From time to time we provide workshops which are open to the public. Below are the workshops we have hosted in past years. All handouts and/or code used in our workshops are provided here for easy reference. Other hackerspaces and organizations are welcome to borrow our workshops, we just ask that you drop us a line if you hold one (contact at bloominglabs.org).

Past Workshops

2023 Workshops

Craft Club!

First Saturday of the Month from 5pm until 8pm

(7th Oct, 4th Nov, 2nd Dec 2023)

Come in, hang out, and work on a project or skills. Plenty of scrap material for practice, sewing machines, knitting machines, yarn, screen printing, vinyl cutter, and more!
Come build projects, ask questions, teach things, and learn stuff
All ages and everyone is welcome

Plant & Such Swap & Sale!

Saturday, October 7th, 2pm until 5pm
Bring plants, produce, seeds, dried leaves, canned goods, and any other plants and garden harvest. Swapping is preferred, sales are fine. No registration fee - can set up from your trunk or bring a table. Hang out and meet other growers.
All ages and everyone is welcome

2021 Workshops

September 2021

Introduction to Arduino

Sunday, September 19th, 2021 -- 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Format: In-Person
Pricing: $30, or $20 for members
Maximum Class Size: 6

The iconic Arduino is not just hardware, it’s also a software platform you can use to program a wide variety of microcontrollers to do anything from controlling lights to building robots to IoT (Internet of Things) applications in a very accessible, quick-start way. Arduino can be used to prototype a product idea, create art, or as a fun creative hobby. In this workshop we’ll dive right in and get you programming an Arduino to sense the world around it and interact with the world via lights and motors. You’ll be taught helpful tips to avoid traps beginners can fall into, and we’ll guide you to the best resources for next steps. Laptops and hardware provided. If you want to bring your laptop, install the free Arduino software before the workshop: https://www.arduino.cc/en/software. You can bring an Arduino if you have one, but note we’ll be working with the standard Arduino Uno in this workshop.

Code Nite Inn: Linux Spoken Here

Tuesdays in September (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th) -- 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Format: In-Person
Pricing: $20 for all, or $5 for drop-ins (free for members)

Come hang out and learn about Linux servers by building your own! Through a mix of lecture and collaboration we’ll explore command line interface (CLI) or graphic user interface (GUI), image creation, virtualization, networking, security, SSH, x11VNC, and world domination.

Sept 7th: Setting up a cloud instance
Sept 14th: Setting up webservices on the cloud
Sept 21st: Installing WordPress
Sept 28th: Setting up Mail Service

August 2021

Introduction to Parkour Mondays, July 19th-September 6th, 2021 -- 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

8 weeks, 12 hours total
Format: In-Person, at Bloominglabs, 1840 S. Walnut St, Bloomington, IN
Cost: Drop-ins welcome, individual sessions are $15, or $10 for Bloominglabs members. Pay cash or card on location.

Always wanted to learn Parkour? Take the leap, with our in-depth Basic Parkour class: brought to you by BPK and Bloominglabs! You’ll learn all the fundamentals of the Art of Movement, in a safe and fun environment.

Mondays, 8 sessions, Starting July 19th

July 19th: Landing and Precision Jumps
July 26th: Vaults
August 2nd: Kongs
August 9th: Flows with learned skills
August 16th: Wall Skills
August 23rd: Ukemi/Rolls
August ~~30th~~ 31st: Beginning Freerunning
September 6th: Review all skills with flows

Rain Barrel Workshop Sunday, August 15th, 2021 -- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

During the summer months, lawns and gardens account for an average of 40% of household water usage. Water barrels can help to reduce water usage and bills by allowing you to tend to your lawn and garden using naturally harvested rain water. Come make one for yourself! All materials and tools will be provided.

Plant Tower Workshop Sunday, August 15th, 2021 -- 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

Plant towers are a vertical garden that can house 50+ plants in 4 sq ft of space. Plant towers also contain a composting tube to allow users to easily return their vegetative waste back to their plants.

Participants will build their own plant tower and compost tube from a recycled food grade barrel. 2 hour class. All materials provided.

