling and
the environment, AJ creates a line of original design tables, benches and
nicely crafted woodturnings ranging from bowls to baseball bats using materials
from a variety of unconventional sources.
He calls his shop ‘Castaway Woodworks’.
He uses very little new
material; most of his lumber is acquired from someone else’s cast-offs. He says this is simply re-using materials
that would otherwise end up in a landfill or be burned.
Since his retirement in 2005, AJ has
coached Cub Scout groups, neighborhood families and individuals in his shop
with projects such as bird feeders and houses, bowls, platters and Adirondack chairs, (the latter he
learned to make at the
AJ is a hobby beekeeper, tutors adult literacy classes at the Harmony School in Maplewood, MN, teaches renewable energy workshops focused on bio-fuels to state fleets around the U.S., and sits on the board of directors for the Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition. He and his wife, Ann Ribbens, live in Oakdale, MN.
Tim
Nyberg
Tim started his woodworking as a very young boy. He was about
7 or 8 when he got his first workbench and toolbox. Even in their little
apartment kitchen his mom always made sure he had a spot to tinker around with
wood projects. It didn’t take much to keep him busy all day, just a few old
boards, a nail or two and something to color with. He started his power tool
collection with a Sears jointer and radial arm at age 16.
At 16 he also started working at the local
hardware store where he felt right at home. He spent 10 years working at that
little family owned hardware store, and got a lot of experience as a handyman,
and working with a many different tools.
Throughout high school Tim took every shop
class he could get his hands on, from architectural drafting to
woodworking. Tim has 3 degrees; a BS in
Industrial Technology, with Minors in Journalism and Business administration,
AA in Applied Arts, and an AS in Computer and Network support.
One of the things Tim enjoys most is working with his mini lathe, turning everything from awls to wine stoppers.