In-Person & Online Carpentry Courses (NEW no index)
Few things are more empowering than building your own home or adding personal improvements to the one you already have—our carpentry courses are here to help! With carpentry know-how, you’ll have the skills to fix things around the house and live each day surrounded by reflections of your own creativity and resourcefulness.
Home construction classes & in person and online carpentry courses that give you the skills to build your dream home.
All Carpentry & Woodworking Courses
You can browse all of our carpentry & woodworking courses here, or learn more details about each below.
Women’s Basic Carpentry
Tiny House Workshop
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Handy Homeowner Bootcamp
Four Month In-Person Carpentry School
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Adult Beginner Woodworking
Women’s Advanced Carpentry
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Timber Framing Classes
Tiny House Academy
Online Power and Hand Tool Training
Living in a Tiny House
Woodworking & Carpentry Courses for Beginners
Women’s Carpentry Classes
Our Women’s Basic Carpentry Class is a four-day, hands-on workshop near Asheville, NC that teaches women and non-binary folks foundational carpentry skills in a welcoming, low-stress environment. Through demos, short lectures, and lots of tool time, students get comfortable using hand and power tools while working on real-world projects in an outdoor woodshop. Instructors emphasize tool safety, confidence-building, and body-aware techniques, so beginners can genuinely thrive.
What You’ll learn:
- Safe, confident use of hand & power tools like saws, drills & drivers
- Accurate measuring, marking cuts, and basic lumber selection
- Planning and building a simple personal woodworking project
- Practicing carpentry skills on real-world group projects
- Building confidence with tools and working in a supportive crew
who this class is for:
This class is designed for women (including trans women) and non-binary people who want a friendly, non-macho place to get comfortable with tools. It’s perfect whether you’ve never picked up a power tool before or have done some DIY and want safer technique, better ergonomics, and more confidence, alongside a diverse group of peers of all ages. If you dream of tackling household repairs, building small projects, or eventually moving on to advanced carpentry or tiny house building, this course gives you a solid, supportive starting point.
Women’s Carpentry Classes
Our Women’s Basic Carpentry Class is a four-day, hands-on workshop near Asheville, NC that teaches women and non-binary folks foundational carpentry skills in a welcoming, low-stress environment. Through demos, short lectures, and lots of tool time, students get comfortable using hand and power tools while working on real-world projects in an outdoor woodshop. Instructors emphasize tool safety, confidence-building, and body-aware techniques, so beginners can genuinely thrive.
What You’ll learn:
- Safe, confident use of hand & power tools like saws, drills & drivers
- Accurate measuring, marking cuts, and basic lumber selection
- Planning and building a simple personal woodworking project
- Practicing carpentry skills on real-world group projects
- Building confidence with tools and working in a supportive crew
who this class is for:
This class is designed for women (including trans women) and non-binary people who want a friendly, non-macho place to get comfortable with tools. It’s perfect whether you’ve never picked up a power tool before or have done some DIY and want safer technique, better ergonomics, and more confidence, alongside a diverse group of peers of all ages. If you dream of tackling household repairs, building small projects, or eventually moving on to advanced carpentry or tiny house building, this course gives you a solid, supportive starting point.
All Gender’s Carpentry Classes
Our Adult Beginner Woodworking Class is a four-day, hands-on camp near Asheville, NC where adults learn foundational carpentry and tool skills in a relaxed outdoor woodshop. Through short demos and lots of guided practice, you’ll get familiar with both hand tools and power tools while working on real projects instead of scrap. The focus is on safety, good ergonomics, and building confidence so you leave ready to tackle simple projects at home.
What You’ll learn:
- Choosing the right tool for common carpentry tasks
- Measuring, marking, and cutting lumber accurately
- Safely using power saws, drills, and other key tools
- Understanding basic wood properties and how to select boards
- Designing and building a simple personal project to take home
who this class is for:
This class is for adult beginners who feel curious about woodworking, whether you’ve never touched a saw or have only dabbled with DIY projects. It’s ideal if you want to feel safer and more confident using power tools, planning projects, and talking with contractors or more experienced builders. Students of many ages and backgrounds attend, and the teaching style is supportive, inclusive, and geared toward different learning styles.
