Country creativity

DODGE CENTER — Not everybody has space or materials for their creative pursuits. However, at The Green Shack, founded and owned by Zach and Brittany Wilcox, everyone is welcome to learn, make and experience a variety of mediums, all while surrounded by the farm.

“It’s nice to see the smiles on their faces, especially kids who are in the city and don’t really have the resources … to see animals, or who really enjoy doing crafts but don’t have the time with their parents,” Brittany said. “They can do those things with them (here).”

Zach and Brittany moved to Dodge Center in 2009 after Zach’s Army service was complete, and they fell in love with the area right away. Brittany had initially gone to school for horticulture, and she and Zach bought and ran The Green Shack as a landscaping business for a short time. But after Brittany was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, she knew she could not maintain such a physically demanding career.

So, in 2019, Brittany and Zach changed The Green Shack’s focus to creative pursuits. Brittany had grown up enjoying crafts and other kinds of art, so the switch came naturally.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, (and) so does my husband, so we just built off of that,” Brittany said. “I do some classes on plants and such, but I do a lot more classes on sewing, knitting (and) crocheting, and I have some pottery classes and stained glass classes. I do a lot of painting, too.”

Brittany also noticed local interest in more hands-on creative activities outside of the home, allowing The Green Shack to fill a community niche.

The Wilcoxes did not have to modify their farm much to prepare it for hosting classes. They initially offered courses in painting, knitting and crocheting; they also had classes for growing succulents, vegetables and herbs.

“There are a lot of kids and adults who really are more interested in doing hands-on things,” Brittany said. “Crocheting is becoming huge again, and it’s easier to learn with somebody next to you. … I have over 30 years of crocheting experience, so I can see what you’re doing and where you mess up and correct what you’re doing while you’re doing it.”

Painting has remained popular, including a course where participants follow along with a video of Bob Ross, the famous painter who taught others in his video series, “The Joy of Painting.” There are also classes in beekeeping, mosaics, stained glass, stepping stones, goat milk soap, ceramics, kids’ crafts, wood burning, seed starting, metalworking, various fiber arts and more.

The Wilcox farm raises ducks, goats, chickens, rabbits and more, and visitors can see, feed and pet them. While some of the Wilcoxes’ classes pertain to the products produced on their farm, such as making goat milk soap from their goats’ milk, others simply expand on sharing knowledge. For example, while the Wilcoxes do not have beehives on the farm this year, Zach is able to use his previous knowledge and experiences with beekeeping to show others the ropes.

The Green Shack is mainly one large building, the former Dodge County Shop, which is divided into different zones for each activity.

“I have my kiln in one area,” Brittany said. “We have a large wood shop, and then we have a large metalworking area that he (Zach) works in, and then I have an animal area (and) a plant area inside, and then my fiber arts room has all the yarn and fabric and stuff for sewing. … It’s whatever people are interested in that I found a good deal on; I’m not spending an arm and a leg. I’m saving things from the garbage dump and putting a new purpose on it.”

The Wilcoxes want to bring more students out to The Green Shack, but they would also like to have more teachers so they can expand their list of available classes.

“I’m only one person; I cannot teach all the time,” Brittany said. “If I can get more people who have other talents and are willing to come out and teach some classes, that would be fabulous.”

Zach handles the metalworking instruction, offering to show people basic blacksmithing as well as how to make railroad spike knives, chainmail and more. As a veteran himself, he mainly teaches veterans at no charge.

“That’s how he wants to give back to the veteran community,” Brittany said.

The Green Shack is open year-round, with its biggest events being around Easter and Halloween. These occasions can bring about 200 people to the shack at a time.

To reach out to the community, The Green Shack participates in local chambers of commerce and community education programs, and they host 4-H and Girl Scout troops on site. The farm can also host birthday parties, family events, office gatherings or other kinds of get-togethers.

“Most everybody really likes it,” Brittany said. “They think it’s a really cool space, and I try to keep my classes affordable for people … so they can come out and have a night or two and enjoy getting out of the house and creating something fun.”