Woodland Working Party!

[Dave Budd]

After the success of my last working party back in the spring lots of folk have said that they would like to come along next time. Well, I finally have the date for the next one and half a plan as to what I would like to get done

The general plan is to get a group of willing folk together in my woods for the weekend and get stuck into some of those jobs that either take me all winter to do on my own or simply require extra hands. Then on Saturday evening we have a jolly good knees up around the campfire!

The date of the gathering is the weekend of the 26th-27th of November, though folk are welcome to arrive of the friday if they like.

The location is, fairy obviously, my woods near Cheirton Bishop (about 15 miles west of Exeter).

The plan of action will depend partly on whether the rain stops for long enough in the meantime for me to get some building materials into the woods. Some of the ideas below are based on having the building materials and others are incase we don't have them. so here are some ideas:

Extend my outdoor forge area (poles and roof on two sides)
Build 2 extra Roman/Saxon forges
Make bellows for the forges
Clear the top ride through the woods
Thin some more of the willow coppice that was started last time
Make a couple more shaving brakes
Make a group dining table and benches
Make a pole lathe or two

Obviously I don't expect to get all of those things done, but it's good to have a dream. One thing that I do insist happens is that folk enjoy themselves!

I've most of the tools for the work involved, but if I think of something that I don't have but might need I will post a request. Which leads me on to ask if anybody coming along has any special skills that they think might be useful?

I've a list of nearby accomodation for the wimps, but everyone else is welcome to camp in the woods. Plenty of space for hammocks or tents, but please remember that it is a 1/2 mile carry/wheelbarrow from where we park to the woods. So no stupid inflatable tents or trailers full of junk please As for food, please cater for yourselves but I will pick up something for all to tuck into as well on saturday night (a bit like the hangi idea at the BCUK bushmoot).

Please sign up here or drop me a pm if you are interested in coming along (even if can only come for some of it, you are more than welcome!).

Many thanks to all who came last time and I hope this one will be as much fun!

 

[The Big Lebowski]

Me and Dave53 discussed this recently... so you can provissionally add two

Will you be providing some dragon dribble, as per moot?

 

[mrcairney]

Ah, now that would be well worth me coming too. It'd stop me emailing you with questions! I wonder though, if anyone is going down from north of birmingham prepared to pick up a hitcher who will go halves on petrol?

 

[dave53]

seconded by dave 53 regards dave:theyareon

 

[Dave Budd]

a little update on activities for the weekend

Alex, my charcoal man (Chew Valley Charcoal, as seen at the wilderness gathering, etc) has said that if folk are willing to help ferry wood to the kiln then he will get a burn going during the weekend. So it's likely that if you are interested in seeing how a FULL SIZED charcoal burn is carried out then you will be able to at my place! Quite a rare opportunity for most this one!

At present I have many piles of wood waiting to be moved but they are on the wrong side ofa bank, so a vehicle can't be used to get the woods out. So it will be a simple case of a human chain to move some wood around. Many hands will make light work of it believe me The resulting charcoal will be used in my forges during coruses and shows next year, but I'm sure that I can find enough spare to fuel a decent BBQ over the weekend!

 

[markphelan]

This sounds like a superb weekend but unfortunately I already have plans, otherwise I'd have certainly been down for the weekend (and could've given mrcairney a lift too!).

I'll keep an eye out for the next one - save me a sack of charcoal!!

 

[Imagedude]

I'll be there, can bring power tools if required.

 

[Dave Budd]

be good to have you along Bob!

not sure what's going to be needed in way of tools, but I'll let you know if anything occurs to me. I would think I have it all covered, even if the power is human rather than electrical.

 

[the interceptor boy]

if I can get time in Nov then I come, I am off for a few day from the 15to18. I have to talk to my straight talking boss. cheers Hans

 

[Totumpole]

Sounds like a brilliant weekend, unfortunately I'm on night shifts
Maybe next year

 

[Imagedude]

Only 3 weeks away now, let's hope it snows!

 

[Dave Budd]

oh crickey, only three weeks away! I need to get some stuff prep'd!

i've been concentrating on getting stuff done for the Belgium knife show this coming weekend and had put the working partyon the back burner. Will post a sketchy plan up here over the next couple days and then when I get back next week flesh things out

All is still on as far as my original plans goes, though I suspect that if the weather it miserable or trecherous we should just sit around the fire and eat cake!

