There was a time when the items in your house weren't assembled by the tiny hands of children in other countries and shipped to a fluorescent-lit, big-box store near you. The Old School rooted itself in Albuquerque a couple of years ago with a mission: To pass on the skills of yore that helped people live inexpensively and sustainably. Experts teach classes in the home arts, and cheap and safe child care is available. This weekend's sessions may yield items that can easily be turned into gifts. In the Kitchen Cosmetics class this afternoon, you can learn to make fizzy bath bombs, and salt and sugar scrubs. In the Culturing Milk course, you can make your own yogurt, kefir and cheese. Tomorrow offers Embroidery for Beginners, as well as Soap-Making. Prices and times vary, and space is limited. Go to abqoldschool.com for more. The Old School • Fri Nov 30 • 5 pm • $12 • View on Alibi calendar
I just watched this wonderful TED talk about a fashion designer who makes clothes out of kombucha.
A friend gave me a kombucha mother a while ago, and I was fascinated by how quickly it could grow large and replicate itself. All it needs is tea and sugar.
She also gave me a kefir mother, which we made excellent use of. It only takes 12-24 hours to make a jar of kefir, which is a yogurty drink. You just pour in some milk. If you do it with coconut milk, you end up making something so astringent, you can use it as a facial cleaner or to clean the grout between your tile.
