Building one’s own shelter is an incredibly empowering experience. Our workshops take the participant on an experiential education journey involving many aspects of traditional and natural building practices.
Our annual November workshop focuses on collecting and preparing yurt materials and includes a free workshop on Coppicing & Charcoal making.
We also offer one day yurt education experiences for communities, youth groups & schools.
Collection, Coppice & Construction
Our workshops occur every November and are geared towards folks who want to actively make a yurt over the winter months and complete a yurt frame in the spring.
The Collecting Yurt Materials workshop teaches techniques for collecting, harvesting, carving and storing your poles. Our Coppice Woodland & Charcoal Making workshop involves clearing the woodland using hand tools, preparing the cut stumps for regrowth and firing a retort kiln! After the first two workshops you then have five months to collect and carve your materials.
1. Collecting Yurt Materials - Day Workshop
In this workshop we will take a woodland walk to learn about the best wood for yurt construction. We will build a green wood working break, shave poles and learn about tool sharpening. You will leave with the skills and knowledge to collect, carve and store your poles in readiness for construction. You will also leave with the number and approximate lengths for your custom yurt.
Dates: Dates to be confirmed. Arrival after 7pm is recommended if you are traveling from far.
Where: TBC
Cost: $100 plus tax ($115.00) Lunch and snacks are provided
Bring: Work gloves, spare socks, warm waterproof clothing and boots.
Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required to reserve your spot. The deposit is due five days after you have completed the registration.
2. Coppice Woodland & Charcoal Making – Evening & Following Day
We will gather together, potluck style and then head into the woods to load and lite a charcoal retort kiln which will burn through out the night. On Sunday we will clear the coppice woodland using hand tools and prepare the freshly cut stumps to regrow, providing yurt poles for the future. This sustainable forest technique is over 3000 years old and can provide a constant supply of raw materials when cut on a cycle. Little Foot Yurts has been harvesting poles at this site for eight years and with the help of volunteers, preparing the healthy regrowth of red Maple coppice.
Dates: Dates to be confirmed. (accommodation is available at no charge, please bring sleeping bag, pillow & roll matt.)
Where: TBC
Cost: Free
Bring: Work gloves, spare socks, warm
waterproof clothing and boots, flashlight, sleeping bag, roll matt and pillow.
Potluck
items: Please bring something to BBQ for the Saturday night. We will be down
in the woods, so something in a container and ready to grill will be ideal!
We will bring buns, condiments and salad. Also, bring something to contribute
for breakfast. We will make oatmeal and apples.
