2026 Presentations

• 3 Secrets to Choosing the Best Herbal Remedies – By Sue Gillmore

  Part 1: When I started learning about the medicinal plants that grow in my neck of the woods and put together my herbal reference manuals, it didn’t take long for me to see that medicinal plants have multiple overlapping health benefits. This complicated the practice of herbalism for me. My Master Herbalist coursework had trained me to think in terms of one herb for one symptom, much in the same way that modern allopathic medicine approaches illness. Not all herbs…

• 5 lost American ideals: the art of building resilient communities – By Dr. Shanon Brooks

  Shanon is the Director of the Center for American Legacy Studies. He is the author of AMERICAN: Killing the American Dream and A Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens. For over 30 years, Brooks helped to found and run two alternative education colleges with an emphasis on the Five American Ideals. He has extensive experience in farming both in livestock and vegetable crops. He was responsible for a 40-acre chicken farm at the age of 14, and worked on a dairy…

• Ancient Grains – By Greg Hall

  Greg Hall is the founder and owner of Khorasan Mills, a Utah-based business focused on organic and regeneratively grown ancient grains like Khorasan wheat, spelt, einkorn, and emmer. These grains are considered “ancient” because they have remained largely unchanged for thousands of years, unlike modern wheat varieties that have been heavily hybridized. Hall’s work involves educating people about the nutritional benefits of these grains, their lower and more digestible gluten content, and their use in baking, particularly sourdough. With over…

• Animals on the Homestead – By Tom & Kathy Barnes

  We started with bare ground and have worked to develop a homestead including orchards, animals, green houses, future pastures, a home, and a barn. We will share what we have learned from our 50+ years of a homesteading lifestyle.

• Beekeeping & Honey – By Brian Cleaver

  Brian Cleaver is a commercial beekeeper with over 10 years of beekeeping experience in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, and South Dakota. He runs over 4,000 hives in his bee operation called Stoddard Honey. He loves caring for his hives and helping others perfect their own beekeeping operations.

• Beekeeping Basics – By Larry Jones

  In this beekeeping class, Larry will go over the basics of the equipment, tools and handling of the bees to having success with honey production.

• Berries, Grapes, Lavender, & Lilacs Propagation – By Coralee & Mike Carroll

  Mike obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design at BYU. The classes required for this degree provided him with valuable problem solving skills. Coralee obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Education at BYU. Coralee was a vocalist with the BYU Young Ambassadors. And, yes, we met and were married while attending the “Y”. Neither Mike or Coralee have special certifications in horticulture/gardening. But, we do have degrees in the “gardening school of hard knocks”….38 years of hands-on experience. Coralee’s four…

• Blacksmithing – By Spencer Heiner

  TBA

• Butchering & Tanning – By Keith Mitchel

  An Innovator in the Meat and Leather Industries—he is a distinguished expert in the meat and leather industries, has built a remarkable career rooted in a deep passion for history, traditional practices, and sustainable living. Rising from a working-class background, Keith’s journey from a youthful enthusiast to a seasoned professional exemplifies dedication, innovation, and resilience.

• CEB (Compressed Earth Block) Home Building – By Jonathan & Emily Satterthwaite

  The Satterthwaites have spent three years developing the expertise to make Compressed Earth Blocks. They are now operating close to full production speeds and producing beautiful blocks for homes and outbuildings. These blocks are inexpensive and are used for several of the homes here at Riverbed Ranch.

• Companion Planting, Seed Starting, Seed Saving & Growing Berries – By Cindy Richards & Coralee Carroll

  Join our engaging presentation designed to inspire and empower you with essential gardening skills tailored for the fall season. Learn the fundamentals of gardening that will help you thrive and love your garden. In this presentation, you will: Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this presentation will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to make your gardening journey enjoyable and productive.

• Emergency Communications that Really Work – By Eric Eades

  Learn how you can inexpensively communicate with loved ones 1, 5, 10, 40, 100 or 2,000 miles away when cell towers and the grid are down. This is emergency communications made easy. We’ll answer all your questions and you’ll get in-class hands-on experience.

