Deer Tanning

We also teamed up last year with master butcher Diarmuid McGivney to run a weekend retreat that primarily involved skinning, butchering and tanning of the hide of young, wild bucks. The essence of the retreat is connection to nature, challenging the parts of ourselves comfortable to be eating meat despite the discomfort in the stages of preparation that we have subcontracted out to others.

Diarmuid's mastery in the field, fifteen years a butcher in Ireland and two out on the great plains of Canada with First Nations tribes, was a sight to behold, but it always is, isn't it, seeing a master of his or her craft at work.

The last retreat was aimed specifically towards men, and the level of instinctive and natural healing that took place on the weekend was an honour to witness.

There were no shortage of women asking why they were excluded, and it's a fair question. So the next one is open to those willing to work, willing to endure a bit and willing to break through discomforts that are most likely holding them back.

Male, female or otherwise, all Tanners welcome.