Down on the Farm Iron Pour

On-site + Local

ACTIVITIES

things to do while you are here

DECORAH, IOWA

beyond the stories we tell about places like this

Our Host City

press play to watch a video about Decorah, just 8 country miles away

Whether you crave time off the farm or need to run some errands, you'll find what you're looking for in this Midwestern gem of a town - some of our local favorites listed below

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CREATE A PATTERN

a multi-step process our pattern team can help with

Bring your own pattern or get inspired once you cross the threshold into your iron pour experience. Workshops & talented facilitators available to guide your process.

molding oil-based clay or wax

carving styrofoam

layering organic and/or inorganic materials (like in the image for a clay relief tile)

taking a mold from an existing object or body

building something first in wood or pottery clay

any combination of the above-mentioned strategies & materials

You can create your pattern at home & bring it with you or you can come to the Farm early enough to glean inspiration from other artists in an exciting environment to create your pattern on site.

There are as many ways to create a pattern as there are creative people.

If you’ve never done this before, you will want to participate in our 3D workshops to make sure your pattern doesn’t have undercuts or other challenges for the cope & drag flask making process. Does this sound like a foreign language? No worries, we’ve got you! You just have to make sure to attend a workshop, so keep an eye out for on-site & local workshops in the days & weeks leading up to the event (check #4 below as well).

You can create your pattern at home & bring it with you or you can come to the Farm early enough to glean inspiration from other artists in an exciting environment to create your pattern on site.

Don’t forget, you’ll still need time to cast your pattern in sand which may be a two-or-more day process depending on the complexities of your pattern. You can always email us for guidance on what you have in mind - ways to connect are in the footer. We’d be happy to help you avoid bumps in the road!

REGISTRATIONiron pour store

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MAKE A SAND MOLD

a multi-step process our sand studio team can help with

Planning & time management rule the day if you need to make use of the Sand Studio.

Sand Studio opens Wednesday & closes Friday by 11:59pm.

There will be no sand casting on Saturday, pour day.

Our on-site Sand Studio is one of the best examples of organized chaos we’ve ever seen! Yes, we are proud of that! The Co-Leads of this committee are more committed than ever to carefully mix silica sand with an environmentally friendly binder for your mold.

There is a range of experience in our committee members, guests & artists to ensure your mold is made optimally & successfully.

Never made a sand mold or want to come prepared? Be sure to check out our video on making a sand mold through the button below.

no sand provided without a work order - one is generated for you when you register with the Family Farmer | Sand Studio package or purchase a quantity of sand à la carte - overages are paid Sunday at checkout

walk ins may not be guaranteed sand studio access - please plan ahead - your pre-registration also helps us source materials

there is a flask + pattern room in addition to the sand studio - please ask for assistance in either department to keep things moving along

there is a ribbon mixer so making sand goes quite quickly - please don't hold things up by abandoning your mold - it takes up valuable space on the limited sand studio floor

process + pourhow to make a sand mold

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BREAK IRON

Your rite of passage into the world of iron casting & meditation on the successful pouring of your piece.

Breaking iron is one of the many meditative practices embedded within your iron pour experience.

If you are brand new to this world, breaking iron is your rite of passage into the world of iron casting. For returning Iron Mongers, this is a meditation on the success of your piece & safety on the pour floor for casters & spectators alike. Every now & again, fast friendships are created here & even some mythologies are pondered.

The iron breaking area is now in the old corn crib. Oh, the metaphors + ghost stories are just ripe for the picking, aren’t they?! It’s a covered area with a concrete floor + some walls to contain all that errant iron. It’s a long-ish, narrow-ish aisle that tunnels a wonderful breeze in the summer.

Breaking iron is a required part of the Family Farmer Sand Studio Package. In addition to their contributions, we welcome anybody else curious about this part of the process to get dirty & bash some iron too.

safety gear is required - please ask someone to assist you, especially if this is brand new to you

fun is optional, but surprisingly plentiful, especially with friends or dance partners

FAMILY FARMER PackageSAND STUdio access

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JOIN A WORKSHOP

Three formal opportunities to get you started on your project & answer your questions. Geared toward beginners, but advanced ideas are welcome to expand all of us.

if your iron pour experience were a map for beginners, this would be your “Start Here” star

Want in on the excitement of watching your own work of art filled with molten metal without the chore of slinging sand? Ready to wow your friends & family with your very own unique cast iron plaque or bowl?

Check out the Hobby Farmer + Urban Farmer packages or the a la Carte options for these options for beginners + beyond.

If you need instruction on how to carve or create your masterpiece, make sure you attend one of our tentatively planned on-site workshops under the big tent:

➭ Tuesday, June 30th, 6-8pm

➭ Wednesday, July 1st, 6-8pm

➭ Thursday, July 2nd, 1-3pm

You can always message us for guidance on what you have in mind . We’d be happy to help you avoid bumps in the road!

Choose from ::

8" x 8" clay relief

8" x 8" scratch tile

6" x 9" Iowa shaped tile

there may be Minnesota or Wisconsin shaped tiles on-site which are an equal exchange if you purchased either of the other available scratch tiles in the store