SKILLS WITH BILL
Course overview
The purpose of this course is to give students an introduction to a range of hands-on skills related to the following main areas:
Construction/Building
Creature Care (animal care/wildlife and land stewardship)
Food preparation/Cooking
Gardening!
This class will operate as an education experience through which students will develop skills, knowledge and agency in each of the subject areas through hands-on learning and collaboration. Students will spend time at Bill’s home in North Durham (where I steward a small animal sanctuary and gardens). We will also use the workshop at Insight, and visit host sites where we will learn from subject area experts who can share skills and knowledge.
Day 1: Sept. 2025
On our first day of skills with Bill we worked on a strawbale home with carpenter Donesha Thompson. Donesha works to create affordable housing in her role with local affordable home builder Coram Houses, and this strawbale house is an effort to find out how to incorporate natural building methods into this work.
What we did today:
Learned about Strawbale/Natural Building Methods
Worked together to apply Cob (mixture of sand, clay and straw) onto exterior of house
Hung out with the Donesha’s chickens and reflected on our work
What is Coram Houses?
“a community organization committed to breaking cycles of racial & economic injustice through creative & affordable housing.”
Here is a link to a piece written by Topher Thomas, founder of Coram Houses (photo at right is also from the link: https://communityhometrust.org/the-story-of-coram/
Day 2: Sept. 18, 2025
On our second day of skills with Bill we returned to the strawbale house. Our group was invited by Donesha to design and create a mural using cob on the building.
What we did today:
Sifted sand, clay and straw, and mixed these materials to create cob using the large mixer.
Worked together to design a mural on the side of the house and created a cob design which included a tree, a sun, a cat, and a bird.
Reflected on our work
How can you learn more about Natural Building Methods?
A great way to learn these skills for free is to volunteer to help with local projects! If, however, you want some more in-depth training, the Mud Dauber School of Natural Building in Snow Camp, NC is a great local resource. Check out their website:
https://www.muddauberbuilding.com/
How can you learn more about Carpentry and Construction?
Again, helping friends, neighbors and community members build and fix structures is a great way to get started! If you want more in-depth knowledge, another great option is Durham Technical Community College! Check out the Construction Trades Program!
Here is an interview with Maryah Smith-Overman, Dean of the Construction Department at Durham Tech, about equitable opportunities in the trades (image at right from article)
Day 3: Oct. 2, 2025
On our third day of skills with Bill we learned about native plants, and planted several native plants, collaborated on cooking projects, and worked together to design and start work on a chicken coop.
What we did today:
Learned about Native plants and about local resources where we can learn more about gardening and native plants. We then planted in our garden box at school.
Students reviewed the safe use of camp stoves and worked together to cook delicious pancakes (teachers were just there to offer support as needed). We then had a very fun pancake breakfast at the picnic tables.
Worked together to design a chicken coop based on parameters provided by Billy, measured wood for the project, and learned to use the chop saw.
Where can you learn more about gardening, native plants, volunteer opportunities in our community?
NC State Extension Website: https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/
Durham Master Gardener Blog https://durhammastergardeners.com/
NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/
Want to volunteer at a community garden?
Check out Briggs Ave Community Garden and connect with some experienced gardeners! (Photo from this link) https://durham.ces.ncsu.edu/home-and-community-gardens/briggs-avenue-community-garden/
Day 4: Oct. 30, 2025
On our fourth day of skills with Bill we worked on cooking and construction skills
What we did today:
Followed a recipe (see below!) and collaborated to cook Tuscan Bean Soup, roast potatoes and couscous which we had for lunch.
Continued to work on our chicken coop. We used applied mathematical reasoning as we measured our wood pieces, and learned to use hand tools such as the hand saw, and power tools such as the impact driver, and drill
