Certificate in Greenwood Craft

It’s cold in them there woods

Hurrah!

The first day of the Greenwood course has finally come!  I seem to have had this course in my sights for ages.  I remember chatting about it to my colleagues at work almost two years ago.  At that time I was tentatively looking at a change of focus and priority.  I was exploring thoughts of no longer being employed as a Mechanical Engineer.

Since that time I’ve built a Shavehorse, and used it; been on a spoon carving course, and carved many a spoon; been on a kuksa-making course, and drunk many a drink from one… I’ve also written a Business Plan, and had it approved; I’ve registered as Self Employed, and filed my first tax return; I’ve done my first market, made my first sale.

I’ve also had to embrace social media, so that I could create a Facebook business page; and I’ve discovered Instagram, and all the inspiration that it can bring. It’s astonishing how social media increases the range of influences that affect us… In a way, I’m writing this blog (particularly about this course) because of being inspired by a guy in Madison, US. I think of him as “Sylva Spoon” – his social media name (@sylva_spoon, www.woodwatches.com/g/sylva_spoon), but I’ve just looked, and his name is Tom. Tom started an apprenticeship at the back end of last year with Jarrod Dahl (@jarrod__dahl, @woodspirithandcraft, https://woodspirithandcarft.com), and he’s been conscientious about updating his blog with his experiences. It’s inspirational to follow his day-to-day learning, and to be party to some of the thoughts and discussion that these two craftspeople are engaging in.

So, I suppose I’m hoping that the process of recording my journey through this course will help me to reflect upon and consolidate what I learn.  Of course, it’ll also provide a record of this time for my own learning.

Day 1

COLD!! Seven of us started the course today, at Maurice’s (Maurice Pyle, Woodsmith Experience: http://woodsmithexperience.co.uk) workshop near Kirkley Hall. It was mostly an orientation day.  We found out about the others on the course, and reminded ourselves why we were there. We met Tim Davis (http://www.poomwood.co.uk) who is just about to finish a BHMAT apprenticeship. He told us a bit about his greenwood journey to becoming a coppicer – amongst other things. By the end of the day, we thought we were as cold as we could be.  One of the other course members had already lent me a spare coat.  Then we had a short drive out look at some local under-managed woodland.  We found that it was possible to be even more cold.
Tomorrow will be warmer – we get to do some work!