Learn the unique values and considerations that have shaped Vermont vernacular architecture. Rooted in place-based analysis, this course explores Vermont’s architectural history—from Indigenous dwellings to contemporary sustainable design. You'll examine how the built environment reflects the state's landscape, values, and evolving social and economic conditions, gaining a deeper understanding of Vermont’s design legacy. Read Syllabus […]
Heartwood on the Road: Timber Framing in South Carolina February 16-22, 2026 $1,630 We're taking our core curriculum on the Road! Join us in South Carolina to learn the basics of timber framing. Timber framing is a traditional framing technique that is incorporated into all building projects at the Heartwood School. In this class, we […]
Dates: March 6-7, 2026 Cost: $470 Overview: We will answer your business questions through small groups and informal discussions. Topics will include: starting up a business (legal structure, insurance), marketing, sales, operations (employees, management), contracts and contract types, leadership, and estimating the cost and sale price of producing a timber frame. We will share resources […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
The dovetail joint is one of the strongest and most beautiful techniques in woodworking. Join SBWI alumni Jaime Marvin as she demystifies how to make dovetails completely by hand. Students will learn how to properly use layout tools, chisels and handsaws. The first day will be spent cutting dovetails and pins and the second day […]
This course combines the core of our previous timber framing, homebuilding, and apprenticeship curriculums into one package for those seeking a career in timber framing or a deeper understanding of the skills needed to build their own timber frame. It's ideal for those who seek more opportunities for development than are provided in our one-week […]
In this full day workshop, participants will gain skills needed to identify woods no matter what the sample size, be it a board, a log, or a small sample. The class will focus on common hardwoods and softwoods of North America. Skills learned can be applied to identification of non-native species as well. Participants will […]
The key to using hand tools correctly is a sharp edge - learn how the masters make it look so easy. Join expert woodworker and machinist Bob Goppold for a one day workshop on sharpening hand planes and chisels. Learn the physical properties of tools, how to know when a blade needs sharpening, and several […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
This course will give students a foundational education in timber framing while they work as a group to build and complete a timber frame pavilion. Students will gain an understanding of the materials, tools and safety standards used in the timber framing industry. Students will receive hands-on experience laying out, cutting, and assembling traditional joinery. […]
Gain hands-on experience felling and milling a tree for lumber. For those considering harvesting logs for lumber on a small scale, building with materials from their own woodlot, or purchasing a sawmill, this course will provide an overview of methods and options for small scale sustainable harvesting and wood production. The bulk of the course […]
Overview: Cruck frames use large curved timbers to transfer the weight of the roof directly down to the foot of the posts. Besides being structurally efficient and allowing the wall frames to be lighter, their soaring arches create a beautiful interior space. Usually, each pair of cruck blades is halved from the same tree. Since […]
We will learn a variety of joints, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to implement them into furniture making and design. This class will explore the art and technique of wood joinery, while focusing on hand tool techniques. At the end of class, students will leave with a small decorative box showcasing their new joinery […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
Design and craft your own stained glass panel. This class will introduce students to basic tools and techniques for layout, cutting, shaping, and connecting stained glass using the copper foil method by building a panel of your own design. Read Syllabus Class Schedule: June 27-28, Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm Credits: 1 Sterling College CEUs Click […]
This course combines the core of our previous timber framing, homebuilding, and apprenticeship curriculums into one package for those seeking a career in timber framing or a deeper understanding of the skills needed to build their own timber frame. It's ideal for those who seek more opportunities for development than are provided in our one-week […]
Step back in time and learn the art of window and door construction in this immersive 5-day course. This class will guide students through the transformation of Eastern White Pine boards into simple, historically accurate window sash and doors. Students will learn appropriate historical restoration methods along with window sash repair and reuse. The class will also […]
Construct and raise a small timber frame structure using mortise and tenon joinery. In this hands-on course students will learn layout techniques, tool use, and joinery cutting methods as we work on a small timber frame project, culminating in a raising on the final day. This course will focus on traditional hand tools and joinery […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
OVERVIEW: Scribing is an art as much as a craft, requiring a good eye and a steady hand. It involves laying out and transferring joinery intersections from one timber to another using plumb bobs, levels, and marking devices instead of tape measures and math. This traditional method is useful for incorporating out-of-square, naturally curved, or […]
Overview: In this class we will be taking a deep dive into French Scribing, a centuries-old technique for laying out joinery with minimal numeric calculation or math. It is particularly useful for joining out-of-square timbers and curved timbers that have been milled with flat faces. (For an introduction to scribing with round logs, you'll want […]
Gain hands-on experience felling and milling a tree for lumber. For those considering harvesting logs for lumber on a small scale, building with materials from their own woodlot, or purchasing a sawmill, this course will provide an overview of methods and options for small scale sustainable harvesting and wood production. The bulk of the course […]
Overview: Here is an opportunity to learn the few, but necessary, knots (a dozen or so) needed by the timber framer to safely lift heavy loads and tying off timbers for shipment. Students will practice these knots until they own them. All the elements of a knot, bend, and hitch will be covered. The rigging […]
The Art & Craft of Axes is designed for anyone interested in learning the history, anatomy, and practical use of one of the most essential tools in woodworking and timber processing. This course will be beneficial to both beginners and tool use and experienced woodsmen, equipping students with the skills to handle an axe with […]
Overview: Learn the basics of masonry heater construction with a combination of classroom learning and hands-on building. Masonry heaters are efficient wood-burning stoves for home heating, distinguished by their substantial mass when compared to a woodstove, which allows for rapid burning of a large wood load combined with a slow release of the resultant heat. […]
Step into the world of traditional craftsmanship in this Hand Tool Timber Framing class. In this immersive 6-day class, students will build a full-size cabin inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s famous cabin at Walden Pond, gaining firsthand experience in the fundamentals of timber framing—all using hand tools. This course focuses on working with hewn timber […]
Instead of simply replacing damaged ornamental terracotta and stone elements, long-lasting seamless repairs can be achieved with the techniques taught at LimeWorks.us’ workshop, Lithomex® LEVEL II Advanced Ornamental Terracotta & Stone Repair. Students will begin the day with a short material science lecture on the reasons for original material loss and how precise work can be achieved […]
This 6-day immersive course will teach students how to split (rive) wood using traditional hand tools to create the materials needed for roofing, siding, and interior lath work of a timber frame cabin. The key focus of this course is riving—the art of splitting wood along the grain to create durable, weatherproof building materials. Beginning […]
This course is offered as a comfortable space to learn the basics of timber framing for people who may not feel welcomed in the almost-uniformly male culture found in construction. It is specifically and only for women and gender non-conforming folks and will be taught by two women timber framers. Students should expect to come […]
In this course, we will explain the architectural and structural basics for designing timber frame structures that are both functional and beautiful. It is geared towards both novice timber frame designers and builders as well as professional engineers and architects who want to know how to incorporate timber framing in their projects. We begin with […]