Handy Homeowner Bootcamp
The Handy Homeowner Bootcamp is a four-day, in-person home improvement intensive near Asheville, NC that blends renovation and home maintenance skills. Through demos, short lectures, and plenty of hands-on practice, you’ll tackle real projects like flooring, tile, and simple repairs instead of just theory. The focus is on practical, repeatable skills so you can confidently improve, maintain, and troubleshoot your own home.
What You’ll learn:
- Installing wood flooring and tile with guided, hands-on practice
- Changing light fixtures and basic household electrical
- Basic plumbing repairs like installing faucets and clearing clogs
- Finding studs, hanging shelves and pictures, and patching drywall
- Seasonal maintenance checklists and spotting exterior issues early
who this class is for:
This class is for homeowners and DIY-minded renters of all genders and skill levels who want to feel truly capable caring for their homes. It’s ideal if you’re tired of waiting on contractors for small jobs, want to understand how your home’s systems work, and prefer learning by doing in a supportive, non-intimidating environment. Whether you’re brand-new to tools or already have some experience, you’ll leave with clearer judgment, a practical plan for your own project list, and the confidence to keep learning.
Handy Homeowner Bootcamp
The Handy Homeowner Bootcamp is a four-day, in-person home improvement intensive near Asheville, NC that blends renovation and home maintenance skills. Through demos, short lectures, and plenty of hands-on practice, you’ll tackle real projects like flooring, tile, and simple repairs instead of just theory. The focus is on practical, repeatable skills so you can confidently improve, maintain, and troubleshoot your own home.
What You’ll learn:
- Installing wood flooring and tile with guided, hands-on practice
- Changing light fixtures and basic household electrical
- Basic plumbing repairs like installing faucets and clearing clogs
- Finding studs, hanging shelves and pictures, and patching drywall
- Seasonal maintenance checklists and spotting exterior issues early
who this class is for:
This class is for homeowners and DIY-minded renters of all genders and skill levels who want to feel truly capable caring for their homes. It’s ideal if you’re tired of waiting on contractors for small jobs, want to understand how your home’s systems work, and prefer learning by doing in a supportive, non-intimidating environment. Whether you’re brand-new to tools or already have some experience, you’ll leave with clearer judgment, a practical plan for your own project list, and the confidence to keep learning.
What Our Beginner’s Carpentry Class Students Say
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Sally
Goose Creek, SC
Retired
“My sister and I took the basic carpentry class together—like some of the other students, we’re in our 70’s! We were welcomed into a community of resilient, independent, and caring women. We got to know ladies from different states and countries. We worked hard and learned skills that we took home to perfect. It was one of the most satisfying experiences! I will no longer fear power tools… although I’ll always respect them. I wish I’d taken this class earlier in my life!”
Leslie
Virginia
College Worker
“I came here with absolutely no experience—I had never touched a power tool—and yet this was the most affirming and supportive environment I’ve ever experienced. Thank you, Wild Abundance. I will always remember this.”
Anne
Staten Island, NY
Retired Nurse Practitioner
“This class had a fabulous atmosphere and was a supportive learning experience. Turns out I’ve been using tools wrong for many decades…I was so thankful to have someone look at what I was doing and give me expert instruction. I learned an enormous amount and will be forever grateful for this opportunity. “
Deanna
Virginia
Massage Therapist and Mother
“I’m a stay-at-home-mom and massage therapist, so using my hands is something I’m really proud of. To be able to use the skills I picked up at Wild Abundance is something I’ll remember forever. If you’re thinking about it, go for it. It’s wonderful time. Life changing, in fact.”
Janie
Nashville, TN
Clinical Mental Health Therapist
“The Women’s Basic Carpentry Class was a phenomenal experience. Never have I been in such a welcoming and affirming space for people of all experience levels—most of us absolute beginners. I learned an incredible amount of skills in only four days, and most importantly, I came away confident to engage immediately in building projects using power tools on my own.”
