One of the highlights for the summer is the CELT Weekend in the Woods. This is the fifth year of this unique event that takes place in the beautiful Bealkelly woods on the shores of Loch Derg, Co. Clare. Woodcarving, herb-lore, rustic-furniture, tipi-making, natural building, basketry, blacksmith, bushcraft, kids camp and my own course, Yurt Wheel Construction, all took place once again last weekend.
*Right: pitching a tipi at CELT *
The woods are owned by Del Harding who first agreed to host the CELT weekends after the 2001 Ecotopia festival was staged there.
- Del Harding (with baron) in the Big Lodge*
Put together, the traditional skills covered by the CELT weekends supply much of what we will need to know in a post-peak world. From charcoal-making for the forge, the manufacture of drawknives by the blacksmith which are then used by the wood-workers to make everything else, we have right there the makings of the post-industrial society, providing shelter, tools and many other essential crafts from natural materials.
*steam-bent ash for yurt wheel clamped on frame
Its a great weekend, an opportunity to meet up with old and new friends, learn new skills and enjoy the woods and the lake. Many thanks to the organizers, and thanks to my dedicated students Davie and Amber who went beyond the call of duty, steam-bending until 9.30 on Saturday evening!
Hi Graham,
A great weekend – enjoyed chatting to you about faeries & other weighty matters
All in the polyculture of ideas, eh?
I have some photos up from the Herb Lore course with Kes, which was excellent. There are some from our visit to Irish Seedsavers too. Here they are: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/osullivan.mark
see you at the next one,
Mark
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