If I had a hammer…

A course in advanced carpentry at “Wild Abundance” in NC

I have always loved the idea of building things, but I’ve always been nervous about using power tools. Last year, I decided to try to conquer my fears. I took a class in basic carpentry specifically for women at a place called “Wild Abundance” near Asheville, NC. They sent a list of required and recommended tools and I decided to splurge and get ALL of them. The most basic tools (and the ones used all the time) turned out to be REALLY basic…a speed square, measuring tape, and carpenter’s pencil.

I also got myself a really nice Makita cordless drill and impact driver (which is kind of like a screwdriver on steroids,) a cordless circular saw and a whole lot of other accoutrements I was sure would come in handy.

I drove down to North Carolina, learned some things (and it really WAS basic…they started with “how to use a tape measure”) and came home with a bit more confidence and a hand-made shelf.

But I wanted more. Specifically, I wanted to build a shed for our backyard to replace the crappy snap-together Rubbermaid monstrosity with the leaking roof and door that kept coming off the hinges. So I signed up for the “advanced” class, where we would actually build a structure from start to finish. I was not disappointed.

Wild Abundance has a new campus, which is a work in progress. It’s outdoors, with several brand-new timber-framed structures and stunning scenery. A great place to work and learn!

The class started with a review of all the power tools we had learned about last time.

We began with the floor…actually with the skids that go under the floor. This is so you can easily move and support the building after it’s constructed. The flooring is glued down before screwing it into the joists.

Of course, we had plans to follow. And we learned how to adapt and modify those plans, according to the wishes (and whims) of the client. We were building this shed at the request of one of the instructors, who was going to install it on her own property. There were plenty of jokes about how “picky” the client was. 🙄🤣

We learned how to build the front and back walls and how to install and support them. Side walls went up after. Levels were used and I learned how to do a proper “toe-screw.”

There was a demonstration of how to install a window…and I actually think I could do it myself.

Many people brought their own tools with them, but the school has a huge inventory of every tool you could possibly need.

We moved on to installing plywood sheathing and learning how to cut and place it properly on the studs. Metal flashing was used along the seams and I got to use my new hammer. 🔨

The joists for the roof had to be specially notched, which was a very particular job involving some free-cuts with a circular saw. I did not do those, but I found out that they make MINI circular saws, which look much easier to handle. The roof also had spacers on the sides, which had to be ripped at an angle using a table saw. Not a job for amateurs; we let the instructors handle that! It was really fun to watch it all come together.

On the last day of class, we gathered for a “closing circle” where we could share our thoughts, suggestions and ideas. The other group had built a sauna, which looked MUCH more difficult! So many angles!

As usual I had brought knitting to keep myself occupied during any down time. I decided to make each instructor a hat as a thank-you gift. They came out really well.

I had a fantastic experience at Wild Abundance and now feel confident I can build the shed of my dreams …or, at least a shed that will work for my backyard!