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Scheduled Workshops

- Straw/Clay Builder Workshops (August 2009 & 2010)

- Traditional Austrian Kachelofen Wood-Fired Masonary Heater, Bread/Pizza Oven & Cooking Stove Workshops (January 2010 & Winter 2011)

- Advanced Japanese Joinery and Timber Framing Workshop (June 2010)

Straw/Clay Builder Workshop

Discover a better way of building with natural materials!  You can build a straw/clay home easier than you think.  Attend our workshop this summer in Lethbridge, Alberta and learn the simple and sensible straw/clay building system developed by Robert Laporte, pioneer of straw/clay in North America (www.econest.com).  Whether as a professional builder or someone exploring green building options, discover the beauty, comfort and advantages of straw/clay construction over other alternatives such as straw bale, cob construction, or rammed earth. Participate hands-on in all stages of wall construction from foundation to roof in building a large straw/clay structure. 

SUMMER 2009  
Workshop Information and Registration

Dates: Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 7, 2009, inclusive.

Instructors: Mark Benson & Guy Pollard

Fees: $450 (Includes a farm-fresh, organic lunch for each day of the workshop – Vegetarian options available on request)

Register Now! (Click here for Registration Form)  or call us at 403-329-9157  to register over the phone.

Deadline: July 15 (Fees increase by $50 if registering after deadline)

(Send in your registration or call us as soon as possible at 403-329-9157 to confirm your place, as space will be on a first-come-first-serve basis.)

Description: During the 5-day workshop, participants will learn how to assemble, erect and infill the wall components on a 1400 square foot straw/clay home.  The design features a hybrid timber frame and straw/clay load-bearing wall structure.

There will be hands-on participation in the construction and erection of the wall components, form preparation, mixing of straw/clay and infilling of the walls.  Alternative building materials selection, theory of “breathable” wall structures, and clay plaster finishing options will be discussed.

Where: At Harvest Haven Health and Market Farm, an 80-acre, mixed organic farm with retail grocery store and health center (read about our farm), ten minutes from Lethbridge, Alberta. 

Click here for Google Maps

Tools:

1. Tape measure, square (speed, combination, and/or framing), pencils, utility knife.
2. Work gloves (rubberized cotton is ideal for the straw/clay work), comfortable working clothes, shoes or boots. All will get muddy!
3. Tool belt and hammer.
4. Sun protection (hat) and clothing for all types of weather.
5. Safety gear: ear plugs or muffs and safety glasses.
6. Optional: Your own power tools such as: cordless drill/impact driver, circular saw, clamps, levels, etc.
7. Optional: A sample of dry clay soil and/or straw, from your own property or home area. This is helpful in evaluating the suitability of your materials.

Accommodations: Camping space is available on-farm upon request.  Groceries are available at our on-farm organic store with a special discount available to workshop participants.

Local accommodations and campsites:

Lethbridge Hotels
http://www.travelinalberta.com/Lethbridge.cfm

Quality Inn
http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-lethbridge-canada-CN828

The Quality Inn has ten rooms reserved under “Harvest Haven” for a preferential rate.  The price per room with two queen size beds is $104.99 (Reg. $149.99) plus taxes per night. Breakfast is included.  The cut-off date to take advantage of this offer is June 30th midnight.  Since there are only ten rooms available at this rate, we recommend you make your reservation ASAP.

Lethbridge Bed and Breakfasts
http://www.bbalberta.com/searchresults.asp

Other B&B’s
http://www.lethbridgelodging.worldweb.com/BedBreakfasts/

Lethbridge Campsites

Henderson Lake Campground
http://www.hendersoncampground.com/

Bridge View Campground
http://www.holidaytrailsresorts.com/bridgeview/gallery.html

Note: Participants are required to sign a WAIVER (Click here for Waiver PDF) before the commencement of the workshop. Waivers can be submitted by fax prior to the workshop (403-327-3412) or in person on the first day of the workshop.

Share this with your friends (PDF version of Straw/Clay Builder Workshop Poster).

Traditional Austrian Kachelofen Wood-Fired Masonary Heater, Bread/Pizza Oven & Cooking Stove Workshops

We will be building a traditional Austrian style “Kachelofen” wood-fired bread/ pizza oven and cook stove in our new store’s commercial kitchen and a wood-fired masonry heater in our new home. Ernst Kiesling, head of the Canadian Masonary Heaters Association, will supervise the construction. Originally from Austria, Ernst learned the craft of making these highly efficient and effective units from craftsmen who passed on centuries of experience. He will be doing a workshop at Harvest Haven for all those who want to learn how to construct one of these marvellous, artistic, functional, and efficient stoves. I once heard Ernst referred to as the “Canadian Albert Einstein of masonry heaters.” We warmly welcome him and his accomplished wife, Maria, to our project (www.canadiankachelofen.com).

Workshops dates to be posted soon.  We encourage you to contact us now if you are interested, and you will be put on the list of those first in line for registration.  If you have any questions, please contact Mark by e-mail or phone at 403-329-9157.

Advanced Japanese Joinery and
Timber Framing Workshop

- Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada-

Tentative Dates

Sunday, June 19 to Friday, June 25, 2010 inclusive (6 days)
Wednesday, July 14 to Friday, July 23, 2010 (9 days total – Saturday off)

Take your skills to a new level - Learn skills and techniques from two top-level Japanese timber framers during construction of a timber frame and straw/clay organic food store and holistic health center located in Southern Alberta. The project highlights a complex roof featuring traditional Japanese joinery of shorter timber spans and traditional Japanese design.
The workshop is orientated towards experienced timber framers only.  There will be a focus on techniques and tools for high productivity and functionality while maintaining traditional aesthetics.  Advanced timber selection and usage criteria, advanced joinery layout, ultra-precise cutting accuracy skills and advanced Japanese timber framing theory and design will all be covered.

Instructors:

Takahashi Yoshitomo – Lead Carpenter
Trained as a temple timber framer and traditional tea ceremony house builder, he is the owner/operator of a traditional timber framing company in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.  His company’s website and some of his work can be viewed on the Japanese language website www.kominkakoubou.com.  For those who do not read Japanese, click on the third green tab from the left at the bottom of the page and you will find a profile of recent projects. 
You can read more information about Takahashi-san here.

Kitami-san – Assistant Carpenter

Kitami-san will be the assistant framer on our project.  While he does not work for Takahashi-san's company, whenever Takahashi-san finds himself on a project and in need of another set of capable hands, Kitami-san is who he calls.  More details to follow.

We encourage anyone interested in securing a place in one or both of these workshops to contact us now.  Also, please include workshop date preference and brief experience history.

Precise curriculum content and tuition fees will be posted shortly. 
If you need additional information or have questions, contact us by e-mail or phone at 403-329-9157.

Share this with your friends (PDF version of Timber Frame Workshop Poster).