Julia
Colorado
Marketing Director
“The thing that I’m most thankful about with my experience at Wild Abundance is that it has opened up a whole new world to me through learning a new language, a language of tools, of wood, of carpentry, and of building. Equipped with this new language, I can learn how to build, I can read plans, I can go to the hardware store.”
Charis
Virginia
Insurance IT Systems Integrations
“I’m usually sitting at a desk and it was amazing to work with my hands. I have gained the confidence I need to actually do the projects I want to do.”
Jeanne
Georgia
Project Manager
“The thing I enjoyed most about this class was getting to learn from people who are highly skilled… Now I feel a lot of confidence that I can go home and build another project, solve household problems, and really tackle anything!”
Intensive Carpentry & Woodworking Courses (1 Week-4 Months)
7-Day Timber Framing Workshop
Our Timber Framing Class is a seven-day, in-person workshop near Asheville, NC where you and a crew raise a beautiful timber-framed structure from raw timbers. Through step-by-step demos and plenty of tool time, you’ll learn to lay out, cut, and assemble joinery that needs no metal fasteners. The vibe is hands-on, safety-focused, and collaborative, so you stay engaged while building real skills quickly.
What You’ll learn:
- Laying out, marking, and cutting timbers from plans
- Safely using hand tools and big power tools for timber framing
- Creating precise mortise-and-tenon joints pegged with hardwood
- Reading building plans and understanding basic timber frame design
- Working as a team to assemble and raise a complete timber frame
who this class is for:
These timber framing classes are for motivated owner-builders, aspiring professionals, and carpenters who want to add traditional joinery to their toolkits. You should be ready for a challenge that includes math, angles, and moving hefty timbers, but you don’t need prior timber framing experience. The instructors group students by skill level, so both handy beginners and seasoned builders can participate fully and safely while stretching their skills.
7-Day Timber Framing Workshop
Our Timber Framing Class is a seven-day, in-person workshop near Asheville, NC where you and a crew raise a beautiful timber-framed structure from raw timbers. Through step-by-step demos and plenty of tool time, you’ll learn to lay out, cut, and assemble joinery that needs no metal fasteners. The vibe is hands-on, safety-focused, and collaborative, so you stay engaged while building real skills quickly.
What You’ll learn:
- Laying out, marking, and cutting timbers from plans
- Safely using hand tools and big power tools for timber framing
- Creating precise mortise-and-tenon joints pegged with hardwood
- Reading building plans and understanding basic timber frame design
- Working as a team to assemble and raise a complete timber frame
who this class is for:
These timber framing classes are for motivated owner-builders, aspiring professionals, and carpenters who want to add traditional joinery to their toolkits. You should be ready for a challenge that includes math, angles, and moving hefty timbers, but you don’t need prior timber framing experience. The instructors group students by skill level, so both handy beginners and seasoned builders can participate fully and safely while stretching their skills.
10-Day Tiny House Workshop
Our Tiny House Workshop is a 10-day, in-person intensive near Asheville, NC where you and a crew build a real tiny house from the ground up. The class is paired with lifetime access to a deep online video library, so you can revisit every step as you work on your own project at home. Together, the in-person and online content walk you through everything from foundations and framing to finishes, systems, and design.
What You’ll learn:
- Pier foundations, floor systems, walls, and basic roof framing
- Safe use of hand and power tools on real tiny-house builds
- Designing tiny and small houses that fit your needs and site
- Basics of utilities, building science, and rules for tiny homes
- Reviewing and deepening your skills in the online Tiny House Academy
who this class is for:
This tiny house workshop is for building enthusiasts of all levels who want a thorough, hands-on pathway to building their own small home. It’s a great fit whether you’re a motivated beginner ready to learn tools quickly or an experienced DIYer who wants a more complete, code-savvy understanding of how houses go together. If you’re dreaming of a tiny or not-so-tiny house, or hope to contribute to community housing and disaster relief projects, this immersive course gives you the confidence and practical know-how to move from idea to build.
4-Month Carpentry Training School
Our Carpentry Training Program is a four-month, in-person carpentry school for adults near Asheville, NC where a small crew learns to design and build real projects. For two days each week you’ll frame and finish a tiny house, work on smaller design-build projects, and learn directly from experienced mentors. The program blends hands-on training with assigned lessons from the Online Tiny House Academy so you build both clear understanding and solid muscle memory.
What You’ll learn:
- Core tool safety, use, and on-site workflow
- Framing, sheathing, roofing, siding, and trim basics
- Reading plans, making cut lists, and ordering materials
- Finishing a tiny house interior with paneling, flooring, and details
- Thinking like a builder through problem-solving and project planning
who this class is for:
This carpentry training is for beginner and intermediate adults who are ready to commit two days a week to learning by doing. It’s a great fit if you want to build your own small home, feel confident tackling renovation projects, or explore carpentry as a possible career in a supportive, all-genders environment. You’ll need enthusiasm, reliability, and the physical ability to do hands-on outdoor work with a small team.
4-Month Carpentry Training School
Our Carpentry Training Program is a four-month, in-person carpentry school for adults near Asheville, NC where a small crew learns to design and build real projects. For two days each week you’ll frame and finish a tiny house, work on smaller design-build projects, and learn directly from experienced mentors. The program blends hands-on training with assigned lessons from the Online Tiny House Academy so you build both clear understanding and solid muscle memory.
What You’ll learn:
- Core tool safety, use, and on-site workflow
- Framing, sheathing, roofing, siding, and trim basics
- Reading plans, making cut lists, and ordering materials
- Finishing a tiny house interior with paneling, flooring, and details
- Thinking like a builder through problem-solving and project planning
who this class is for:
This carpentry training is for beginner and intermediate adults who are ready to commit two days a week to learning by doing. It’s a great fit if you want to build your own small home, feel confident tackling renovation projects, or explore carpentry as a possible career in a supportive, all-genders environment. You’ll need enthusiasm, reliability, and the physical ability to do hands-on outdoor work with a small team.
What Our 4-Month Carpentry School Students Say
Online Woodworking & Carpentry Courses
Online Tiny House Academy
The Tiny House Academy is a comprehensive online tiny house building class that walks you from first sketch to finished, livable home. Through dozens of step-by-step video lessons, diagrams, and lectures, you’ll learn how houses go together, no matter their size. Lifetime, go-at-your-own-pace access and monthly office hours mean you can keep learning as you design and build your own project.
What You’ll learn:
- Step-by-step video lessons on tiny and small house building
- Design choices, foundations vs. wheels, framing & basic roof systems
- Installing windows, doors, siding, drywall, and interior trim
- Intros to electrical, plumbing, insulation, and energy-efficient options
- Zoning, regulations, budgeting & sourcing sustainable materials
who this class is for:
This online tiny house building class is for motivated beginners and self-taught builders who want clear, friendly guidance instead of piecing together random videos. It’s a great fit if you learn best by watching detailed demonstrations, pausing, rewatching, and then trying things on your own schedule with expert support when you get stuck. Whether you’re dreaming of a tiny house on wheels, a small cabin, or a not-so-tiny home, you’ll gain the confidence to plan and start your build.
Online Tiny House Academy
The Tiny House Academy is a comprehensive online tiny house building class that walks you from first sketch to finished, livable home. Through dozens of step-by-step video lessons, diagrams, and lectures, you’ll learn how houses go together, no matter their size. Lifetime, go-at-your-own-pace access and monthly office hours mean you can keep learning as you design and build your own project.
What You’ll learn:
- Step-by-step video lessons on tiny and small house building
- Design choices, foundations vs. wheels, framing & basic roof systems
- Installing windows, doors, siding, drywall, and interior trim
- Intros to electrical, plumbing, insulation, and energy-efficient options
- Zoning, regulations, budgeting & sourcing sustainable materials
who this class is for:
This online tiny house building class is for motivated beginners and self-taught builders who want clear, friendly guidance instead of piecing together random videos. It’s a great fit if you learn best by watching detailed demonstrations, pausing, rewatching, and then trying things on your own schedule with expert support when you get stuck. Whether you’re dreaming of a tiny house on wheels, a small cabin, or a not-so-tiny home, you’ll gain the confidence to plan and start your build.