• Fall Gardening, Seed Saving & Companions – By Cindy Richards

  Join our engaging presentation designed to inspire and empower you with essential gardening skills tailored for the fall season. Learn the fundamentals of gardening that will help you thrive and love your garden. In this presentation, you will: Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this presentation will provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to make your gardening journey enjoyable and productive. Embark on a path to self-sufficiency and enrich your homestead with these essential gardening skills!

• Food Preservation – By Women at the Ranch

  Discover the Art of Food Preserving Join us for an engaging exploration into the world of food preservation. Learn various methods to extend the shelf life of your produce and enjoy seasonal flavors year-round. Our presentation covers: We will discuss the pros and cons of each method and provide basic instructions to encourage you to experiment with different forms of food preservation. Whether you’re a novice or looking to refine your skills, this session will offer valuable insights and inspiration….

• Georgics Traditions in the AI Era (Georgics = Agriculture & Rural) – by William Demille

  In this class we will teach you the techniques to garden successfully in hoophouses and hightunnels. While I’m trained in traditional gardening methods, I transitioned to organic, sustainable practices 25 years ago. Now, my focus is on working in harmony with nature by promoting healthy soils teaming with microbes, earthworms, and beneficial insects. Because there is so much to know about success as a gardener, along with understanding how to grow “year round”, and the many different philosophies that abound,…

• Geothermal Greenhouse, Windmills, & Worms – By Eric Cleaver

  Eric is an experienced builder, dirt worker, and family man. He loves projects. Two of his favorite projects are growing in a geothermal greenhouse and raising worms to help the soil! He is a continual learner!

• Growing a Healthy Victory Garden – by Phillip Gleason

  TBA

• Growing Food as if Your Life Depends on It – by David Gillmore

  This presentation will be presented via Zoom. You’ll learn how to produce 5 to 10 times more food with less space, less time, less work, less water, less weeds and less cost. Regardless which gardening method you use once you understand and implement the six laws of plant growth you’ll grow your dream garden consistently year-after-year, in any soil, in any climate, and with no soil amendments.

• Growing Food in a Greenhouse – by Michelle Roberts

  In this class we will teach you the techniques to garden successfully in hoophouses and hightunnels. While I’m trained in traditional gardening methods, I transitioned to organic, sustainable practices 25 years ago. Now, my focus is on working in harmony with nature by promoting healthy soils teaming with microbes, earthworms, and beneficial insects. Because there is so much to know about success as a gardener, along with understanding how to grow “year round”, and the many different philosophies that abound,…

• Growing Food in a Hoophouse – by Philip Gleason

  TBA

• Herb Powdered Pregnancy – by Sarah Vezzani

  TBA

• Home Medical Prep – By Bobbi Astle

  Bobbi has been fascinated with first aid since the age of 12. She has raised four children and managed the complicated medical care of her mother-in-law for 11 years. She has trained in person with The Patriot Nurse and online with PESI and Healthy Preparedness.

• Homeschooling – By Homeschooling Moms

  Come learn from our homeschooler teachers about various techniques and ideas on how they teach our children here at the Ranch. Teachers: Each teacher will share their techniques on how they homeschool. Then we will open the forum for Q&A’s. In addition to their presentations, the teachers will have a booth available for people to come by and ask questions regarding homeschooling.

• How and Why to Make Your Own Yogurt – By Bobbi Astle

  In this presentation, students will learn the health and cost benefits of making yogurt at home. There will be 2 demonstrations of the complete process of making yogurt: At the end of the presentation, written instructions and samples of the yogurt will be available. In addition to Bobbi’s presentation, she will have a booth where she is selling the tools and supplies necessary to make homemade yogurt.

• How To Grow Food As If Your Life Depends On It (Because It Might!) – By David Gillmore

  You’ll learn how to produce 5 to 10 times more food with less space, less time, less work, less water, less weeds and less cost. Regardless which gardening method you use once you understand and implement the six laws of plant growth you’ll grow your dream garden consistently year-after-year, in any soil, in any climate, and with no soil amendments.

• ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) Home Building – By Wayne Johns

  Wayne is an experienced ICF builder. He will be sharing his insights on ICF buildings and the ICF construction process. ICF homes are built using Insulated Concrete Forms. This method uses interlocking foam forms to create walls. These forms are filled with concrete, creating highly energy-efficient, durable, and fire-resistant structures.

