This course is divided into a morning and afternoon session; one or both may be taken.

The morning workshop will focus on traditional hand-hewing timber from logs in the woods. This technique and "look" may be desirable for aesthetic reasons, but could also be out of necessity if you can't get a portable sawmill into the site. Using scoring and broad axes, we will demonstrate how to line, "juggle" and hew the timbers from round to square using only hand tools.

In the afternoon we will spend time in the woods examining the characteristics in the bark, branches, leaves and structure that identify the various species of trees we find in our New England forest. We will discuss the uses of different woods in structural and woodworking applications. Participants will be challenged to identify "mystery" examples using keys they learned during the day and comparing them to a tree ID manual included with the course.

Tuition: $135 includes lunch ($75 for half day). This course runs from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.