Online Power & Hand Tools Training
The Online Power and Hand Tool Training Course is a self-paced digital class that teaches you how to safely and confidently use the most useful tools for home projects. Through detailed, beginner-friendly videos, you’ll learn ergonomic, step-by-step techniques for 10 classic hand tools and 8 essential power tools you’ll actually reach for. Lifetime access and flexible scheduling let you build skills at your own pace, whether you’re hanging shelves or planning bigger carpentry projects.
What You’ll learn:
- Accurate measuring and layout with tapes, squares, levels & chalk lines
- Safe, body-aware use of drills, impact drivers, and saws
- How to choose the right tool and blade or bit for each task
- Techniques for precise cuts, drilling clean holes, and driving fasteners
- Everyday project ideas that build confidence using tools your home
who this class is for:
This online tool training is for total beginners and self-taught DIYers who feel intimidated by power tools or want safer, more effective technique. It’s especially welcoming to women, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ folks, but designed for anyone who wants clear, supportive instruction instead of fast, confusing videos. If you’re ready to tackle home repairs and projects on your own but want a solid safety foundation and expert guidance, this course offers a flexible, confidence-building way to learn.
What Our Online Carpentry Students Say
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Dare
California
Farmer, Chef, Activist, and Natural Builder
“Oh my gosh, this is the tiny home building class I’ve been waiting for my whole life! The design parts are there, how to read plans, all the carpentry, how to use basic tools, and especially the stuff that people who have been doing this a long time don’t even think to explain, like how to properly read a tape measure.”
Dan
North Carolina
Store Manager
“I can’t count how many times I have had “AHA” moments during the Tiny House Academy… and the humor included is such a welcome bonus. The live Q&A sessions, and the fact that you can always return to these videos for reference, makes this learning system invaluable. “
Samantha
Chicago, IL
Therapist
“I came with no prior experience, scared to hang a picture on my wall, and now I am so much more confident. I just love the instructional videos and the teachers are very open, really cool and personable, very easy to understand, and very welcoming.”
Josh
Mississippi
Real Estate Broker
“I took the Tiny House Academy because I’m in real estate but am not very handy. The class was extremely thorough and easy to follow. I feel ten times more confident now!”
April
Iowa
Home Health Provider
“I love the online videos! It’s so helpful to go through step-by-step and learn tools I didn’t know how to use, and how to use them correctly. These lessons have been instrumental for me right now because they’re meeting me where I’m at in terms of learning to build.”
Free Online Carpentry & Woodworking Courses
10 Ways to Save Money When Building a Tiny House
Top 10 Ways to Save Money When Building a Tiny House is a short, self-paced online class packed with budget-stretching strategies. In clear, story-rich lessons, you’ll learn how to plan, source, and build so your tiny or not-so-tiny house costs less without feeling cheap. The focus is on practical choices that protect your time, wallet, and values, not extreme cost-cutting that leads to regret.
What You’ll learn:
- Which tiny house materials to salvage and which to buy new
- Smart foundation choices beyond just buying a new trailer
- Best places to find salvaged, seconds, and off-cut materials
- When “good deals” waste time, labor, and money instead
- Ways to save money that also cut waste and ecological impact
who this class is for:
This class is for anyone dreaming of building a tiny or small home who needs to keep costs under control. It’s a great fit if you feel overwhelmed by material prices, tempted by every “good deal,” or unsure where spending more really matters. Whether you’re still in the research phase or already sketching floor plans, you’ll come away with realistic, grounded guidance to build affordably and sustainably.
10 Ways to Save Money When Building a Tiny House
Top 10 Ways to Save Money When Building a Tiny House is a short, self-paced online class packed with budget-stretching strategies. In clear, story-rich lessons, you’ll learn how to plan, source, and build so your tiny or not-so-tiny house costs less without feeling cheap. The focus is on practical choices that protect your time, wallet, and values, not extreme cost-cutting that leads to regret.