Introduction to Metalworking: Make a Stool Saturday, August 7th, 2021 -- Noon-5:00PM

Format: In-Person
Cost: $65, $45 for members
Maximum Class Size: 5

Part project class, part safety/skills training—this class orients you to the several fabrication tools Bloominglabs has to offer, as well as MIG welding techniques—culminating in a handmade metal stand. If you have ever wanted to learn about the metal shop, this class offers a realistic look at cutting, forming, welding, and finishing steel. Participants will learn the safety protocols, setup, and usage of several cutting tools to cut and form steel stock. They will practice setting up precise cuts, and then work to set these parts up in a way to accurately weld them together. Welding technique, safety, and finishing are offered in the 2nd half of this 4.5 hour class. Participants MUST come to class prepared with long sleeve shirts, long pants (NOT synthetic; wear denim, cotton, wool, or leather), a stocking cap or head covering, and leather closed-toed boots. Additionally, due to COVID-19, participants are expected to bring their own PPE which includes safety glasses, leather gloves, hearing protection, and wear a face mask but Bloominglabs does have some to borrow and isopropyl for cleaning.

July 2021

Build a P25 Digital Scanner with a Raspberry Pi and Software Defined Radios Monday & Tuesday, July 26-27th, 2021 -- 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM both days

Format: In-Person, at Bloominglabs, 1840 S. Walnut St, Bloomington, IN
Cost: $50 for non-members, or $25 for members [bring your own equipment]
Optional equipment check: Tuesday July 20 (stop by any time between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM to make sure you have everything on the required equipment list)
Maximum Class Size: 6
Registration deadline: Saturday July 17, 2021 (or when all seats are filled)

In this workshop you will create a police scanner using open source software and common off-the-shelf hardware. By the end of this workshop you will have your own scanner capable of receiving and decoding P25 digital signals, complete with a responsive web interface.

More information and Registration: Build a P25 Digital Scanner

Introduction to Welding Sunday, July 11th, 2021 -- 1:00PM-4:30PM

Format: In-Person
Cost: $50, or $40 for members
Maximum Class Size: 12 students

Learn and practice 4 types of welding: Mig, Tig, Stick(Arc), and Oxygen-Acetylene. 30 min safety intro, then 4 stations with 2-3 attendees each for a demo on the welder and time to practice before rotating to the next. This will also include Plasma Cutting. Please wear leather closed-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants (NOT synthetic; wear denim, cotton, wool, or leather), and any hair or jewelry bound. Please bring any of the following if you already have at home: Respirator, P100, or KN95 mask, leather gloves, safety glasses.

Rain Barrel Workshop Saturday, July 10th, 2021 -- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

During the summer months, lawns and gardens account for an average of 40% of household water usage. Water barrels can help to reduce water usage and bills by allowing you to tend to your lawn and garden using naturally harvested rain water. Come make one for yourself! All materials and tools will be provided.

June 2021

Introduction to Soldering/Electronics Sunday, June 27th, 2021 -- 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Format: In-Person
Cost: $20, $15 for members
Maximum Class Size: 6

In partnership with Ivy Tech Bloomington's Electrical Engineering Department: Learn soldering on a kit for an led die, and bring a project of your own to work on after! (Kit, soldering iron, and solder provided.)

Plant Tower Workshop Sunday, June 20th, 2021 -- 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

Plant towers are a vertical garden that can house 50+ plants in 4 sq ft of space. Plant towers also contain a composting tube to allow users to easily return their vegetative waste back to their plants.

Participants will build their own plant tower and compost tube from a recycled food grade barrel. 2 hour class. All materials provided.

Rain Barrel Workshop Sunday, June 20th, 2021 -- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

During the summer months, lawns and gardens account for an average of 40% of household water usage. Water barrels can help to reduce water usage and bills by allowing you to tend to your lawn and garden using naturally harvested rain water. Come make one for yourself! All materials and tools will be provided.

Introduction to Carpentry: Worktables TWO days long: Saturday & Sunday, June 12-13th, 2021 -- 1pm-5pm both days (8 hours total)

Format: In-Person
Cost: $100, or $80 for members (Reduced (sponsored) fees available on request contact@bloominglabs.org)
Maximum Class Size: 10 students

Come explore our woodshop and learn woodshop safety, how to work from a design, the basics of working with wood, how to use tools (table saw, band saw, drill press, radial arm saw, and hand drills), and how to finish a project with sanding and sealant. This workshop is structured around using all the big-project tools in our woodshop while creating workbenches for Bloominglabs. You'll develop a familiarity with the woodshop tools, learn how to build a sturdy workbench, and at the end get a plaque to affix to the table you helped build!

