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New Buildings - Straw, Sticks or Bricks?

Japanese Timber Framers

Photographic Tour

Workshops

  

Scheduled Workshops

Clay Plastering Workshops (March 2010): Workshops on plastering interior walls for a non-toxic, durable, functional and beautiful finish.  Open to all.

Advanced Japanese Joinery and Timber-Framing Workshops (June & July 2010) : Several courses will be taught by two traditional Japanese timber framers.  Open to experienced timber framers.

Straw-Clay Builder Workshop (August 2010): Get your feet wet (literally!) in this economical, versatile, and environmentally-friendly building method.  Straw-clay workshop summer, 2010. Open to all.  Wet and Well – Report on 2009 Workshop

 

Clay Plastering Workshops

American Clay (Natural Earth) Wall Plaster:
Experience the healthy, aesthetic, and enjoyable alternative to paint! Another world! Learn from a skilled, renowned artisan how to apply rich, soothing clay to painted walls, drywall, wood sheeting, straw bale and straw/clay walls. This is your opportunity to gloriously break out of the conventional and enjoy the exceptional.

Techniques to be covered:
• Mixing clay plasters from local materials
• Using prepared American Clay products
• Scratch coat, brown coat, and finish coat
• Clay adhesion to a variety of materials
• Rounded “bull-nosed” corners
• Mixing pigments
• Using sealant - when and how
• Various trowel finishes

Instructor:
Charlie Carruthers of Santa Fe, New Mexico—renowned throughout North America.

Introduction to Clay Plastering:
Sunday, March 7 to Tuesday, March 9 – 3 days
March 7, 14, and 21 - 3 Consecutive Sundays

Advanced Clay Plastering:
Sunday, March 28 to Tuesday, March 30 – 3 days

Where: Harvest Haven – Lethbridge, Alberta Click here for Google Maps

Tuition: $450 (CAD) per workshop – Includes materials and hearty, all organic lunch every day of workshop

Book early – class size is limited!

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

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 Clay Plastering Workshop Poster).

 


Advanced Japanese Joinery and Timber Framing Workshops

A Unique Opportunity

Calling all experienced timber framers: We invite you to join us this summer for a once in a lifetime workshop opportunity—learning advanced Japanese joinery and timber framing methods from two top-level traditional timber framers from Japan. These two workshops will take place as part of the construction of a timber frame straw/clay organic food store and holistic health center at Harvest Haven, Lethbridge, Alberta.

Japanese joinery was born out of the desire to create buildings with clean beautiful aesthetics, yet with the strength and resilience to survive for centuries through earthquakes and typhoons. The goal of this workshop is to demonstrate how the beauty and strength of Japanese framing can be accomplished efficiently while combining artistry with practicality. 

The project at Harvest Haven will highlight a complex roof featuring traditional Japanese joinery. Focus will be on effective and productive techniques and tools while maintaining traditional aesthetics.

During the workshop you will learn how to create showpiece joinery with time-efficient joinery solutions that don’t shortchange the look or performance of your building.

Features of the workshops will be:

    • advanced Japanese timber framing theory and design
    • advanced timber selection and usage criteria
    • advanced joinery layout
    • ultra-precise cutting and accuracy skills
    • confidence and discipline to cut accurately with hands-on instruction

These Japanese instructors are not just theoreticians, but successful businessmen competing with conventional steel plate and fastener systems in Japan. They provide the value customers are looking for, while taking into account quality, beauty, and economy.

An opportunity to learn from Japanese craftsmen is extremely rare in North America because of the language barrier.  Language, however, is the link that brought an organic farm and a Japanese timber framer together.  I became fluent in Japanese while studying for six years at a Japanese university and graduate school, and working as a translator in Japan. Many more years of speaking with my Japanese wife and Japanese farm apprentices and visitors helped to keep the language fresh. My wife and I became friends with Takahashi-san and the plan for the Japanese framing and workshop was born. 

During the last two years I have been involved in learning and teaching straw/clay construction workshops and projects. You can see the straw/clay and timber frame house that we built on the farm last year. Click HERE

Yoshitomo Takahashi: Head instructor and lead carpenter on this project

After four years of strict apprenticeship as a temple framer, Takahashi-san spent two years apprenticing as a traditional tea ceremony house builder, delving into the complex psychology of design, balancing proportion with detail in studied simplicity. He has mastered the effect of a subtle unobtrusiveness that defines the beauty of tea houses and Japanese gardens.
 
Since 1997, Takahashi-san has operated his own timber framing company in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, where he continues to perfect his own style of traditional framing. More recently, he became famous outside of the timber framing community, having been featured on TV and at various events because of his work.

His company's website is www.kominkakoubou.com. To view some of his recent projects, click HERE or to view some pictures in his personal blog, click HERE.

