Of Women, Work and Wheels
Under the Greenwood trees...
Soup, saws, sex, sore muscles and sunshine. That’s the digested read for last Saturday’s Red Tent crafting day! Seven of us gathered: Sam, Ronnie, Martin, Sue, Debbie, Kes and Linda. We decided to concentrate on preparing the 35 poles for steaming (including 3 spares), They were sawn to length and reduced in width, then planed and finished with draw knives and spoke shaves.
wiggly poles
We shared a luscious lunch of soups, salads, savouries and sweet things before really hitting the production line and trying to get 16 of the poles finished completely. Despite the pressure, draw knife workers found themselves drawn into a leisurely and Beltane-inspired seasonal conversation round the subject of sex (whilst some us worked with power tools in a cut-off world of our own under goggles and ear-defenders!) And we achieved our goal! All the poles are now stripped, cut to length and sawn. Half of them are finished completely and next Saturday we will polish off the last 19 poles and also make the former so that we are ready for the grand steaming day on May 13th.
Ronnie power planing
Meanwhile down in Dorset, Toby and Sarah had met the day before to steam the wheel rim. Both on Friday in Dorset and Saturday in Devon, we had no rain to dampen our endeavours. Which was a small miracle since the days before and after were wild, wet, windy and would have made work almost impossible. So the elements are with us so far and the Red Tent is becoming a reality.
wooden production line
Last week also, Sue, Ronnie and Sam met up with Dee and Kay to discuss the finer points of the groundsheet, canvas cover, door frame and flap, flashings for the wood-burning stove, cap, fastening, tension straps and belts and other intricacies of the tent design. We came away with a clear picture and a skip in our step!
Roof wheel rim steamed and bent
On Sunday, at our Beltane gathering, a number of new Wood Sisters joined for the first time and have volunteered to help in a various ways with the Red Tent. We will need lots of rugs, blankets, throws, cushions, (all red) benches, stools, small chairs (wooden) etc so that at Quest and WSF this year, the inside of the tent feels warm and cosy and comfortable. Then over the next year or two, we can work on felt hangings, greenwood seating, decorations, sculptures and perhaps even weave our own carpet flooring, who knows?
good to have a stash of draw knives in your boot...
If you’d like a last chance to help with the frame before the glorious steam bend, we are gathering at Sue’s house (Green Dragon Barn, Hutcherleigh, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7AD) from 9.30 – 5.30 on Saturday 5th May – you can come along for the whole day and have a bring and share lunch or just pop in for an hour and do your bit! All welcome, including family and friends whatever gender!
Sam amid the shavings
Directions are:
A381, Kingsbrige Hill, out of Totnes towards Kingsbridge. Through Harbertonford and Halwell. Straight past the BP station at Totnes Cross (don’t take left turn to Dartmouth), then 50 yards on, take the second of 2 small unmarked turnings left up through a tunnel of trees. Left at the top small crossroads, and less than a mile down the road, first right to Hutcherleigh (straight on down the hill). At the bottom T-junction, turn left and Green Dragon Barn is the third on the right.
And if you get lost Sue’s number is 01548 521207.
Finishing off
Interestingly the sore muscles were from wielding the heavy power tools not from the hand tools, although these Red Tent days do leave us all with a glow of satisfaction from outdoor physical work with our hands that includes a sense of having stretched ourselves a bit! There is now a real thrill of excitement as the work reaches the critical stage where some dreams and tree trunks are about to become a vibrant, red, hand-made, portable sanctuary space for myth, meditation, mysteries, crafts, conversation and many a cup of tea.
sawing to length
The Red Tent Roof Wheel Rim