Learn to build a cabin all your own.
When students arrive at the North House Folk School, in Grand Marais, Minnesota, they’re looking to learn a new skill, but they leave with something greater, says the school’s executive director Greg Wright. “It’s about relishing the joy of building.”
If you’re looking to discover that joy this summer, you have a variety of venues to choose from. Options range from short classes to week-long intensive workshops hosted at folk schools, log yards and college campuses around the country. In the following listings, you’ll find course offerings all with different takes on teaching the skills necessary to create a shelter—whether it’s a log cabin, straw-clay house, yurt or timber-frame cottage.
One of North House’s classes, for example, is “Build Thoreau’s Cabin: Basic Building Skills Workshop.” Workshop attendees build a cabin similar to the one Henry David Thoreau lived in on Walden Pond. The class attracts everyone from veteran woodworkers to rank beginners, Wright says. While some students may go on to build an outbuilding or cabin of their own, others just enjoy the experience and the connections they form with other students.
“All of our students come because of a sense of adventure and a desire to learn,” Wright says. “As soon as you stop learning, you stop living.” He appreciates when students allow themselves to be beginners again and realize it’s OK to make mistakes. While his school’s students range in ages and skills, Wright says they have a willingness to share a passion, meet new people and build community.
With so many options, how do you choose a building class that’s right for you? Do your research online, then choose one with a character that appeals to you. Location matters, too, Wright says. “Pick a part of the world you want to discover, because the place you go is part of the story.”
Cabin Schools
Create Sacred Space: A “Complete Cob” Natural Building Workshop, Nevada City, California
(530-913-0846; californiacob.com)
In this 16-day, comprehensive cob workshop, students learn the basics of building a small cob cottage, from foundation to roof, and everything in between. The workshop is taught by master natural builder Rob Sequoia Pollacek of California Cob and Samantha Hinrichs of Mud and Pearls.
Driftless Folk School, Viroqua, Wisconsin
(608-632-3348; driftlessfolkschool.org)
Visit the Driftless Folk School’s site to see the calendar of classes and workshops that cover building design for livable homes, masonry, wall plastering, timber framing and straw building. Lodging for workshop participants is available at inns, campgrounds and lodges in the area.
EcoNest, Ashland, Oregon
(541-488-9508; econesthomes.com)
Eco Nest offers a variety of courses in timber framing, clay-fiber walls, natural plasters, roof construction, Japanese joinery and earthen floors. The school also holds longer intensive courses and six-week apprenticeships.
Heartwood School, Washington, Massachusetts
(413-623-6677; heartwoodschool.com)
Construction classes in varying lengths at the Heartwood School cover a range of topics, such as timber framing, cabinetry, woodworking, roof framing, stair building and carpentry for women. Home-cooked lunches are included with workshop fees. Accommodations are offered at local inns, cottages, campgrounds and hotels.
Island School of Building Arts, Gabriola Island, British Columbia
(250-247-8922; logandtimberschool.com)
Learn log building, traditional timber framing or post-and-beam construction in a series of 40-hour classes taught at the Island School of Building Arts. Classes are offered in the spring and fall.
Logworks School of Log Building, Heron, Montana
(406-847-1567; logworksschool.com)
The Logworks School teaches log building to inform would-be log home owners and people who would like to become professional log builders. The school’s eight-day, hands-on log building course has no more than four students to a group.
Montana School of Log Building, Three Forks, Montana
(406-285-3488; logworker.com/classes.html)
The hands-on, five-day log building course at Montana School of Log Building teaches log alignment, log scribing and gouging, chain sawing and log selection. Students learn the tricks of the trade while stacking log walls. Use of tools and RV parking or camping are provided.
North House Folk School, Grand Marais, Minnesota
(888-387-9762; northhouse.org)
With a variety of shelter classes, North House Folk School teaches students straw bale, timber frame and cordwood construction, as well as offering a course in yurt building. The school also runs a basic building skills workshop called “Build Thoreau’s Cabin.”
Onalaska Log Building School, Onalaska, Washington
(360-978-4962; onalaskabuildingschool.com)
In a one-day class on log building construction, students learn about peeling, lifting and stacking logs, and how to apply chinking. The class, limited to eight participants, is designed for those who would like to build their own log home, from scratch or a kit of materials.
The Pat Wolfe Log Building School, Lanark, Ontario
(613-256-4997, logbuildingschool.net)
One-, four- and 10-week classes at the Pat Wolfe Log Building School teach students log building techniques and tools. In this hands-on course, students become familiar with basic log notching. In a one-week course, students gain enough knowledge of log building to supervise a contractor on a home building project.
Rocky Mountain Workshops, Fort Collins, Colorado
(970-482-1366, rockymountainworkshops.com)
Students learn skills such as square rule timber framing and designing with Sketch Up at the Colorado State University Mountain Campus, which is adjacent to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Cabins and all-you-can-eat meals are provided in the workshop fee.
Straw Bale Workshop, Berea, Kentucky
(theyearofmud.com)
This seven-day workshop teaches students how to build their own straw bale homes. The workshop includes hands-on practice stacking, securing and pinning bales, and plastering the walls with local clay plaster mixed on-site. Class size is limited to 12 and workshop fees include camping and meals.
Two-Week Cottage Build, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
(440-682-0502; naturalcottageproject.com)
In this foundation-to-roof cottage build, participants will get hands-on experience in every aspect of building a natural straw clay home from the rubble trench and stone foundation to the living roof. Camping with hot showers and meals prepared with fresh local foods are included in the workshop price.
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, various locations
(877-331-8469; tumbleweedhouses.com)
Tumbleweed offers two-day workshops designed to help students plan for a simplified, tiny-house lifestyle. The workshops are presented by Tumbleweed homeowners and builders who cover topics such as choosing a base for a tiny home, selecting materials and tool usage.
Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Waitsfield, Vermont
(888-496-5541; yestermorrow.org)
Yestermorrow’s Home Design/Build course is appropriate for people who want to DIY a cabin and for people seeking a thorough understanding of the building process to better communicate with their builder or architect. The course combines hands-on skill building and a focus on designing a floor plan to suit students’ individual needs. The school also teaches woodworking, timber framing, carpentry and cabinetry.
When students arrive at the North House Folk School, in Grand Marais, Minnesota, they’re looking to learn a new skill, but they leave with something greater, says the school’s executive director Greg Wright. “It’s about relishing the joy of building.”
If you’re looking to discover that joy this summer, you have a variety of venues to choose from. Options range from short classes to week-long intensive workshops hosted at folk schools, log yards and college campuses around the country. In the following listings, you’ll find course offerings all with different takes on teaching the skills necessary to create a shelter—whether it’s a log cabin, straw-clay house, yurt or timber-frame cottage.
One of North House’s classes, for example, is “Build Thoreau’s Cabin: Basic Building Skills Workshop.” Workshop attendees build a cabin similar to the one Henry David Thoreau lived in on Walden Pond. The class attracts everyone from veteran woodworkers to rank beginners, Wright says. While some students may go on to build an outbuilding or cabin of their own, others just enjoy the experience and the connections they form with other students.
“All of our students come because of a sense of adventure and a desire to learn,” Wright says. “As soon as you stop learning, you stop living.” He appreciates when students allow themselves to be beginners again and realize it’s OK to make mistakes. While his school’s students range in ages and skills, Wright says they have a willingness to share a passion, meet new people and build community.
With so many options, how do you choose a building class that’s right for you? Do your research online, then choose one with a character that appeals to you. Location matters, too, Wright says. “Pick a part of the world you want to discover, because the place you go is part of the story.”
EcoNest, Ashland, Oregon
(541-488-9508; econesthomes.com)
Eco Nest offers a variety of courses in timber framing, clay-fiber walls, natural plasters, roof construction, Japanese joinery and earthen floors. The school also holds longer intensive courses and six-week apprenticeships.