• Intentional Community Self-Government – By Philip Gleason

  Founder of the OSR Initiative and the Utah OSR Land Cooperative. Currently CEO of OSR Green, LLC and the Arizona OSR Land Co-op known as Coslor Cove, a 2nd off-grid agricultural land co-op. In addition a board member of the Academy of Self-Reliance. Currently resides on his 2 acre off-grid homestead at Riverbed Ranch.

• Living with Chickens – By Kristen Taylor

  Kristen joined the Utah OSR co-op homesteading community, generally referred to as Riverbed Ranch, in March 2021. She is a long-time back yard master gardener and composting enthusiast. She began composting and raising chickens in San Jose, California. in 2000. At Riverbed Ranch, she is determined to use her chickens to help generate compost and is crazy about her “chicken tractor on steroids.” The coop is a poop machine with a fantastic end product (rich compost). She loves her hard-working…

• Natural Health Options – By Healthcare Givers

  This presentation will be a combination of 3 presentations: Discover Foot Zoning and Alternative Health Options – By Kati Pope Join our enlightening presentation to explore the benefits of foot zoning and discover a range of alternative health options to enhance your well-being. What You’ll Learn: Presentation Highlights: This presentation is perfect for anyone interested in holistic health approaches and looking to expand their knowledge of natural healing methods. Come and discover new ways to achieve balance and wellness in…

• Powering the Resilient Homestead – By Robert Beal

  Robert Beal, a homesteader with a professional background in designing mechanical solutions to satisfy industrial needs. Since making the move to the innovative Riverbed Ranch community in 2021, Robert has been immersed in designing a resilient, modern off-grid homestead, employing a systems approach to ensure redundancy and efficiency. In his talk, “Powering the Resilient Off-Grid Homestead,” Robert will delve into his designs for solar power as the primary energy source, and his strategies for integrating it with complementary systems such…

• Prepping For Zion- Utah Co-op Shows the Way – By Jesse Fisher

  What if building a better world wasn’t just a dream—but something we could start doing right now?Drawing from Utah’s co-op history, prophetic insight, and real-life examples, this talk explores how voluntary cooperation—not competition—is the practical and spiritual foundation of a Zion society — the type of society a loving God might want for us to enjoy. Whether you’re LDS or not, if you care about resilient communities, local living, and shared prosperity, this is for you. Jesse is a 7th-generation…

• Regenerative Agriculture – Dr. Shanon Brooks

  Shanon is the Director of the Center for American Legacy Studies. He is the author of AMERICAN: Killing the American Dream and A Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens. For over 30 years, Brooks helped to found and run two alternative education colleges with an emphasis on the Five American Ideals. He has extensive experience in farming both in livestock and vegetable crops. He was responsible for a 40-acre chicken farm at the age of 14, and worked on a dairy…

• Small Engine Maintenance and Repair – By Jonathan Olson

  Jonathon has lived off-grid, full-time for 3 years come June. He has learned a great deal about producing power for our needs and wants. His background is in construction and electronics. Jonathan will show the basics of maintaining and repairing small engines.

• Soap Making – By Ellen Pecchia

  Ellen’s founding principle is that all things are possible through Christ. She has a variety of experiences serving others: 4-H, Rotary Club, AmeriCorps VISTA, ESL certification, Life Leadership, Emmett Valley Friendship Coalition, community gardens, food pantries, and soup kitchens. She has been speaking and teaching with these organizations and people (from ages 0 to adult) for 35 years.

• The 20 most important herbs in my herb garden & why – By Sue Gillmore

  Having learned the 3 secrets and a system that simplifies the process of choosing the best herb(s) or herbal remedy for you holistically, I will show you how I used that system to come up with the 20 most important herbs I want to have in my herb garden if I had to live off grid or independent of the current health care system. With this system, you will be able to choose the most vital herbs to have in…

• The New Economy – By Dr. Shanon Brooks

  Shanon is the Director of the Center for American Legacy Studies. He is the author of AMERICAN: Killing the American Dream and A Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens. For over 30 years, Brooks helped to found and run two alternative education colleges with an emphasis on the Five American Ideals. He has extensive experience in farming both in livestock and vegetable crops. He was responsible for a 40-acre chicken farm at the age of 14, and worked on a dairy…

• Yurts – By Spencer Farris

  Coming Soon