Whenever Takahashi-san finds himself on a project in need of another set of capable hands outside of his company staff, Akihiro Kitami is the framer he calls on.


Akihiro Kitami: Artisan timber framer to assist Takahashi-san

Kitami-san grew up in northern Chiba Prefecture and from an early age had ambitions of becoming a carpenter. He acquired his skills in traditional timber framing while working on heritage site building renovations where he was exposed to both good and bad aspects of traditional construction techniques. Since then, he has implemented the positive aspects of traditional timber framing for modern home construction, while ensuring that valuable skills learned over centuries are passed on to future generations.

Workshop details:

Workshop Structure: Class is informal. Basic tooling, sharpening, and layout techniques will be covered each day as needed. Each step of the project will include instruction and answers to questions. 

Frame-raising is scheduled for both workshops, with the final raising in workshop II.  Both workshops will cover nearly identical curriculum components.

Instruction is from 8 AM to 6 PM, with a lunch break. There will be time in the evenings to discuss theory and visit with the Japanese instructors and one another.

Requirements: Due to the advanced nature of this seminar, registration is restricted to participants with experience in timber framing.

Participants are required to bring personal framing tools such as tapes, squares, chisels, planes, hand saws, and circular saw.

Materials:  Framing will be with Douglas Fir or Western Larch

Location - Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (2 ½ hours south of Calgary, 1 hour north of the Montana border) Click here for Google Maps

Travel: Flights available into Lethbridge, as well as bus service from Calgary

Accommodations:  Hotels, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds are available within 5 miles of Harvest Haven. Camping permitted at Harvest Haven

Dates & Tuition: Workshop 1: Sunday, June 27 to Friday, July 2 - 6 days
                                $900 (CAD)* – includes hearty organic lunch each day

Workshop 2: Wednesday, July 21 to Friday, July 30 - 9 days
$1300 (CAD)* (partial term tuition rates available upon request) –  includes hearty organic lunch each day

*Tuition discount for tools: Some power tools will be available on site, but those who bring a 16” circular saw, chainmortiser, large power planer (minimum 6 - 12”), and other framing tools will receive more hands-on experience and will also receive a discount of $175 on tuition. 

Two specialized timber framing machines (a multi-bladed tennon cutter and a large mortiser) will be brought in from Japan for use during the seminars. Though these machines are part of the standard tool kit of modern Japanese timber framers, they are not available through normal retailers in North America. Information about how to purchase them from Japan will be available.

*Special Tuition-Free Positions: Several skilled timber framers are required to fill volunteer positions for the two workshops.This is a golden opportunity to learn tuition- free from Takahashi-san and Kitami-san, receiving a full four weeks of working with them every day in exchange for assistance in organizing and running the workshops. These positions will allow for participation in every aspect of building the frame.

The positions begin the day before Takahashi-san and Kitami-san arrive and end the day they leave, for a total of six weeks (June 20-July 30). Responsibilities will include organizing and prepping for the workshops, as well as working with me during the two weeks that Takahashi-san and Kitami-san return to Japan between workshops. 

The chosen candidates will have free room and board at Harvest Haven for the six weeks.

Hand tool discount: As a special offer for participants, Takahashi-san has selected high quality Japanese hand tool sets he will make available at wholesale cost– each set consists of two hand sharpenable Japanese saws, two chisels, and three sharpening stones (approximate value $400 CAD).

Class Size: is limited, so apply as soon as possible.

Applications can be sent to me at mbenson@harvesthaven.com with a résumé of qualifications (references would be helpful). More important than technical skills is attitude, desire, commitment, and a sense of the value of this rare opportunity.

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

Application deadline: Friday, April 16, 2010 (Fees increase by $100 if registering after deadline)

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.

Call if you have questions or need more information.

We look forward to meeting you this summer.


Straw/Clay Builder Workshop

straw_clay_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.  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 2010  
Workshop Information and Registration

Dates: August , 2010 (exact dates TBA).

Instructor: Mark Benson

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

straw_clay_workshopRegister 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 4,300 square foot full timber frame, straw/clay organic food store and health center.  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

straw_clay_workshopTools:

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.

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).

 

Local accommodations and campsites:

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

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

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

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Disclaimer: The sole purpose for the information contained on this website is to educate the reader on the products we personally use and recommend.
This site is based on personal experience and information that is available in the public domain. The information provided is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice and should therefore not be construed as such.
The customer is responsible to decide for him or herself, in consultation with the health professional of his or her choice, to purchase or demo any of the products offered on this site. If you have any healthcare related questions or are starting a new treatment, diet, or fitness program, you should never disregard or delay in seeking advice from a qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read, heard, or seen on this site.
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