Learn how to build with timber
Published
Monday 24 February, 2025
Updated
Monday 24 February, 2025
Locals in Faversham can learn traditional timber building skills whilst helping to build a barn for an off-grid forest farm, thanks to a grant from Swale Borough Council.
Tree of Life Veganics, a small business and community group based at Tree of Life Farm in Selling, received £7,000 from the council’s Rural Swale Small Business Grant, funded by the UK Government.
The pole barn build will be built in a series of workshops open to locals who want to learn the transferable skills of timber building and woodcraft.
They have partnered with local a woodsman, Steve Beaumont of Summer and Winter Services, to offer the free workshops to volunteer builders.
The barn will provide shelter for a range of community activities on the farm, including talks, tours, volunteer days and workshops in veganic and forest farming (a type of agroforestry), willow basketry, and foraging and farming in harmony with nature.
The barn will also enable future construction projects on the farm, by storing wood, and create more opportunities for volunteers to get involved and learn.
Tree of Life Veganics is creating a sustainable off-grid farm and sells their produce locally – willow, herbal teas, flowers, dried fruit and tonics/juices - and conducts farm tours and educational activities with local children and other volunteers.
The group practices no-till farming creating a wildlife haven on the land, they combine trees with other crops to make the soil healthier and the crops more resilient to extreme weather.
Cllr Monique Bonney, chair of the Regeneration and Property Committee, said:
“This is a very unique project, and we are happy to be able to help them with their mission of sustainable farming and education through our rural grant scheme.
“As a council we understand the importance of skills development and try to facilitate upskilling as much as possible - learning new things, such as carpentry, can open up so many doors for people and help them begin a fulfilling career.
“If you are interested, please reach out to the farm and see if you can get involved, not only will you learn new skills but you will also meet like-minded people and help a local small business.”
Jo Kidd, owner of Tree of Life Veganics, said:
“We are including community workshops as part of our pole barn build, engaging local people and enabling them to learn new skills in green wood building, timber framed building, woodcraft and other low impact building techniques.
“We open our farm to many different people - local school visits, wildlife walks and talks, spiritual and well-being gatherings, agroforestry and other farm tours and work in a collaborative way in partnership with other local, ethical businesses, growers, bakers, cafes and shops.”
If you would like to get involved contact Tree of Life Veganics here -
Facebook and Instagram: @treeoflifeveganics or email: jo@treeoflifeveganics.org
