I cannot recommend the Institute of Urban Homesteading's Cheese Making Intensive enough…read more This day and a half "intensive" is a combination of the cheese making 1, 2 and 3 classes, taught by IUH founder Ruby. It's fast-paced and she throws a lot of information at you, but the whole process is warm, interactive and accessible. I immediately felt like I could leave Ruby's home and make these cheeses (and other dairy products!) we had learned in my own. I especially love that she's found what seems like the perfect middle ground between science lesson and home-cook/homesteader understanding. She brings her personal experience in with just enough of the science and technical understanding to make home cheese making incredible accessible and attainable. I also love that IUH also has a sliding scale for fees because it demonstrates the value they put on what they teach in making these classes more widely accessible. I already have the summer farm tours on my calendar, and I can't wait to take my next class.

I haven't done anything with this organization in years, but thought highly of them in the past…read more Over the past couple of years I've tried to unsubscribe from their emails. I just tried again today using their "unsubscribe" link. What I got back was NOT a confirmation that I'd been unsubscribed. Rather, it was a detailed email from an unknown (to me) mail server company which wanted me to click on THEIR link to actually unsubscribe. I'm not about to click on an unknown link from an unknown sender. I think a direct request using the "Unsubscribe" link in an Urban Homestead email and sent from the very email address I want unsubscribed is absolutely sufficient. I do not recommend getting on their email list.

Eli and her team are AMAZING! They are wonderful instructors and teachers who really know their…read morestuff and yet are accessible, patient, and understand how to teach complete beginners. I know Eli is also very intentional about who she collaborates and works with, which explains the high caliber of guest instructors who lead workshops and classes. I cannot imagine Elmwood without Studio Sessions! Such a special small business. Please support your small businesses! which also means understanding why their policies are what they are--last-minute no-shows and cancellations are extremely detrimental for experience-based businesses. Anyway, I'm excited to take more classes in the future!

I have been wanting to learn to sew with a sewing machine and this was a great experience! The…read moreinstructors are helpful and knowledgeable! I felt confident that after the class I could pick up my projects at home and get started! I'll definitely come back for more classes!

School of Rock is an incredible place to learn how to play awesome music. The staff is always…read morewelcoming and kind. They teach a wide variety of instruments and offer engaging programs. You are not just getting lessons- you are joining a community of teachers, musicians, students, and all kinds of amazing people. I, personally, have learned so many of my favorite songs. If you want to learn music with astounding people, school of rock has great opportunity for great prices.

I've been coming to SOR since they opened in 2019. Cairo has been my drum teacher throughout…read moreincluding drum sessions over zoom in the pandemic. Cairo is one of the best drum teachers, patient extremely perceptive of students needs. Cairo breaks down exercises into bite sized chunks and makes learning fun. Simone who run the show at SOR is also phenomenal person, flexible and accommodating to adult students' changing schedules.

I am a visual artist and needed some help with the production of my own personal sketchbooks…read more Typically doing high end professional bookbinding, Anne, the director of and teacher at Capricornus put together a personalized curriculum designed to cover my needs. After three month of once a week training, I am holding several custom made sketchbooks in my hands. They are all hand crafted in different binding techniques. Sooo cool! Hands on! Individual! Affordable! I highly recommend.

Hands down best book binding training in the East bay at an astonishing value. She was originally…read moretrained in England in the 1950s at very good schools and she's been doing book binding and art restoration ever since.

The notion of a starving artist is an oxymoron as the practice of learning how to create art comes…read moreat quite a price. Art schools, art classes, art supplies... they add up quickly . I recently spent 2-full days learning to paint with wax (a process called "Encaustics"). Kala provided all materials and instruction then set us loose in the studio to have at it, along with continuing tips and topics sprinkled in throughout the days, as we learned enough to absorb additional information and tools. 2 days here (10 - 4 each day) flew by quicker than an hour does at my job. Witnessing each student's process and finished products was inspiring. The instructor taught at a level that seemed fully understandable but most so to those with an art background (which most students had). Having only an appreciation for art, I think I'd have benefited more from a little more structure. Still, I got a kick out of the instructor getting our attention by calling out "Artists!" and then talking about things we might do in "your own studio". Riiiight... Regardless of my inabilities, it was still very fun and inspiring. The 2-day workshop cost $272 which is a big chunk of change but worth it. For 2-full days the only thing I focused on was creating art and learning the processes. I pushed all my neuroses to the back of my mind and just let the creative part prevail. Cheaper than therapy, I say. Kala runs lots of different art classes, is easy to find and has ample street parking right out front. The registration process is easy, the work space is big and airy, and the classes are fun. I'm busy thinking how I can arrange things to get myself doing something like this monthly.

I don't consider myself a natural artist, but after taking Introduction to Silkscreen with Emily…read morehere I feel like a spark of potential was finally lit. I thoroughly enjoyed the flexible after-work hours where I could relax and concentrate on just a few set tasks that go into making a screen and prints. The small class size felt both intimate and collaborative. I also loved how the teacher provided great materials to experiment with and Kala had all the necessary equipment. I'd love to come back and take more silkscreen later in the year!

A surprising little store next to a park and a bakery and coffee shop. Teas, organic lip balm and…read morethese cute little postcards that need to be seen in person to really appreciate.

The Berkeley Herbal Center has been like a healing miracle gift for me. After suffering from a very…read morepainful cyst for over 8 months, and trying all sorts of remedies on my own that I read about on the Internet, I am finally feeling much better after following the Berkeley Herbal Center treatments for just 3 weeks. I am hopeful and confident that I will heal completely with some more time as I continue with the treatments. The 2 clinicians, Rose Birdsong-Stuart and Christine Holland have been incredibly helpful with their herbal knowledge, skills, and holistic approach to treatment.  They are true healers, taking the time to deeply understand the full picture of my system that was contributing to the imbalances causing the cyst. Rose delivers the herbs to me, including a special decoction that was made by founder Pam Fisher - how's that for outstanding service. I am deeply grateful for the care and guidance I've received (and also to a woman, Clarity, at Urban Remedy who recommended that I look into the Berkeley Herbal Center!).

Wonderful experience! Sheri is so experienced both as a woodcarver and as a teacher! Tread more

I started taking the introductory class a few weeks ago at Sheri's woodcarving studio, and I…read morecouldn't be happier. Sheri has created an enchanting space to learn about woodcarving and to feel part of a mini community. The drop-in structure of the courses is fantastic. The times I have been there, there have been about 3-5 other students of all ages and abilities working on their various projects. Sheri is great about walking around to provide individualized instruction and guidance, and it is also so fun to see what everyone else is working on. The shop is very well organized. Each student gets assigned a work area and a bag with their own set of high-quality tools to use in the shop. I am really enjoying working on the introductory project because you get to practice all sorts of techniques. I will definitely be continuing after I finish the first course!

I have taken classes there for 5 years, and the instructors are wonderful. Students can use the…read morestudio outside of class time. The value for your $$ is very high. This studio has an amazing offering of classes (6 week and 12 week) and workshops (2-3 days) , and the opportunity to learn all of pottery process, like making glazes and firing the kilns.

I have taken multiple classes at the Potters' Studio over the last few years. They have the best…read moreresources of any studio I've been to, and all of the instructors I've had provide lots of individual guidance. They even sell about 15 different clay bodies which allows me to do a lot of experimenting!