Yestermorrow's recently published Fall '07/Winter '08 course catalog consists of a record-breaking 67 courses and workshops, including 15 brand new offerings, including Slipform Stone, Architectural Ceramics, Green Real Estate, Eyebrow Dormers, and Home Renewable Energy Options, among many others.

Of course our schedule is still packed with long-time favorites as well, like Home Design, Timberframing, Powertools from Women, Plumbing Demystified, and Strawbale Design/Build. Click here to peruse our offerings.

If you've attended Yestermorrow classes before, we'd love to see you again. If you've wanted to enroll but haven't yet made it here, what better time than now to take a class and join the Yestermorrow community. And if you can't make it this season, why not donate to our scholarship fund, so that someone of lesser means might get the opportunity to begin "creating their world." Simply use the envelope in the center of your course catalog, or click the link below.

Nearly six months of planning sessions and design charrettes have resulted in the creation of two potential campus expansion plans. Those plans, fleshed out and documented with the help of a student team from the Conway School of Landscape Design, identify options for redesigned vehicular and pedestrian flow, enhanced landscaping features with an eye toward instituting permaculture design principles, and locations for new structures and building expansion.

"These plans are the first step in making our dreams for campus growth a reality," says Yestermorrow Executive Director Bob Ferris. "They represent the culmination of nearly 30 years of visioning. Yestermorrow is clearly coming of age."

When the snow flies in Vermont, most Yestermorrow classes will move inside to our heated shop and design studios. But a few select souls will be basking in tropical sunshine while learning cutting edge design/build skills.

Yestermorrow is offering three fabulous warm-weather opportunities to learn sustainable building techniques during winter 2008. Our Design/Build in the Dominican Republic, Ecological Design/Build Costa Rica, and Natural Building in Costa Rica classes provide varied focuses, but with three things in common: hands-on design/build, beautiful locales, and warm weather to chase away the winter blues.

Yestermorrow is pleased to announce that John White has joined our staff as the school's interim facility manager. John replaces Steven Butler, who is on medical leave.

An experienced designer, cabinetmaker, and machinist, John White has been the manager of Fine Woodworking's woodshop since 1998. The author of Care and Repair of Shop Machines, White is a leading source for fixing and maintaining power tools. He is also an accomplished hand-tool worker and collects and repairs vintage hand tools. White has written several articles for the magazine and performed many of the tool tests that take place in the Fine Woodworking shop. His personal interests include restoring small woodworking machines from the 1930s and 1940s and building Shaker-style furniture.

Yestermorrow is thrilled to have John on board. His skills will surely bring the school's shop to a new level.

You do the math: On one hand, five full-time and three part-time staff members, plus six interns; on the other hand, over 1000 students in 2007. That's a lot for Yestermorrow to keep up with. So imagine our relief when someone comes along and offers their help.

Yestermorrow has been thrilled to have had a number of hearty souls this summer who really came through for the school in a variety of ways. Herb Williams, a long-time student at the school, took it upon himself to mow and trim the Yestermorrow campus each week. He even dug flowers from his own garden to plant around the school's roadside sign. Herb's wife, Mary, spent over 50 hours singlehandedly entering 1623 books into the school's new computerized library catalog.

Katrina Spade has graciously contributed countless days in the Yestermorrow office, helping with everything from photocopying to data entry to answering the phones. Karen Stamieszkin and Michael Wayman stepped up to help out in the kitchen with meal preparation. And lastly, Natural Building Certificate student Josh Koppen stuck around after the program to expand the school's vegetable garden, among other tasks. Thanks to you all! Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated.