Preparing the tent frame
Working the poles
Saturday 3rd March the Wood Sisters met up again with Toby Fairlove to learn how to strip and prepare the ash poles of the Red Tent for steam bending. The sun was shining, our enthusiasm was high and the second stage of making the red tent began.
Collecting Shavehorses
First we collected shave horses from South Devon Steiner School, with grateful thanks to Almut, the Woodwork teacher, who also lent us her draw knives. Soon we were all enjoying the spring sunshine, cutting the poles to length, gripping them in the shave horses and using the draw knives to remove the bark.
Izzy, Lisa & Linda
Bark removal is a simple and meditative activity compared to the next stage where the bottom foot of the pole, which will fit into the groundsheet, and the three foot above it which will be steam bent to create the dome of the alachigh, needs to be turned into a piece of 2 by 1″ the old fashioned way in order to make it thin enough to bend… this requires some determination, a good eye, careful measurements and more elbow grease! The bark came off like a knife through butter and revealed the pleasingly white wood underneath. The shaping of that wood was an altogether tougher task, but not without its satisfaction. Spoke shaves were used, as well as draw knives, for a smooth finish.
Shaping the pole
Toby demonstrated for us with the skill of a master yurt maker and we got stuck in.
Learning from Toby
While we worked hard on reducing curves to straight lines, Toby took the piece of 30 year old ash he had ordered from Anton Coker at Sherberton Farm up at Hexworthy on Dartmoor and began to create the lengths of wood that would form the rim of the wheel.
Wheel ash
Eyeing up the ash
More Wood Sisters arrived throughout the day, and at least one Wood Boy had a go too (thanks, Tam)! We soon had an impressive line of women on shave horses working away – thanks you to all who came and helped to shape the Red Tent.
Serenity the cat helps out
We had a delicious bring and share lunch and plenty of cups of tea all day. By the end we had stripped 17 poles out of 20 and finished shaping 7. There will need to be another day to achieve the first 20 completed poles for steaming before our steam day in Dorset on Saturday 31st March.
Stripped poles
We will meet again in Dartington n Mothering Sunday, 18th March to complete the task. All willing workers welcome – bring lunch to share. At 2.30pm on that day, a car with three people will head off to Powderham Woods to cut the chestnut spokes of the wheel with Toby and then return to help finish the poles.
If you’d like to help on Sunday do let Sam (livingspirit@btinternet.com) or Sue (charman.sue@gmail.com) know and we’ll look forward to seeing you. If enough people volunteer, we might even get ahead and start some of the second 20 poles that need to be ready for steaming on 13th May. We will have another pole lathing day on April 14th if you can’t make Sunday 18th March.
Women at work
It was a special day and we were blessed with great weather and even lovelier companionship. As an extension of the craft work that has always been part of the Wood Sisters, this creation of our own portable sanctuary is a challenge against the clock and also a real opportunity to work with our hands, heads and hearts, together and towards an inspiring goal.
Squared off
We still need more funds to be able to finish the tent, so if anyone has any ideas for fund-raising efforts or could make a donation or knows someone who might, do let Sue or Sam know. Thanks!
See you all on Sunday 18th or if not, at our Spring Equinox meeting on Saturday 24th March, perhaps?
Triumphant pole lathers