"Learning the traditional craft of log building in four or two weeks"
If I might say a few things in regards to your chosing to attend a hands-on log building workshop. I believe it is the one best single things you could do in preparing to build, either handcrafted or with milled log materials. Celebrate the freedom you have to chose to build your own log home the way you want to, and do it wisely!
A big part of learning this age old craft is getting a good set of tools together, and learning how to use, care and maintain them. A much over looked area in aquiring the needed tools is the building of your own reference library. This is a must, and you will see many books on the subject while at the school. What you can not "see" in your minds eye, these invaluable print and video materials will fill in. For many, these references
don't have near the significance that they will once you have completed your hands- on workshop! Your experience while attending our workshop to prepare you with all the requisite skills needed to build a fine log home/cabin project upon returning home. To do that, we have honed a procedural approach flexible enough to accomodate anyone's skill and experience level. Young and old alike have done very well and enjoyed every minute of their time spent here with us. Its hard, tedious work and the days are long with a lot of information being gone over - in all kinds of weather too!
We want to listen to you tell us what you are looking to do with your new found skills - what are your plans? Take out a note book right now, today. Begin recording questions you have and want an answer to, leaving room for answers later - this is the best way to be sure you get the most out of your experience. Check off each one as they are answered, making notes accordingly. Be prepared to take written notes at all times - as well as have your tools close by and tool belts on. Nothing will frustrate you more than not having these things close at hand!
We cover a lot of ground and demonstrate things repeatedly both for the group and individually throughout each day. We are confident that between your hands-on skill training and application, notes, pictures and text book - there is no reason why you could not return home and begin your own project immediately!
Dress for the weather and anticipate the worst - I can not stress this enough. Nothing will rob you of the joy of being a part of this experience faster or more thouroughly!
We are very excited about finally making arrangements to locate the school South of Indianapolis, Indiana and near Waverly, Indiana in Morgan County!
We started in the Fall of 1991 with classes at West Boggs Park near Loogootee, Indiana and quickly became a traveling school, going where we were sponsored in one capacity or another. Often we were Hosted by former students to help them get a great start on their handcrafted log home project. Then we began workshops at a physical site near Harrodsburg, Indiana with the folks that managed the West Bogg Park years before. The dream of finally owning our own land to support a custom log building enterprise in conjunction with teaching a schedule of classes is getting closer and closer! UPDATE! We found a better biggger site!
We are no longer going to be locating a few miles South of Bloomington, Indiana on the at 4575 West Popcorn Road out of a small town called Harrodsburg, but at 8125 Whiteland Road, Martinsville, Indiana just 15 miles South of Indianapolis, Indiana on Highway 37 and 10 miles North of Martinsville, Indiana! Accomodations are listed in liturature sent upon registration and on the 2009 Tuition & Schedule download on the main web page. Zoning prohibits us from certain activities regarding housing students for the time being. Pop campers, tents and RV's are welcomed however!
Students will be free to just bring food they want, their clothes and tools, and certainly a cooler for their own beverages! There are restaurants nearby and also hotels and camp grounds with RV dump capabilities available. It is our hope we can provide this more accomodations in the form of small cabins built by students over time.
The cost for an individual to attend a two week log-building workshop has been raised to $1050.00 from $950.00. That person can bring a companion at an additional $100.00; in fact, the companion can attend the four-week workshops with you also for the same amount of $250.00.
The tuition for an individual to attend a four-week log-building workshop is $1850.00.
All students are required to bring a set of tools and safety gear we have listed for them on our website, those attending with an accompanying pal can share their set of tools. All participants must have their own safety gear for obvious reasons.
The second person discount is primarily intended for relatives to participate, i.e. husband-wife, father-son cousins and so on, but is not limited to kin folk. (Often what happens is the two attending together split it down the middle so it's less expensive to come in pairs!) Please call ahead for attendance openings so arrangements can be made. (Please keep, store and prepare own meals, hot showers and sleeping accommodations.) Register early to assure a spot !
Students start learning this craft, by working in a practice area, on logs we have set aside for this purpose. Round notches, Saddle Notches, Locking Square Notches, Post Notches, Center-line layout and cutting of flat surfaces, plunge-cuts, scarf cuts, carving, brushing and planing, and repeated excercise of these procedures until they feel comfortable with the chainsaw and the procedures.
They are then moved on to learn the aspects of building a log structure by working on a real log building project. Log selection, scribing, pre-notching, and fitting of logs will be done repeatedly. If the log project is far enough along, students will install log floor joists, cut door and window openings, cut key-ways, trim log ends and engage the truss and purlin roof systems.
In all of my 19 years, four students arrived for their workshop and were shocked that they would be peeling logs as they learned to cut and fit logs - and made a fuss about it. It never occurred to them that the reason there is a drawknife on the tool list meant they would be using it!
Recently, one student 'discovered' that he would be hands-on learning on partially built log building projects at various stages of completion, and was appaulled by this. It turned out, his real concern was that we might even sell a log project somewhere in the future after however many workshops of students it had taken to complete the log shell.
All of our Workshops are scheduled the year before and we have no idea how many will be coming or if there will even be students in every scheduled class, and even when we do have a class registered, we can not and never do emphasize speed. You can't rush anyone learning a new craft, especially one that requires such an emmense attention to detail. There have been several times that only one student registered for a given workshop and we trained 'em one-on-one. Logging has to be done seasonally, and so, then, peeling soon afterwards. The costs associated with aquiring logs and handling them - including regular overhead of running a business, means we need to function in such a way as to cause the business to generate enough income - no matter how many students register or if any do, and this is best done by having a destination, or buyer, for the building - willing to fund the project as we and or the students complete it.
Recently, a student threw a fit and demanded to be paid to learn. When that didn't work, then he left without saying he was leaving and later demanded that he be paid or reimbursed for his tuition or he would destroy what I have been doing for nearly 20 years now. Some people will never be happy and you can talk till you're blue in the face - this was such a moment in my 20 years of teaching this craft. It is but a moment - though I could not do what I have been engaged in for so long now, if I did not care. I did what I could do and never stopped trying to talk with him and encourage him to engage the learning process and be sure he got the most out of it as he can, including holding him accountable for his choices and decisions.
For anyone wishing to attend a hands-on log building workshop - in ANY craft, be prepared to have the good fortune of working on real projects where your craftsmanship and committment to excellance actually MEANS something. Expect rain, expect cold and hot sun, expect blisters, pinched fingers and to be rubbing bruises. Expect keeping your things dry and organized to be a constant concern, as will be keeping and cooking food while you are here. Effort will be required - and for nearly 20 years now, it has been gladly given by hundreds of students without a word of complaint You will leave exhausted and confident in your new skills, eager to return home and get something started.
