short courses
Taster Sessions for Beginners
Perfect for beginners and those curious about sustainable woodworking practices, our short courses offer a taste of traditional woodworking techniques and the joy of creating something by hand. There’s a quiet thrill in creating a tool or utensil with your own hands—a sense of purpose and pride that stays with you long after the class ends.
Pole Lathe Turning: Introduction to Woodturning
COURSE LENGTH: 2.5 HOURS
A 2½-hour introduction to woodturning using a foot powered spring pole lathe. This is a hands-on, beginner-friendly class where you'll learn the basics of turning green wood into objects like a rolling pin, garden dibber, or candlestick. After a brief description of how to prepare the wood for turning, we will practice to control the tools and create clean cuts and shapes. Beginning with a roughing gouge to create our basic outline and then a flat chisel to refine the surface. Along the way, you'll gain a greater appreciation for the rhythmic nature of the work and the beauty of sustainably sourced wood.
Spoon Carving Taster: Carve a Wooden Spoon by Hand
COURSE LENGTH: HALF A DAY
Spend a relaxing half-day learning how to carve a spoon using a sloyd knife. This beginner woodworking project lets you connect deeply with the grain, scent, and feel of the wood as you shape your own functional object. We will begin with a green wood spoon blank and discover how to make controlled and safe cuts with a straight blade to create a cooking spoon, then use a hook knife and bent gouges to hollow out the bowl. The process is as rewarding as the result: simple, focused, and grounding. Your spoon becomes a reflection of both the material and your time with it.
Sharpening: Maintain and Tune Your Hand Tools
COURSE LENGTH: HALF A DAY
An essential skill for any hand tool woodworker, this afternoon session explores how to maintain sharp, efficient tools. Bring your own tools and leave with the skills and confidence to keep them in top shape. This session promotes a respectful relationship between the maker and their tools. Well-tuned tools are safer and essential for your enjoyment of hand tool woodworking.
Coat Rail Making: Drawknife and Carving Skills
COURSE LENGTH: HALF A DAY
Over a half day learn the foundational techniques of using a drawknife and carving knife while creating a traditional wooden peg coat rail. In this hands-on short course you’ll begin by riving (splitting) out peg blanks from a short log, then shape each peg with a drawknife on the shave horse before we carve and fit pegs to the backboard using round mortise and tenon joinery. This simple project introduces many of the tools and techniques used in bigger green woodworking projects. Your finished piece will be ready to take away and hang in your home and is a rewarding introduction to useful woodworking, where simplicity meets skill and beauty.