Last of the Rafters

It's been a long, long way coming.  Yesterday we finished the rafters.  It took the coordinated efforts of ten folks over the course of a few weekends. 

May, June, July in Vermont.  Spring came fast this year and beauty is rarely far behind her - it can be hard to buckle down with such company.  

Quiet, temperate mornings burned off quickly.  The various community gardens near our site bustled with all manor of citizen in the afternoon sun. 

Owen was on back on the East Coast for a few weeks this summer and wanted to get some more timber framing experience. 

Anne moved to Burlington recently and wants experience in Natural Building.  She's working her tail off durring the week and putting in hours every weekend she can. 

Robinson moved to town a few months ago for a Farm Apprentice program.  He's got an axe.  Henry has been helping with the frame since last year.

 Assuming everything goes as planning, these will be airborne Wednesday.

Stay tuned.

Hand Hewing Class Photos

MTS is pleased to report Hand Hewing is back on the calendar.  Come one, Come All.  We'll be turning two logs into dimensional lumber using a variety of axes, techniques, and biscuit power.

Call to reserve.  Class size limited.

PHOTO UPDATE:


The class was a success.  Below are just some of the choice shots.  Thanks again to Carl and all the gritty dudes who came out.

Sharpening

Moving

Layout

First Face

Finishing the Square

Rafter Party 1.0

We must be doing something right.  The weather couldn't have been better: cool air, green grass, hot sun.  After double-checking some math over a waffle breakfast we headed out to the first of three Rafter Work Parties.  

As in the past, the Timber Frame Project brings out a spectrum of experience all aligning in the same goal. We had inquisitive guests kind enough to take photos, an aspiring wood worker who has helped out in the past and was present for raising day, and we were fortunate to have a pro come by with some deeper knowhow and crazy-hot German tools to keep us moving. 

We laid-out a majority of the remaining rafters and completed some of the cross cutting.  We're confident that two more solid Saturdays and a full Sunday of hanging should get us where we need to be.

Those days are: Saturday, May 19th; Saturday May 27th; and Sunday May 28th.

For more information call the Rafter Party Hotline; 802.578.2286

Hand Hewing Postponed

We're sorry to report that the Hand Hewing Workshop scheduled for this Saturday is postponed. 

 Stay posted for rescheduling and send good vibes Pennsylvania.  

Live at 5:25

See Karl Lukhaup - hewing instructor extraordinaire -  present class information on Burlington's own Live at 5:25! 

Click this, right here.  Get it!

Trees to Timbers

Holy moly, me oh my.

MTS's first class of the year is here and So Can You!  Dr. Hewing himself - Mr. Karl Lukhaup will be running the show:  half a dozen trees, a bushel of axes, and a heaping spoonful of disciplined instruction.  We'll be turning round logs into hand-made building materials.

The day will also include an axe use primer, maintenance, and coffee & doughnuts.

Unimprovable. 

Exercise your ancestor muscles! Call to get on the roster - slots are filling up fast!

Meet Karl:

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Deck the Halls

The grass is green again at the Ethan Allen Homestead and with the arrival of favorable conditions comes the building season.  Last Friday a group of YouthBuild students and their teachers spent their National Day of Service working on Ye Olde Timber Frame.

After some site organization the group went to tasks.  A drainage ditch was dug (in minutes flat - I was unnerved), the last of the flooring was patched in and the ticky-tacky details of cutting around posts was put to bed.

Thanks again to YouthBuild ReSource - this project could not have happened with out you.