Wild Harvest – School of Self Reliance

Wild Harvest – School of Self Reliance

Wild Harvest’s mission is to empower you to provide for yourself and your family using the resources around you. Future-proof your family by learning traditional skills and cutting-edge food growing techniques, reconnect with the natural world and your creative potential and browse our courses.

Courses in Traditional Skills and Rural Crafts

Learn traditional skills such as basket weaving, leather work, rag-rugging and more. Unlock your creativity and work with your hands to create beautiful, useful household items. De-stress, meet new people and learn a new skill.

Our Self-Sufficiency Training Courses

We provide half day, full day and residential training courses and workshops in self-sufficiency based at our farm in North Yorkshire. Stay overnight in our well-equipped tipis. We cater for groups and individuals.

About the founder

Raised on the North-East coast by her Grandfather, Di Hammill was taught the value of simplicity, make and mend and traditional remedies. Despite an unconventional upbringing Di went on to study at post-graduate level and has completed numerous courses in psychology, philosophy, adult education, Steiner and mainstream childcare, crafts and bio-dynamic farming. In 2006, under the instruction of Patrick Whitefield she completed the full Permaculture Design Certificate and also holds the Adult Ed. Lecturers Cert. and Youth and Community Worker Qualifications. Being fully insured and C.R.B checked she has, through her business Wild Harvest undertaken walks and workshops for various organisations including the Forestry Commission, The Country Living Magazine, the National Parks, Adult Education Services, various Food Festivals, The Edible Garden Show’s Good Life Live and the WI Centenary Show at Alexandra Palace. She has raised her own children TV-free and off-grid in a remote North Yorks dale, collecting firewood, foraging and bathing in the river, even lining the children’s wellies with roadkill rabbit fur, she has lived the ultimate self-sufficient life. Di has been the subject of a handful of press articles about her lifestyle and is passionate about raising awareness of the need to re-skill and become more self-reliant. She is working towards her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, winning gold in the 2015 Ladies Lightweight section, can partially service her own car and loves learning! Reviews of her teaching talk of her as calm and patient yet enthusiastic and knowledgable. Wild Harvest recently beat York Racecourse to Highly Commended in the Visit York Visitor Experience of the Year Awards.

How your donation will be used

We offer courses/stays there in exchange for a small donation you will get a attendance at the party with our activities, including food and drink. For a larger donation you'll be able to attend our retreat in France.