7 Day Brain Tan Buckskin Workshop

7 Day Brain Tan Buckskin Workshop - 4th January - 10th January 2026 - Judbury, Tasmania

Step into seven days of deep hands-on learning and reconnect with one of humanity’s oldest and most practical crafts.

Held on a private property in the heart of the Upper Huon Valley, this immersive workshop is an opportunity to slow down, work with your hands, and learn the full process of transforming a raw hide into soft, durable buckskin using traditional brain tanning methods.

Over the course of the week, we’ll move through each stage of the process together — from fleshing and dehairing through to braining, softening, and smoking — giving you a grounded understanding of this time-honoured skill. Brain tanning is hard, honest work that asks for patience, presence, and care. Offering a rare chance to experience the deep satisfaction of creating something truly useful from what is normally considered a waste product of the game meats industry.

Alongside the tanning process, we’ll spend time learning traditional bone tool making. You’ll craft simple tools or adornments from bone, gaining an introduction into working with this versatile material.

The workshop also includes an introductory buckskin sewing class, where you’ll learn foundational techniques, stitches and seams, and have the opportunity to make your own small practice pouch — giving you the confidence to begin working with buckskin as a crafting material.

BYO camping set up + breakfast, lunch and snacks for duration of the course. There will be an undercover communal kitchen space with a kettle and a couple of gas burners provided that we encourage you to use. Wholesome dinners will be provided every night.

This is the intended flow of the week:

Day 1 - Introduction, Theory and History of Traditional Tanning, Fleshing Hides

Day 2 - Bone Tools and Intestine cordage

Day 3 - Intro to Buckskin Sewing Techniques, Make a Practice Pouch

Day 4 - De-hairing, Graining and Rebalancing

Day 5 - Dressing Hides

Day 6 - Softening Hides

Day 7 - Smoking Hides

This week is designed for beginners and experienced makers alike but does require a reasonable degree of physical strength and fitness from participants. Whether you’re drawn to ancestral skills, self-reliance, traditional craft, or simply the desire to spend a week learning something real and tangible, this is a chance to immerse yourself in meaningful work, good company, and the rhythms of life lived a little closer to the earth.

Limited spaces available - 6 participants max

Investment - $880

Come ready to learn, get your hands dirty, and leave with new skills, practical knowledge, and a deeper connection to these ancient crafts!

Email us at wildrootstasmania@gmail.com if you have any questions or queries

Cancellation Policy - If you find yourself unable to attend after purchasing a ticket, please let us know asap. We can offer a full refund if you cancel over a month in advance. If you cancel less than a month before the workshop, we can offer you a 50% refund. If you cancel less than a week before the workshop no refund will be provided.