Introduction to Metalworking: Make a Stool Saturday, June 12th, 2021 -- 12:30PM-5:00PM

Format: In-Person
Cost: $65, $45 for members
Maximum Class Size: 5

Part project class, part safety/skills training—this class orients you to the several fabrication tools Bloominglabs has to offer, as well as MIG welding techniques—culminating in a handmade metal stand. If you have ever wanted to learn about the metal shop, this class offers a realistic look at cutting, forming, welding, and finishing steel. Participants will learn the safety protocols, setup, and usage of several cutting tools to cut and form steel stock. They will practice setting up precise cuts, and then work to set these parts up in a way to accurately weld them together. Welding technique, safety, and finishing are offered in the 2nd half of this 4.5 hour class. Participants MUST come to class prepared with long sleeve shirts, long pants (NOT synthetic; wear denim, cotton, wool, or leather), a stocking cap or head covering, and leather closed-toed boots. Additionally, due to COVID-19, participants are expected to bring their own PPE which includes safety glasses, leather gloves, hearing protection, and wear a face mask but Bloominglabs does have some to borrow and isopropyl for cleaning.

Introduction to Metalworking: Make a Stool Saturday, June 5th, 2021 -- 12:30PM-5:00PM

Format: In-Person
Cost: $65, $45 for members
Maximum Class Size: 5

Part project class, part safety/skills training—this class orients you to the several fabrication tools Bloominglabs has to offer, as well as MIG welding techniques—culminating in a handmade metal stand. If you have ever wanted to learn about the metal shop, this class offers a realistic look at cutting, forming, welding, and finishing steel. Participants will learn the safety protocols, setup, and usage of several cutting tools to cut and form steel stock. They will practice setting up precise cuts, and then work to set these parts up in a way to accurately weld them together. Welding technique, safety, and finishing are offered in the 2nd half of this 4.5 hour class. Participants MUST come to class prepared with long sleeve shirts, long pants (NOT synthetic; wear denim, cotton, wool, or leather), a stocking cap or head covering, and leather closed-toed boots. Additionally, due to COVID-19, participants are expected to bring their own PPE which includes safety glasses, leather gloves, hearing protection, and wear a face mask but Bloominglabs does have some to borrow and isopropyl for cleaning.

May 2021

Rain Barrel Workshop

Saturday, May 15th, 2021 -- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

During the summer months, lawns and gardens account for an average of 40% of household water usage. Water barrels can help to reduce water usage and bills by allowing you to tend to your lawn and garden using naturally harvested rain water. Come make one for yourself! All materials and tools will be provided.

Plant Tower Workshop

Saturday, May 15th, 2021 -- 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

Plant towers are a vertical garden that can house 50+ plants in 4 sq ft of space. Plant towers also contain a composting tube to allow users to easily return their vegetative waste back to their plants.

Participants will build their own plant tower and compost tube from a recycled food grade barrel. 2 hour class. All materials provided.

April 2021

Lock Picking for Sport

Saturday, April 24th, 2021 -- 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Picking locks is a fun pastime and we’ll show you how it’s done in this virtual workshop. We’ll start with our code of ethics and then dive into the picking. Lockpicks will be available for sale and delivered ahead of the virtual workshop. Locks will also be provided.

Format: Virtual, pick up kits
Cost: $25 ($10 for members), plus a lock picking kit
Kits:
- PRO-10 (10-piece kit with snap case): $35
- FOOLS Basic (6-piece basic kit with tube case): $25
- Borrow-a-Kit Deposit: $10
Maximum Class Size: 10 students (and up to 10 more at a future date)

Plant Tower Workshop

~~Sunday, April 11th, 2021~~ Workshop date has been changed.

Sunday, April 18th, 2021 -- 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

Plant towers are a vertical garden that can house 50+ plants in 4 sq ft of space. Plant towers also contain a composting tube to allow users to easily return their vegetative waste back to their plants.