 

[steviesun]

If we don't just eat cake, I'm planning on buying some venison.

Just thought I'd drop in and see who's joining us for the weekend. So, I'm making homemade alcoholic ginger beer, cake and buying some venison too. Am I tempting anyone else?

 

[Dave Budd]

The time is nearly upon us, so I guess I should get more info (and directions!) out to you all I've been a bit preoccupied with the last show (and some other things too), so my apologies for not updating this earlier.

I'll sort out which projects will be worked on first when we get to the weekend, based on the weather, materials on hand and who is available for what work. Here is what I have planned (in a rough order of priority):

1) Help Alex with the charcoal burn (Alex is the best collier I've come across and runs courses making charcoal, so its a great opportunity for those interested). Mostly ferrying wood, but also stacking the kiln followed by unloading and grading the charcoal.
2) Clear the top ride through the woods. Wion't take long, it's a short stretch of scrubby growth
3) Gather and cut firewood I've a saw horse set up (plus one for a chainsaw), but we could build another, otherwise its bowsaws and barrows, but there is alot of seasoned wood around that needs stacking up.
4) Extend the outdoor workshop I've got the wood, for the frame, but no roofing yet (I'm on the look out for some old tin, but might end up having to buy new)
5) Make bellows and at least one forge I've got the materials and the building of bellows is simple but I'm often asked how they work
6) Build benches and table I'll put some books out and point folk in the direction of wood, but the design and structure is up to you lot There are a few on the list of volunteers who have some previous experience, so if anybody has a bright idea then let me know!
7) Open up the shooting range I've been meaning to open or move the archery range so I can make better use of it.

We have some lumps of meaty goodness on order from the butcher, so they can be buried in a hot hole or stuck on embers (pit oven or BBQ) and I might be able to find some beverages to lubricate the workers after dark. So at least I have a little something in a way of a bribe, but obviously there is plenty of fire around if you want to cook on it yourselves. Camping areas are plentiful, as are hammocking trees. The parachute will be up with a constant fire underneath so we should be OK whatever the weather.

I've been through the posts above and put together this list of interested folk (there are a few more who have contacted me via pm too):


The Big Lebrowsky
Dave53
Imagedude


I'll go through the list and pm's this evening and send you all directions

If you would like to come and haven't signed up yet, then please do so and I'll send you directios too. Car sharing would be good if people are able to. I'm going to have a word with a friendly farmer about a parking field, but if it doesn't happen there is a limited amount of verge to park on.

thanks again folks

 

[Dave Budd]

Right, a quick update on parking

I've spoken to the friendly farmer who has the fields surrounding Dabby Lane (where we normally park). Since there are going to be quite a few cars arriving I thought it might be nice to leave some space in the lane for the local doggers (sorry dog walkers). So the lane as described in the directions is for over flow parking. The area we have set aside in his field is through the gate at the top corner of Dabby Lane (before you turn the corner and go down the mud track). Go through the gate (it will be closed but not locked) and park in the COMPOUND, I'll put signs up there.

It's important that you park in the compound and NOT just in the field/hardstanding. If you do and you are in the way, then the farmer WILL move your car with his large tractor! Take heed of that, this is the friendly farmer who drags trailers through hedges and took a chunk out of the bridge a few years back! Once the compound is full, then park in the lane as orignally planned

Looks to be a good gathering!

 

[Tadpole]

What a great time was had by all, the welcome was great, the food was great, and the people were as nice as you could possibly want to meet. Even the working part of it was great, chop wood, make fire, build shelter, drink forge water, eat cake.
Dave what a blinder of a weekend, I’m so looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to all the guinea pigs who tasted my experimental bottle of ‘booze’. Hopefully most of you will have survived to tell the tale.

 

[Imagedude]

2 days isn't long enough, we need a full week next year.

 

[Dave Budd]

oddly Bob somebody else suggested the same thing! Maybe I should think about doing that in the spring?

I went out today to take the 'chute down and it was too wet to store, so I left it for a drier day. It did look a funny shape with the wind and rain on it though! I hope it's still there when the dry day comes!