Lazy Mill Living Arts

RESKILLING FOR LIBERATION

Lazy Mill Living Arts is dedicated
to reviving traditional skills of hand
and land. It was founded on the belief
that with the benefit of natural
materials, simple tools and basic knowledge, we all have the capacity to shape our world as we imagine it.

We host a variety of workshops, taught
by experienced, top-notch craftspeople,
to help cultivate your innate creativity
to craft the things you need
and use everyday.

The Hundred Stick Willow Basket

taught by Scogin Zimmermann Mayo

In this class students will create a round willow basket, learning basic weaves such as twining and french randing. You will start by weaving a circular bottom, then add upright spokes, creating the basket sides. The basket will be finished by weaving an interlocking border on top. Included will be a discussion on the harvesting and growing of willow and resources for learning more techniques.

June 21st and 22nd 9am-5pm $350, includes materials

Email 68pennyg@gmail.com to register

SCOGIN ZIMMERMANN MAYO lives in a yurt outside Washburn, Wisconsin. He spends his time harvesting wild food, canoeing upstream, playing in the woods, and encouraging kids to play with knives. Scogin has been teaching willow basketry since 2004, after apprenticing at the Ancient Arts Center in Western Oregon.

Introduction to Timber Framing

taught by Ariel Schecter

Come learn about the time-tested and beautiful craft of timber framing. Timber framing is a traditional post-and-beam construction style featuring solid wood timbers with interlocking, pegged joinery. Together we will create a timber frame for a 12'x16' cabin using nothing but locally sawn timbers, antique chisels, hand saws, and other simple tools. The first 5 days we will learn the fundamentals of layout and joinery cutting, culminating in a hand raising of the timber frame on the final day of the workshop.

Students of all experience levels are encouraged to join this workshop, and you need not have any prior building or carpentry experience. All timber-frame-specific tools will be provided, plus there will be a short list of suggested personal tools like a measuring tape, safety glasses, utility knife, etc which we will share with participants in advance.

Participants will be camping here unless you choose to make other arrangements. Amenities include an outdoor shower and outhouse, but you will need to bring your own camping gear. Lunch and dinner is covered in the cost of the workshop and an outdoor kitchen available for cooking breakfast. Please come prepared for camping and working in all kinds of weather, though work tents will also be provided.

September 29th-October 4th $1200
Email Ariel.schecter@gmail.com or 68pennyg@gmail.com with any questions or to register.

Ariel Schecter: Timber Framer, Designer, Teacher

I grew up in the Hudson River Valley in New York State with aspirations of being an architect, tirelessly obsessed with Knex and Lego projects. I would go on to study structural engineering at Brown University and then become a timber frame carpenter. I enjoy that this trade engages my mind and my hands at the same time.

My carpentry path ultimately led me to central Vermont, where I have lived and practiced timber framing for over a decade. https://www.woodpecker-llc.com/

Timber Frame Enclosure

photo: Ashley Malcolm

taught by Mark Whitman

In this workshop, we’ll be “closing in” a 12x16 timber frame that was just created the week before. Our approach will be to make the cabin interior beautiful and cozy, while making the exterior weatherproof and long-lasting. It takes a lot of work to finish and insulate even a small building, and we may not finish the whole job, but we’ll cover all aspects of creating a sound building envelope.

Topics we’ll cover: measuring, marking and layout, carpenter math, fasteners, common wood species and their uses, use of transit and level, installing a window, hanging a door, installing metal roofing, trim and siding.

Tools we’ll use: skilsaw, jigsaw, hammer, impact driver, finish gun, tape measure, speed square, framing square, foam gun, level, transit, various ladders and staging.

Materials involved: pine paneling, rigid insulation, dimensional lumber, “channel-drain” roofing, various door and window hardware.

October 6th-11th $1200
Email 68pennyg@gmail.com to register.

Mark Whitman lives in central Vermont and has been a carpenter for over 30 years; long enough to have repaired rotted framing resulting from mistakes he made building his own house. He has worked at shoring up listing woodsheds, renovating a multi-million-dollar mansion, building high-performance energy-efficient homes from the footing trench to the ridge cap, and everything in between.