We’re currently in preparation mode for our upcoming Japanese guesthouse project. This is the focal point of the 2026 Japanese Carpentry Real Construction Workshop, but it will also be the site for future classes as well. It’s an exciting time, to say the least. I’ve started to submit orders for timbers and we recently cleared the building site with the help of friends. This winter, I’ve found myself waking up early and churning over design details. This is not a small project. But I digress…
There’s a common thread throughout the Japanese Carpentry Workshops that we’ve been hosting for 3 consecutive years: pure, unbridled enthusiasm. There is so much passion for this microcosm of joinery, tools, and traditional architecture that it surprises even me sometimes. Students travel here from far and wide, frequently returning for another class. People are absolutely hungry for this stuff.
Why are people so hungry for understanding and participating in this craft? Perhaps because the world of Japanese carpentry goes so deep, is so timeless and beautiful, or maybe because the tools and joints are just really darn cool. Whatever the case, I’m grateful to be able to play a small part in sharing this with people. When I take a small step back, I realize that this is indeed an incredibly special and rare opportunity to learn firsthand from our precious friends and teachers, who live and work in Japan. Even in Japan these skills are kept alive by only a small percentage of carpenters.
This summer, we hosted four workshops — two Japanese Carpentry classes, Natural Building Essentials, and Timber Framing. This was the first summer we’ve been able to use the new timber frame pavilion, now that the floor is complete. It’s made a huge difference in how we host classes and the overall feeling during events.
The first proof of that was during our Japanese Carpentry Workshops — no one wanted to quit working on their joinery projects in the evenings. (We had workspaces filling up the entire pavilion.) The calm setting, lighting, and overall good feelings all helped. In fact, we had to set quiet hours so people could sleep because students kept chiseling until 10:30 or later at night – ha! I love people’s energy and enthusiasm.
If you’ve been here, you know him
Here is a very very trimmed down look at the last 6 months, via pictures with brief captions. Every couple of months I think about updating this blog. But then I can barely muster the mental fortitude to write coherently. So — why not just throw this out there instead?
The end of winter is nigh. However, it can be hard to tell sometimes. 78 degree days in February, night-time lows in the teens this weekend — the weather is an increasingly less reliable marker during this time of year. I’m sure that’s true for many of us, wherever we live. Nevertheless, there’s a change in the air. I’m jonesing to get my spring cleaning going this month. There’s a lot to catch up on after a busy 2022 building season. Here’s where we stand with the timber frame pavilion build.
This has been the busiest winter in a long time. It’s all good stuff, but the window of opportunity to appreciate some downtime is narrowing before a busy spring and summer season. Enough of that, though. I’m here to share some details about our upcoming Japanese Carpentry Workshop project.
Hi there, I’m Ziggy. In 2008, I launched The Year of Mud while building my first natural home. This blog is a collection of personal stories and experiences building with clay, straw, and wood over the past 15+ years. A few of the things that get me fired up are natural plasters, timber framing, & Japanese architecture. Since 2012, we’ve been hosting Natural Building Workshops so you can learn essential skills to build your own natural home.
