A summer in the garden can be enhanced with some creative woodworking. In this 3-day course, we will create some of the common objects that get used in flower and vegetable gardens, making them ourselves using simple tools and re-purposed sticks, branches, or inexpensive split cedar. Students will be encouraged to create a range of projects in this course: climbing trellises, support cages for plants like tomatoes or poppies, a toolbox to hold your garden gear. In addition, students can create planter boxes, or even wind-activated whirligigs that can help to keep birds and animals out of a garden. This is a woodworking class utilizing hand tools only. We will not only use some familiar tools (saw, brace, and drill), but also less common tools like a froe, hatchet, and drawknife–rarities in most modern woodshops. Low-tech, resourceful, and fun… these are great projects for developing a new skillset with quiet and portable hand tools.

“In the Swedish language, the word slöjd has a nebulous meaning. It starts with a definition similar to our English word “craft”, but it goes beyond that… elements of a “DIY” attitude are embedded in its connotation, as well the implication of one’s ability to solve problems creatively. So slöjd not only means crafty and skillful, but also implies self-reliance, and the empowerment that is gained by making and fixing things with your own hands. The concept of this word, with its expansive meaning, is what I intend to promote through the Everyday Slöjd classes. I use the peculiar word slöjd in their name because I intend to embrace all of these interpretations… my sincere hope is that the experience will instill self-confidence in all of the students involved, and inspire their creativity.”

Required Tools

• All required tools/materials are provided by your instructor and North House and will be available once the course begins.