Women’s Carpentry Course
Unlock the skills to build your own projects with confidence in this Women’s Carpentry Course. Designed for women of all skill levels, this 4-day workshop introduces essential carpentry techniques that are fundamental to constructing shelters and small timber-framed structures.
No experience is necessary. This course is exclusively for women and fosters a supportive and empowering environment for learning.
This popular introductory course is for women who feel they lack the carpentry that invariably belongs to all building projects.
Over the four days of this course you will be led through all processes involved in constructing a building, from sub flooring to roofing, working on a small timber framed structure. No experience necessary. The course is for women only.
Course Dates 2025
February – [Twyi Centre] 24th – 27th
April – [Twyi Centre] 1st -4th
April: 8th-11th
June: 3rd-6th
July: 8th-11th
August:
12th-15th
26th-29th
September: 23rd-26th
October: TBC
What you will learn
You will learn through practice how to construct:
- a sub floor
- stud wall
- windows and door frames
- roof structure
- hang a door
- put in windows
- lay a floor
- clad the structure
- applying roof material
The course will also include:
- theory on how the parts of this structure would relate to other structures, for example straw bale, earth and stone buildings.
- working with power tools: i.e. circular saws, chop saws and jig saws
- hand tools and their maintenance
- making a cutting list and pricing up your project
Natural Building
The natural building aspect of this course is in regards to the knowledge of your tutor in natural building techniques and that we use green local rough sawn timber. We will go through natural building details in theory sessions only. The work itself is standard carpentry, exactly what you also need, but often not taught, in the natural building world. About 50% of natural builders are women, and many do not have any carpentry skills – a frustrating limitation to a crafts-woman. This course is about changing that.
If you are not a natural builder, you are very welcome too!
You will need
- Clothing and Footwear: Please wear suitable work clothes and steel toe cap shoes/boots (wellies are not suitable).
- Safety Equipment: Ear protectors are required. Fingerless work gloves and a tool belt are recommended.
- Tools: You need to bring your own cordless combination drill and a set of hand tools. Details about theses required tools will be provided in the information email after you sign up. These are the basic tools needed to practice the carpentry skills you will learn.
If you have any questions about the items listed above, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Course Instructor
Sara Tommerup: Sara is a natural builder and carpenter with a broad range of experience within the different natural building techniques spanning earth, straw, stone, wood and lime. Sara has learnt from many different natural builders around the world. She also holds a MSc in Architecture.
Venue/Accommodation
Coed Talylan
Coed Talylan is a 70-acre woodland situated on the western edge of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), nestled below the Iron Age hill fort of Garn Goch in the foothills of the Black Mountain. This secluded and peaceful location provides an ideal setting for course participants to immerse themselves in nature and engage in hands-on learning experiences.
Participants are invited to camp around our guest lodge, an A-frame wooden cabin equipped with a kitchen and dining/living space. The site features running filtered spring water, compost toilets, and wash facilities to ensure a comfortable stay. Please bring your own camping equipment. We also accommodate small campervans; please contact us for more information. Participants are welcome to arrive on the afternoon of the day before the course begins.
Meals:
All meals are provided during the course, with a focus on organic and home-grown ingredients, offering a wholesome dining experience that complements the natural surroundings. We cater for dietary requirements not preferences, all food will be primarily vegan.
Transportation:
We encourage eco-friendly travel and offer a 10% discount for those using public transport to reach the venue. The rail service to Llangadog is part of the historic “Heart of Wales Line,” running from Shrewsbury to Swansea. For participants arriving by train or bus, we provide a collection service from Llangadog at set times; please contact us for more details.
For any additional information or specific inquiries regarding the venue or accommodation, please reach out to us at info@coedtalylan.org.uk or call 07808168562
Twyi Centre
For the “Carpentry for Women Natural Builders” course held at the Tywi Centre in Llandeilo, Wales, please note that accommodation is not provided as part of this course. Participants are responsible for arranging their own lodging and meals during the course.
The Tywi Centre is a dedicated facility focused on traditional building skills and sustainable construction practices. It offers a conducive learning environment equipped with the necessary tools and resources for hands-on carpentry training.
For accommodation, Llandeilo and the surrounding areas offer a variety of options, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, and guesthouses. Participants are encouraged to book their accommodations in advance to ensure availability during the course dates.
For more information about the Tywi Centre, please visit their website.
Booking and Paying for your place
To book a place on the course use the link below to complete the booking form. The course fee is paid by bank transfer and details are provided when you checkout the booking form. It is possible to pay by installments, just contact us to arrange this. Your place is reserved once we received payment, either in full or the first installments. The course requires a lot of initial material costs and planning. Therefore, please be sure you can commit to the course dates as there is a cancellation fee of £75 and the course fee must be paid in full at least 4 weeks before the course starts, and after this date we will not be able to refund you the course fee.
There is s 20% discount for CTLT Members.
If the course date is fully booked you can join a waiting list by filling out the booking form just hold off any payment until we have notified you of a space available.
BOOK NOW
We now have a facebook page to connect those interested in carpentry opportunities for women: