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Timber Frame Workshop at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage
- Register Early, Limited Spots -
Come join The Year of Mud in August 2013 for a comprehensive timber frame workshop at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage!
Using timeless techniques and traditional hand tools, students will learn how to lay out, join, and raise a timber frame house with round wood and square elements during our 10 day building course. Learn valuable skills working as a team to build a small home in an inspiring sustainable community. All experience levels are welcome.
Workshop Information at a Glance:
- Date: August 18-27, 2013
- Location: Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Rutledge, Missouri
- Cost (includes all meals, lodging):
$995 Extra Early Registration Discount (register by June 16 - $300 savings!)
$1145 Early Registration Discount (register by July 17 – $150 savings!)
$1295 Regular Registration (register after July 17) - All-inclusive: tuition includes lodging, and 3 delicious meals a day at the Milkweed Mercantile Organic Cafe
- Ecovillage Experience: Explore other aspects of sustainable life in an ecovillage community during your stay
- Timber framing is to be completed using hand tools and traditional layout techniques
- Led by timber framing instructor and Timber Framers Guild member, Tom Cundiff
Natural Building Skills You Can Bring Home
Students will spend 10 full days at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage learning the historic craft of timber frame construction using mortise and tenon joinery. Unique to this course is the opportunity to work with round wood material and layout techniques, with a dose of square (milled) timber as well. We’ll cover how to use a variety of natural timbers in combination with one another, and different layout techniques that accompany each material. Timber selection, scribe rule and square rule, assembly, and rigging and raising techniques are just a taste of the material we will cover in this detailed, hands-on course. Not only that, we’ll experience and learn some of the fundamental connections between building structure, design, and sustainable lifestyle alternatives.
Evening lectures and activities will include planning and design, restoring old tools and sharpening, a natural materials discussion, and more. Evening events will also include fun community building activities, too!
Get a Look at Life in a Natural Home
Get an up close look at what life is like in a natural home! In addition to teaching a basic proficiency of timber framing skills, this course provides a unique ecovillage experience, setting it apart from other programs. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about other sustainable systems that go hand-in-hand with using natural and locally available materials for building. Dancing Rabbit offers multiple examples of natural building techniques, including timber framing, post and beam, straw bale, cob, earthbag, light clay straw, passive solar design, living roofs, rain water catchment systems, and lime and earth plasters, as well as more conventional systems and methods of construction.
We are seeking participants with all levels of experience. Applicants should have enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and an appreciation for working with wood. Come learn valuable new skills, or increase your existing knowledge!
Additional Workshop Information
Register Now
Reserve your spot by completing the workshop registration. Remember, spaces are limited! Do not forget to apply early to earn your registration discount.
Payments can be made via check or Dwolla.com (a Paypal alternative) once your registration is complete. Details will be provided once we review your registration. Thanks for joining!
Please contact Ziggy with any questions you may have.
Workshop Schedule
Students must arrive the afternoon prior to the official workshop start date — students must arrive on August 17th for the start of the workshop. We’ll start with a leisurely dinner and introductions. The workshop will end the morning after the official posted date, with the departure of students and a farewell breakfast on August 28th. Please factor this in to your travel plans!
Travel directions will be provided once students complete their registration.
What is Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage?
Dancing Rabbit is an ecovillage and intentional community of over 60 people set amid the hills and prairies of rural northeastern Missouri. The goal of the community is to live ecologically sustainable and socially rewarding lives, and to share the skills and ideas behind that lifestyle.
Renewable energy, natural building, organic food production, permaculture, consensus decision-making, carsharing… these are just a few of the things we do to model sustainable living.
Our village is composed of individuals, families, and sub-communities. Outreach and education are integral to our mission — we enjoy sharing discoveries and ideas of sustainable living with people who have a wide variety of lifestyles. Dancing Rabbit’s current culture is definitely oriented toward a rural “alternative” culture. We want to make sure that you are aware of what to expect before deciding to come work here with us.
While you would not be expected to believe in or actively participate in all of the things on the list below, you should be aware that they are all things that are commonly encountered at Dancing Rabbit: leftist/progressive politics, hosting many visitors, outdoor living, DIY culture, consensus decision-making, active conflict resolution, peeing outside, outhouses & the humanure system, and outdoor solar showers. Since Dancing Rabbit is a home to many other people, it is expected that participants respect the norms of the community while visiting. There will be opportunities to tour the community when you arrive!
About the Workshop Instructor
Instructor Tom Cundiff is the owner-operator of The EdgeWorks Timber Framing, located in Grafton, Illinois. Tom has participated in multiple projects with the Timber Framers Guild of America, including the building of Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge in Golden, British Columbia. He also teaches workshops at Guild events, as well as independently. Recently, he has been sharing his skills with Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. Professionally, Tom enjoys investigating green building techniques and working with timber framers across the country on innovative projects. He is also the famed creator of the Stumpkin, which has made several appearances at timber framing events across the country. When he isn’t working, Tom can be found spending time with his wife and daughters, drinking strong coffee, listening to a vast collection of music, and spoiling the family dogs.
Food and Lodging
Food and Dining
Unlike other similar natural building workshops, we provide all meals and indoor dining facilities during our workshops. The meals are often a highlight of our students’ daily routine! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be lovingly prepared with fresh, local, and organic ingredients by the Milkweed Mercantile Organic Cafe. Tea and coffee will also be provided. The meals may include an occasional meat dish, delicious vegan fare, and hearty organic vegetarian dishes — we will happily accommodate dietary restrictions and food allergies. Make sure to indicate any restrictions/allergies in your application.
It is recommended that participants bring snacks and specialty items if they wish (think nuts, dried fruit, granola) to supplement the otherwise complete meal service.
Lodging and Accommodations During Your Stay
We provide student accommodations including a 8′ x 10′ tent platform, access to composting toilets and indoor shower facilities, free wireless internet, and land line phone access. These accommodations are already included in the price of the Workshop.
For students that do not wish to camp, our cob house “Gobcobatron” is available for rent during the workshop duration. Please contact Ziggy for pricing details.
Travel directions and a packing list will be provided to workshop participants.
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