Heartwood School, Washington, Massachusetts
(413-623-6677; heartwoodschool.com)
Construction classes in varying lengths at the Heartwood School cover a range of topics, such as timber framing, cabinetry, woodworking, roof framing, stair building and carpentry for women. Home-cooked lunches are included with workshop fees. Accommodations are offered at local inns, cottages, campgrounds and hotels.
Island School of Building Arts, Gabriola Island, British Columbia
(250-247-8922; logandtimberschool.com)
Learn log building, traditional timber framing or post-and-beam construction in a series of 40-hour classes taught at the Island School of Building Arts. Classes are offered in the spring and fall.
Logworks School of Log Building, Heron, Montana
(406-847-1567; logworksschool.com)
The Logworks School teaches log building to inform would-be log home owners and people who would like to become professional log builders. The school’s eight-day, hands-on log building course has no more than four students to a group.
Montana School of Log Building, Three Forks, Montana
(406-285-3488; logworker.com/classes.html)
The hands-on, five-day log building course at Montana School of Log Building teaches log alignment, log scribing and gouging, chain sawing and log selection. Students learn the tricks of the trade while stacking log walls. Use of tools and RV parking or camping are provided.
North House Folk School, Grand Marais, Minnesota
(888-387-9762; northhouse.org)
With a variety of shelter classes, North House Folk School teaches students straw bale, timber frame and cordwood construction, as well as offering a course in yurt building. The school also runs a basic building skills workshop called “Build Thoreau’s Cabin.”
Onalaska Log Building School, Onalaska, Washington
(360-978-4962; onalaskabuildingschool.com)
In a one-day class on log building construction, students learn about peeling, lifting and stacking logs, and how to apply chinking. The class, limited to eight participants, is designed for those who would like to build their own log home, from scratch or a kit of materials.
The Pat Wolfe Log Building School, Lanark, Ontario
(613-256-4997, logbuildingschool.net)
One-, four- and 10-week classes at the Pat Wolfe Log Building School teach students log building techniques and tools. In this hands-on course, students become familiar with basic log notching. In a one-week course, students gain enough knowledge of log building to supervise a contractor on a home building project.
Rocky Mountain Workshops, Fort Collins, Colorado
(970-482-1366, rockymountainworkshops.com)
Students learn skills such as square rule timber framing and designing with Sketch Up at the Colorado State University Mountain Campus, which is adjacent to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Cabins and all-you-can-eat meals are provided in the workshop fee.
Straw Bale Workshop, Berea, Kentucky
(theyearofmud.com)
This seven-day workshop teaches students how to build their own straw bale homes. The workshop includes hands-on practice stacking, securing and pinning bales, and plastering the walls with local clay plaster mixed on-site. Class size is limited to 12 and workshop fees include camping and meals.
Two-Week Cottage Build, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
(440-682-0502; naturalcottageproject.com)
In this foundation-to-roof cottage build, participants will get hands-on experience in every aspect of building a natural straw clay home from the rubble trench and stone foundation to the living roof. Camping with hot showers and meals prepared with fresh local foods are included in the workshop price.
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, various locations
(877-331-8469; tumbleweedhouses.com)
Tumbleweed offers two-day workshops designed to help students plan for a simplified, tiny-house lifestyle. The workshops are presented by Tumbleweed homeowners and builders who cover topics such as choosing a base for a tiny home, selecting materials and tool usage.
Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Waitsfield, Vermont
(888-496-5541; yestermorrow.org)
Yestermorrow’s Home Design/Build course is appropriate for people who want to DIY a cabin and for people seeking a thorough understanding of the building process to better communicate with their builder or architect. The course combines hands-on skill building and a focus on designing a floor plan to suit students’ individual needs. The school also teaches woodworking, timber framing, carpentry and cabinetry.
Dutch Oven
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