Building with Trees

Starting your building project with trees standing in the forest gives you a connection to your creation and to the forest that is hard to get any other way. But what makes a good tree for building? How do you process it into the pieces you need? And how can you store those pieces so they’ll be in good shape when you’re ready to use them?



Whether you’re excited about timber-framing, log-building, or general lumber-making, this class will provide a general overview of all aspects of using our local tree species for building. It will cover where to source trees and how to choose specific trees for specific uses; the best time of year to harvest trees and different ways to move logs safely; ways to mill logs yourself or have them milled by others; and how to dry and store logs and lumber for the intended use. The class will include demonstrations of certain tools and techniques, and will point students toward additional resources for specific projects.



Knowing how to turn trees into something you can use for building makes it possible to build truly original structures — from start to finish — and to make good use of trees that fall on your property or that are felled for clearing.



Class will begin with presentation and discussion at The Folk School and continue with field trips to a forest, Northland Wood, and a band-saw mill.