News

An international team of 100 timber framers and local volunteers are working at the Northmoor Trust (England) between July 8-24 to build a douglas fir timber frame for new offices. Among the participants: ED Joel McCarty who sends the following report:

Here we are mid-span of our two-week event in Little Whittenham. The weekend warriors have all arrived (framers from around the UK and Austria! who could only come for a bit) swelling our numbers to 100. Chips are flying all over the site and real progress is being made. I am frequently asked if we are on schedule, and the answer is .... sort of. Some bits are ahead of where we thought, and some behind; so on average, and if the weather continues to be as brilliant as it has been (though a little cooler would be okay), we should be good to go with the crane on Thursday.

As you look through the images that follow, remember that nearly all the participants in this event have come together without compensation in the service of a higher idea; the pleasure of honorable work, done well, in good company. It is really quite something to behold. Unlike most other job sites you have been on, there appears to be no cursing or skiving, no discernable hierarchy of haves and have nots, no masters and apprentices, little chaos, and abundant good cheer. These are the best people I know, and we should all be grateful for their individual contributions to the success of this remarkable building project.

Photos by Joel McCarty
Click on any photo for a larger view

Friend in tiara and Bob Smith.	Norman Guiver	Tim Whitehouse
Adrian Jones	Donna Williams.	Whit Holder.
Project leader Henry Russell and passenger.	Darryl Weiser.	Steve Turner, Higgs Murphy.
Norman Guiver, Bob Smith.	Darren Aspinall, Rachel Slater.	Rainy Day Team Leader Meeting.
Final Group Shot