Cruising for Poles

All-Day Workshop — February 24, 2024

Round poles and locally milled wood from sustainably managed forests provide the bones for a simple climate-resilient architecture. As part of a reciprocal relationship with forested landscapes, building with locally-harvested materials reduces GHG emissions in both manufacturing and transportation.

Spring is the time to select and harvest poles.

At this workshop you will learn:

  • how to identify useable poles in the forest, based on intended uses

  • selection of poles based on additional criteria, such as oak woodland restoration and habitat improvement

  • how to harvest and cure poles

  • basic principles of design and building with poles

Workshop Leaders

Colin Gillespie

Colin has worked in the construction trades for over 20 years. He has training and experience in eco-forestry, permaculture design and natural building, as well as a degree in sociology. He has pioneered combining the benefits of modern and ancient techniques in elegant round-pole timber frames with straw-bale infill, adding to his extensive experience in clay and lime plasters, sculpted cob, and waxed earthen floors. His highly efficient, healthy homes are designed for living in harmony with nature.

Gray Shaw

Gray is an arborist with over 40 years of experience in the Bay Area, along with training in permaculture and ecology. He is a board member of the Institute for Sustainable Forestry in Redway and gives public workshops on making biochar from forest waste. He has been restoring the forest where he lives for 14 years from the impacts of logging and fire suppression.

Where: 4681 Seely Creek Rd (5 miles from Briceland Rd)

Time: 9am-4:30  Vegetarian Lunch provided, please RSVP

RSVP & Cost: $75 — Click here to sign up. Camping is free and available the night before and after event.  Questions? gray@blackripple.com

How does pole harvest relate to biochar? Good question.

Pole harvesting leaves behind all the branches and tops of the trees that are cut to produce the poles. This material is an ideal size to use for making biochar. Typically, the branches and tops will be added to material gathered from the surrounding area and made into biochar at the same time. Green, living fir brush burns quite well because of its embedded resins and fine texture. It will just make a little more smoke than dry material does.

T. Gray Shaw