Full Green Woodworking Course Series 2025
Join me for a full series of classes starting in January. This series includes all of the classes I offer curated in order of progression at a discounted rate.
You will begin by learning to make your own axe block, the workstation you will use for all your carving. Next you will learn the basics of carving in a cooking spoon class. Following that you will learn some more technical carving and decoration methods in an eating spoon class. Finally you will learn how to keep your carving tools in tip top shape in a sharpening class.
This course price includes a total of 4 classes over a 2-3 month period. You will leave with your own axe block, cooking spoon, eating spoon and sharpening kit.
There is the option when booking this class to also include a tool kit to the package for an additional $295. This kit includes a classic Mora 106 Soljd knife with scandinavian ground blade. An open-curve hook knife from Robin Wood’s ‘Wood Tools’ company made in Manchester, UK and a Beaver Craft hatchet with leather belt loop and sheath. Please indicate if right or left handed hook knife required.
What we’ll cover in the course.
✺ What Is Green Woodworking?
A little bit of context on the history and tradition of Green Woodworking and how it fits into todays culture.
✺ What Is the Best Height for an Axe Block
We will measure you up and decide what the most comfortable working height for you to make your axe block at will be.
✺ What Makes a Sturdy/Functional Axe Block
We will look at the construction and shape of an axe block that allows it to be as solid as possible. We will look at some of the alterations we can make to the block to allow for different working styles and tool storage.
✺ Wood Identification and Selection
Some basic tree identification and how to select the best species for carving. We’ll touch on where to source wood and discuss how to work with the grain to process the tree from a log into a manageable ‘billet’ for carving.
✺ Tool Use & Safety
You’ll be introduced to the various tools used for carving and how to safely use them. We will be using a froe, hand saws, axes, straight knives and bent/crook knives. We will spend time learning body positioning and safe axe swinging. We will also cover multiple different knife grips and what work they are best suited to.
✺ Design & Function
We’ll take a look at the geometry of proportion and ergonomics and discuss what makes a comfortable eating spoon. I will show you some techniques that help keep a spoon strong whilst still allowing for elegant and delicate designs.
✺ Embellishment & Finishing
You’ll learn some techniques for decorating your finished spoons including chip carving and kohlrosing. Finally we’ll go over how to best dry and then finish your spoons with a suitable food safe oil.
✺ Why Is Sharpening So Important?
We’ll discuss why sharpening regularly matters and what you can do to make the process as minimal and easy as possible.
✺ What To Use and How To Use Them
There are many different ways to sharpen tools. We will discuss the different options out there but we will be focussing on the most cost effective of them all - wet and dry sandpaper. We will touch on fixing dents in blades and then work our way up through the grits.
✺ To Strop Or Not To Strop
The answer is strop. And strop often! We will learn about stropping and how to keep your blades in tip top shape by the use of simple leather strops which you will also take home with you.