Participants will build their own plant tower and compost tube from a recycled food grade barrel. 2 hour class.

Rain Barrel Workshop

~~Sunday, April 11th, 2021~~ Workshop date has been changed.

Session 1: Sunday, April 18th, 2021 -- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Session 2: Sunday, April 18th, 2021 -- 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 3 students

During the summer months, lawns and gardens account for an average of 40% of household water usage. Water barrels can help to reduce water usage and bills by allowing you to tend to your lawn and garden using naturally harvested rain water.

Build an Outdoor Gym: Parkour Edition

Sunday, April 18th, 2021 -- 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Format: In-Person
Cost is one of:
- Parkour Vault: $75 ($65 for members)
- Precision Jump Trainers: $30 ($25 for members)

Bored of the usual home fitness routine? Always wanted to learn how to make sturdy, interesting, wooden structures? Why not both! In this workshop, you’ll learn the principles of how to build your own sturdy, reliable, workout equipment so that you too can start integrating Parkour into your daily routine! By the end of the workshop, you’ll be going home with either: A set of convenient, portable, precision jump trainers that can be used anywhere OR Your very own vault box (will need to transport a box with footprint 3'x3' home)! All built with your own two hands!

A collaboration between Bloominglabs and Bloomington Parkour.

March 2021

Personal Mail Servers

Date: Saturday, March 27th, 2021
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Format: Virtual
Cost: $15 for the public, or $10 for Bloominglabs members
Maximum Class Size: 15 students

Running your own email server can still be done and we’ll show you how in this virtual workshop. Doing it yourself gives you more freedom and control over what you can do with email. There are many different recipes, we’ll cover using your own domain names, mx records, Linux MTA configuration, and various services you can use to offload parts of the process if desired.

Introduction to Police Scanners

Date: Tuesday March 23, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Format: Virtual
Cost: $15 for the public, or $10 for Bloominglabs members (all proceeds go to Bloominglabs)
Maximum Class Size: 10 students

This two hour online workshop will orient the participants to the hobby of public safety radio scanning (listening to Police/Fire/EMS radio traffic), with a focus on listening in the Bloomington and Monroe County area.

We will present a brief history of public safety radio communications from one-way broadcasts up to multi-site digital trunking systems. Then we'll talk about and demonstrate the equipment required to receive these different systems, as well as show several online listening options for those without their own scanning equipment. Audience participation is strongly encouraged!

No special equipment is required, but participants will need a computer that can run video-conferencing software.

This is an introductory-level workshop, however later this year we will be hosting an advanced workshop where participants build a P25 digital police scanner from a Raspberry Pi computer and Software Defined Radios.

Plant Tower Workshop Sunday, March 21st, 2021 -- 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

In cases of weather postponement, workshop may be moved to March 28th.

Format: In-Person, outside
Cost: $50 for the public, or $40 for Bloominglabs members

Plant towers are a vertical garden that can house 50+ plants in 4 sq ft of space. Plant towers also contain a composting tube to allow users to easily return their vegetative waste back to their plants.

Participants will build their own plant tower and compost tube from a recycled food grade barrel. 2 hour class.

January 2021

Workshop Workshop

Saturday, January 16th, 2021

2019 Workshops

Book Binding Workshop - Sunday 27th October 2019

Come learn how to create a hand-bound hard-cover journal, and take yours home! We will fold our pages, sew them, and make our own covers from just boards and decorative cover paper. Learn about the components of a book, how they hold together, and take away the skills to make many more on your own.

Cost: $50 for Non-Members, $45 for Members

All materials provided.

When: Sunday, 27th October 2019 1pm-4pm.

Location: Bloominglabs

———

Plant Tower Workshop - 9/29

Plant towers are a vertical garden that can house 50+ plants in 4 sq ft of space. Plant towers also contain a composting tube to allow users to easily return their vegetative waste back to their plants.

Participants will build their own plant tower and compost tube from a recycled food grade barrel. 3 hour class.

Cost: $40 for members, $50 for non-members Time: 1pm - 4pm

2018 Events

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Past Workshops

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Past Workshops

2023 Workshops

Craft Club!

Plant & Such Swap & Sale!

2021 Workshops

September 2021

August 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

April 2021

March 2021

January 2021

2019 Workshops

2018 Events

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