FD 08 — Autumn Fermentation: From Harvest to Pantry
Quarter: Fall
Instructor(s): Trevor Ring
Date(s): Oct 14—Nov 18
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Wednesdays
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:20 pm (PT)
Tuition: $430
Refund Deadline: Oct 16
Unit(s): 1
Enrollment Limit: 40
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Fall
Day: Wednesdays
Duration: 6 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:20 pm (PT)
Date(s): Oct 14—Nov 18
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $430
Refund Deadline: Oct 16
Instructor(s): Trevor Ring
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Enrollment Limit: 40
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Registration opens Aug 17, 8:30 am (PT)
Autumn is a time when gardens and markets overflow with produce that will soon disappear until next year. Fermentation offers a way to preserve those fleeting flavors while transforming them into something richer and more complex. This course explores the science, craft, and cultural history of fermentation. We’ll turn fresh ingredients into foods and drinks shaped by time, bacteria, yeast, and careful technique. Through hands-on sessions, participants will make kombucha, wild sodas, pickles, vinegars, and hot sauces while developing an understanding of the biological processes that drive fermentation and preserve food safely. We’ll explore traditions from around the world, from Korean kimchi to German sauerkraut and the long history of fermented tea production. Equal parts kitchen practice and culinary exploration, the course examines how fermentation enhances flavor, reduces food waste, and connects modern kitchens to centuries of human ingenuity. Students will leave with practical skills, new flavors to experiment with, and shelves stocked with tasty fermented foods for the colder months ahead.
This course includes the optional making and tasting of fermented foods. Students can expect to spend $50–$100 on ingredients, materials, and products. More details will be provided prior to the first class.
TREVOR RING
Founder, Community Cultures
Trevor Ring received an MBA and MA in food studies from Chatham University and has been teaching on the topic of fermentation for over a decade. His business, Community Cultures, aims to make fermentation accessible and inspiring for everyone. He is passionate about using fermentation to build community, create a more resilient food system, and harness creativity. Textbooks for this course:
(Required) Sandor Katz, The Art of Fermentation (ISBN 978-1603582865)
(Optional) Pascal Baudar, Wildcrafted Fermentation: Exploring, Transforming, and Preserving the Wild Flavors of Your Local Terroir (ISBN 978-1603588515)
(Optional) Kirsten Shockey & Christopher Shockey, Fiery Ferments : 70 Stimulating Recipes for Hot Sauces, Spicy Chutneys, Kimchis with Kick, and Other Blazing Fermented Condiments (ISBN 978-1612127286)
(Optional) Robin Sherriff, The Science of Fermentation (ISBN 979-8217126477)
(Optional) Pascal Baudar, Wildcrafted Fermentation: Exploring, Transforming, and Preserving the Wild Flavors of Your Local Terroir (ISBN 978-1603588515)
(Optional) Kirsten Shockey & Christopher Shockey, Fiery Ferments : 70 Stimulating Recipes for Hot Sauces, Spicy Chutneys, Kimchis with Kick, and Other Blazing Fermented Condiments (ISBN 978-1612127286)
(Optional) Robin Sherriff, The Science of Fermentation (ISBN 979-8217126477)