Chop Wood, Make Stuff, Know Tree.

Step away from the screen.
Learn the art of woodworking and the satisfaction of creating with your hands.

Learn from master carpenter, Mike Yaker.

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Chief Badaxe The Speaking Tree

Also known as Mike Yaker

With over 30 years of experience as a carpenter, artist, and instructor, Mike Yaker channels his passion to teach and inspire creativity through woodworking. He mastered finish carpentry before transitioning to timber framing, barn restoration, and the traditional craft of shaping wood by hand with an axe. Now known as Chief Bad Axe The Speaking Tree, Mike shares his love for woodworking to inspire others to Chop Wood, Make Stuff, and Know Tree.

Introduction to Timber Framing

Learn the essentials of timber framing, from design and planning to tools, layout methods, and materials. This hands-on workshop teaches you to lay out and cut joinery using traditional hand tools, giving you the skills to start building your own timber frame.

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Intro to Woodworking for Kids - Ages 6 and Up

Learn woodworking skills that build character, discipline, and patience. In this hands-on class, students learn safe use of tools like knives, axes, saws, drills, hammers, and tape measures while crafting a project from start to finish. Adult accompaniment recommended for students under 8.

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Three Tool Stool

In the Three Tool Stool Workshop, you’ll use an Axe, Auger, and Saw to craft a three-legged stool. Learn to source materials, shape wood, crosscut, drill mortices, and maintain your tools. Open to ages 8 and up, with adult supervision recommended for children under 12.

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Tables & Benches

Working primarily with handtools, this class is great for beginners and experienced woodworkers. Students will have an opportunity to design and build their own table or bench. Materials will provided in class for demonstration and joinery practice. Material to build your own Table or bench is not included in class price, options will be discussed.

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Wood Spoons

Learn to make a wooden spoon using simple tools and techniques. Perfect for beginners, this class includes all materials and step-by-step guidance to help you create your own unique spoon.

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Benefits of Woodworking

The smell of the wood, the sense of accomplishment, to be able to create gifts for oneself and your loved ones – it’s priceless.

Woodworking teaches us to exercise our creative muscles, problem-solve, and develop lifelong skills while planning, organizing, and executing meaningful work.

Discovering the intelligence of our hands reminds us that it is the use of our hands that separates and elevates humans from all other lifeforms on this planet.

Our classes are designed for inclusion and wide accessibility for people of all ages. To inspire imagination, sign up for one of our workshops designed to awaken the creative spirit in us all!

Oh To Bring an Axe To Be!
To hear it sing!
Ancient Forest Song!

What Students Are Saying..

Hey. This is Andrew from the class this past Saturday. I wanted to give you feedback about the class.

I’ve been going through a rough patch myself. My wife suggested this class to get me out of the house and active again. The class nailed it on all points. I have been looking for something to occupy my mind and hands and this class helped give me that opportunity. I have wanted to do something like this for years but didn’t have the confidence to just do it.

I look forward to future classes you may offer.