Winter Solstice
Hide Tanning Experience

December 11-13, 2026 | North Saanich, Vancouver Island, BC

Solstice is a precipice.

Old solstice traditions say that what we do during solstice season carries us the next year.

So they made it a time for creating.

And a time for gathering.

And a time for rest.

That’s what we’ve made for you:

  • One part hide tanning workshop: make yourself a natural leather sheepskin rug.

  • One part retreat: hit down time on the farm + in the sauna.

  • One part community gathering: we feed you a farm fresh meals + lead an intention-setting solstice ritual at the bonfire.

‍ ‍Investment: $564 CAD

Payable in 1 or 3 payments.

10/06/25 Update: This course is now sold out!

GET ON THE WAITLIST HERE

New openings do happen, so if you’re excited, get on the waitlist ASAP

We made this annual
solstice hide tanning gathering for you
if you:

  • love working with your hands

  • want to spend time out of the holiday hustle, and if you want to

  • know you need to set intention for your year ahead.

The Details

📍 Location: North Saanich, W̱SÁNEĆ Peninsula, BC

📅 Dates: Friday to Sunday, December 11-13, 2026

⏰ Schedule: 11am to 4pm/5pm daily. Dinner on Saturday @ 7pm. Solstice ritual Sunday morning.

💰 Investment:$524

⛺ Camping available -> book your spot at our farm here

  • All our hides are ethically sourced + re-routed from waste streams to co-create a resilient fibreshed.

  • All materials, tools, and equipment are provided.

  • $10 of your course investment goes toward the W̱SÁNEĆ Lands Trust to support Indigenous land-back. This donation is made during their annual holiday fundraising drive.

What You’ll Gain from this course:


✔️ Transform a local farm-raised sheep hide into a plush + functional, leather sheepskin rug


✔️ Learn a time-honoured, land-based skill


✔️ Build physical strength + endurance


✔️ Leave with a finished sheepskin - made ethically by your hands

Words from our hide tanning students

“I tried tanning on my own and never understood it. After coming to one of the hide courses, I understand the process, and what went wrong with my previous attempts.”

  • Dallas

“Mara’s gentle guidance made me feel at home in hide camp.”

  • Tahlia

“I tanned my first hide with Fern + Roe. I didn’t know how much depth there would be in the course, beyond just the hide tanning itself. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a serious retreat/getaway.”

  • Skylar

The Hide Tanning Process

.Day One:‍ ‍

  • Choose your sheepskin. Find the one that calls to you.

  • Learn to work with a traditional hide frame; weave the hide into the frame

  • Use scrapers + dowels to begin drying the leather

Day Two:

  • Learn the science of bark-tanning, our hide tanning methods for this course

  • Soften your sheepskin leather with softening + dry-scraping tools

Day Three:

  • Comb + pumice the finished sheepskin leather rug

 FAQs

  • Anneth Farm in North Saanich, BC can be reach by:

    Ferry

    • BC Ferries, Tsawassen to Swartz Bay

    • Mill Bay ferry, Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay

    • BlackBall ferry, Port Angeles to Victoria

    • Clipper ferry, Seattle to Victoria

    Plane

    • Commercial jet to YYJ

    • Float plane to Patricia Bay or downtown Victoria (Inner Harbour)

  • We are 35 minutes north of Victoria, BC

  • Yes, we welcome everyone to camp at Anneth Farm. It is $24/night.

    In addition, we have indoor accommodations available that change by season. For this course, you are welcome to book a private Farmhouse room for $150/night. Email us to enquire.

  • 11am to 4:00pm

Transform a Sheep Hide into Sheepskin Leather

With everyday ingredients

With simple equipment

And learn how close you already are

to the natural world, within and around you