Our courses give you hands on experience and in-depth tuition in the fundamental skills and techniques of green wood working. These are suitable for total beginners and each revolve around a beautiful product to make yourself and take home!
SPOON CARVING?
Barn the Spoon continues to host his monthly London workshops here at the Green Wood Guild. Spoon carving courses, spoons, gift vouchers & tools can now be bought at www.barnthespoon.com
Green Wood Guild Courses
Community Trellis Making Workshop
Half day community workshop – making trellis the Medieval way!
10:30am – 2:30pm
Come and help us turn chestnut logs into functional trellis for our farm growing system.
We will be starting with sweet chestnut logs, and over the course of the session, we will use traditional techniques to to break down the logs and shape them. First we split the logs into laths – starting with axes and wedges, then moving onto a cleaving break and a froe to precisely and effectively split the wood in the most efficient manner. We will then shave the laths using a shavehorse and drawknife, choose the perfect layout, and drill and nail them together to form a sturdy trellis. If some of these terms and tools don’t make sense now – fear not! All will be explained on the day.
The Project
What to bring!
Bring a packed lunch and a flask for hot drinks, and a water bottle. We will be working outside so please do dress accordingly, and wear sturdy shoes.
How much does it cost?
Spaces are free, but limited to 10 spaces, please do not book a place unless you are certain you can come! If you can’t make it, please do let us know ahead of time so we can release your space to the waiting list.
Who is it open to?
This workshop is open to anyone over the age of 10, but anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please do let us know if the person attending is under 18, and if so, who will be accompanying them.
Anything else?
We will be making a short film on the day, so if you’re not comfortable being filmed, please let us know beforehand.
This course takes place on Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London, E1 3DG. Meet outside the woodwork studio in the main courtyard.
At the moment we are only running one session, so dates cannot be transferred once booked.
Children’s Stool Making Class
For children aged 11-17. Come for a day during the school holidays and make a stool together.
Perfect for absolute beginners!
Do you know a child who is interested in starting their journey into woodwork? This class is run exactly the same as our adult’s stool making class. The price is for a guardian and child duo to create one three legged stool together, with the adult supervising the child throughout the day. The adult is able to step in as little or as much as they would like/is needed. I have over 6 years experience teaching adults and 4 years experience teaching children aged 11-18, and will be on hand to guide you both through the process from start to finish.
You will master some of the core aspects of furniture making, as you craft a simple, robust and beautiful 3-legged stool from cleft chestnut and seasoned hardwood seat. On this course you learn core skills and techniques of traditional furniture making, including using shavehorses, drawknives, and planes, and constructing solid joints with age old through and wedged round tenons.
All courses take place at our workshop on Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London, E1 3DG unless otherwise stated
All course bookings are non refundable, and class dates cannot be transferred once booked
Bowl or Kuksa Carving Day Workshop
A one day introduction to carving bowls or kuksas – please add which you would like to carve in checkout notes!
10am to 6pm
Learn to make a beautiful wooden bowl or kuksa from native green hardwood using ancient hand tools. The adze, used to hollow out the bowl, has been in our culture since the stone age and is a wonderful introduction to the other traditional tools used to create your bowl. Over the course of the day you will use an axe and drawknife to shape the outside of the bowl, and gouges and hook knife to refine the inside.
Or you could turn your hand to carving a beautiful kuksa – a traditional scandinavian style of drinking cup. The ideal tool for drinking coffee develops a rich patina from the coffee grounds. Most folk that start to use them become inseparable from them. Great to use at home but also much better in a backpack than a fragile and heavy ceramic mug.
In addition to giving you an introduction to a variety of hand tools, this course will give you a real insight into the design and function of objects which has been used by humans for thousands of years.
This class runs from 10:00 to 18:00, during which time you will learn many different carving techniques, learn about how green wood differs from seasoned wood, and of course, at the end of the day you will take home a beautiful, functional wooden bowl or kuksa.
All courses take place at our workshop on Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London, E1 3DG unless otherwise stated
All course bookings are non refundable, and class dates cannot be transferred once booked.
You must be 18 years old and older to take this class.
Furniture Making Workshops
Come for a day and make a stool or a whole weekend and take home a bench!
10am – 6pm Saturday/Sunday
These workshops run concurrently and are perfect for absolute beginners.
Master some of the core aspects of furniture making, as you craft a simple, robust and beautiful 3-legged stool, or 4 legged bench, from cleft chestnut and seasoned hardwood Ash seat. On this course you learn core skills and techniques of traditional furniture making, including using shavehorses, drawknives, and planes, and constructing solid joints with age old wedged round tenons.
For someone who wants to invest a little more time in creating a larger piece of furniture for the home – the bench making teaches all the same techniques as the stool making. You will learn the same core skills and techniques of traditional furniture making, and if you wish, use the Japanese scorching technique of Shou Sugi Ban to give your bench a gorgeous dark finish.
All courses take place at our workshop on Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London, E1 3DG unless otherwise stated.
All materials are included.
Classes are non refundable and non transferrable once booked.
You must be 18 years old and older to take this class.
If you are currently unwaged or low income and would like to come on the class, please get in touch via info@thegreenwoodguild.com for concessionary rates.
Knife Forging Day Workshop
One day workshop – 9am to 5pm
These knife forging classes at the Green Wood Guild guide you through making your very own carving knife. Being able to take a rough bit of stock steel and turn it into a beautifully functioning edge tool is extremely satisfying, and very empowering!
On this one-day class you will learn how to make a ‘straight’ knife, the perfect wood carving tool used for everything from spoons to shrink pots, as well as being useful in many other larger projects. This class is suitable for people with no tool making experience. You will forge and sharpen your own blade, as well as carving the handle, walking away with a beautiful new tool!
All courses take place at our workshop on Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London, E1 3DG unless otherwise stated.
All course bookings are non refundable, and class dates cannot be transferred once booked.
You must be 18 years old and older to take this class.
Whittling Workshops
Weekend Whittling Workshops
Our whittling workshops aims to introduce you to the basics of working with green wood. Perfect for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the world of woodwork.
Spatula & Butter Spreader Carving
Spatulas are one of the true workhorses of the kitchen. Why not learn how to carve your own, to whatever design you want? Come and learn the basics of green wood carving, using a Mora straight knife and a piece of green wood to carve a beautiful spatula, ready to be put to use. Learn how to carve a Swedish style butter spreader using basic knife grips and lovely green wood. Also perfect to use for serving condiments.
All course bookings are non refundable, and class dates cannot be transferred once booked.
You must be 18 years old and older to take this class.