Start a Folk School in Your Community

Our communities are full of lived experience, creativity, and welcoming homes of all shapes and sizes. Most LifeSchoolHouse folk schools begin simply — with a pot of tea, a few people gathered around a table, and a shared curiosity.

Each LifeSchoolHouse grows from the needs, interests, and energy of its community. Some hosts focus on food skills: gardening, preserving, cooking, or meal swaps. Others use craft, weaving, sewing, or building to bring people together. Some start with a broad mix of gatherings to see what resonates. No matter the focus, hosts become leaders in their community, creating spaces where learning, connection, and care can flourish.

You don’t need to be “ready” to begin. Many hosts start with a single gathering, a small experiment, or a quiet question: What might grow if we made space for this?

Explore the Book

Tea for Community gathers stories from LifeSchoolHouse hosts, participants, facilitators, and volunteers. It is both a reflection and a guide — sharing the experiences, insights, and small experiments that have shaped thriving folk schools.

Through these stories, you’ll discover how hosts identify community interests, invite contributors, and nurture connections that go beyond workshops or craft tables. You’ll see how small acts of hosting — offering space, care, and attention — build trust, deepen relationships, and strengthen communities.

The book is offered in a pay-what-you-can model, so you can choose a contribution that feels right for you. Every contribution supports the ongoing growth of LifeSchoolHouse and helps others access these resources.

Watch the Introductory Webinar

Curious about starting a LifeSchoolHouse folk school, or exploring what it could look like in your community? This webinar shows how small gatherings around shared skills, stories, and creativity grow into connected, resilient communities.

You’ll hear how early hosts welcomed neighbors, shared everyday talents, and built spaces where learning, creativity, and relationship-making happen naturally. From sewing circles and leather bookbinding to maker swaps and cultural storytelling, the webinar illustrates how diverse, informal gatherings become the heart of a folk school.

We explore the role of hosts — creating safe spaces, supporting contributors, and guiding participation — as well as how community members support one another and what helps gatherings thrive. You’ll gain practical insights and inspiration for creating spaces that bring people together while honoring your own rhythm and capacity.

Share your interest
We would love to hear what is stirring for you. This short survey helps us understand your curiosity, ideas, and community. Your responses guide us in offering support, sharing resources, and walking alongside you as you explore hosting a LifeSchoolHouse folk school or pursuing your own projects.

There are no expectations or prerequisites — simply tell us what you are imagining, experimenting with, or hoping to bring to your community.

Reach Out for a Conversation

Sometimes the best way to explore your curiosity is through a conversation. If you’d like guidance, encouragement, or someone to talk through your ideas with, we invite you to reach out for a one-on-one conversation.

This is a space to reflect on your community, your interests, and your capacity, and to receive support in imagining or beginning your own LifeSchoolHouse gatherings. There are no expectations — just a welcoming space to share your thoughts, ask questions, and explore possibilities.