What You’ll learn:
- Which tiny house materials to salvage and which to buy new
- Smart foundation choices beyond just buying a new trailer
- Best places to find salvaged, seconds, and off-cut materials
- When “good deals” waste time, labor, and money instead
- Ways to save money that also cut waste and ecological impact
who this class is for:
This class is for anyone dreaming of building a tiny or small home who needs to keep costs under control. It’s a great fit if you feel overwhelmed by material prices, tempted by every “good deal,” or unsure where spending more really matters. Whether you’re still in the research phase or already sketching floor plans, you’ll come away with realistic, grounded guidance to build affordably and sustainably.
How to Live in a Tiny House
Living in a Tiny House is a free online class that shows the real joys and challenges of tiny living. Through tours of three handmade homes, a live panel, and a discourse with activist Rob Greenfield, you’ll see what it’s really like to design, build, and live in tiny and not-so-tiny spaces. The focus is on honest stories and practical details, not sales pitches, so you can make grounded choices about your own housing dreams.
What You’ll learn:
- Three in-depth video tours of very different tiny homes
- Panel Q&A with people who designed, built, and live tiny
- Real talk on costs, timelines, toilets, pros, cons, and stress
- Design and space-saving ideas you can use in your own home
- Honest guidance to decide if tiny or small-house living fits you
who this class is for:
This class is for anyone curious about tiny houses who wants more than glossy social media photos. It’s a great fit if you’re wondering about costs, timelines, bathroom options, relationships in small spaces, or whether to go mobile or stationary. Whether you’re just dreaming or already sketching, you’ll get real-world perspectives to clarify your next steps toward right-sized, values-aligned living.
Everyone can learn how to build in our home construction classes for adults.
Our home carpentry courses bring together natural and sustainable materials, smart designs, and practical skills. Most of us didn’t grow up learning construction or carpentry, but everyone can do it. We bring years of experience to the table, offering clear, accessible guidance that leaves you feeling confident and capable. At the end of our home construction classes, you’ll be ready to tackle projects that once seemed out of reach.
If you want to learn the essentials, join us for our Woodworking Classes for Adults, which are open to all genders. You’ll become confident using both hand and power tools, and will walk away with the skills to take on basic home carpentry projects. Plus, you’ll experience it all on our beautiful outdoor campus in a woodworking camp setting.
We also teach classes specifically designed to elevate carpentry for women in the world. If you’re interested in women’s woodworking classes, keep reading below!
Women’s empowerment through home construction classes.
Let’s be real: women typically don’t grow up learning building skills. And it’s not always easy for women to jump into male-dominated projects to learn as adults. That’s why we offer two special carpentry classes just for women.
If you feel nervous wielding a hammer or drill, our introductory Women’s Basic Carpentry Class meets you where you’re at. We teach basic tool use and safety, give lots of practice time, and every student gets to build out their own small project.
For those who already have basic carpentry skills and are excited for next-level techniques, consider our Advanced Women’s Carpentry—we take a deeper dive into all things carpentry and work as a team on building a small structure such as a : wood-fired saunas or sheds. Learn how to frame a floor, walls, and roof, and even install metal roofing, to build a simple, stable structure.
Our comprehensive Tiny House Carpentry Courses have a natural twist.
Looking for a comprehensive, hands-on Tiny House Course? Throughout the year, we offer Tiny House Building Workshops that go well beyond the basics. 10 days of in-person hands-on framing and sheathing a tiny house will leave you feeling incredibly empowered, and tours of ‘real-life’ tiny houses will leave you inspired! This in-person building intensive is coupled with an incredible video library that you get access to for the rest of your life. These videos cover design, budgeting, architectural concepts, building code considerations, utilities, finish work step-by-step how-tos (including exterior siding, flooring, trim), and so much more.
Plus, if natural and sustainable building speaks to your heart, the online material has an entire section dedicated to topics like regenerative timber harvesting, milling your own lumber, the ecological impact of various building materials, and creative sourcing for up-cycled and lower footprint options, and different natural building modalities (plaster, cob, etc). This Tiny Home Workshop is hands-down one of our most popular courses year after year.
What Our Students Say About the Carpentry Campus
Carpentry and building are integral to sustainable systems and permaculture design.
Our passion for building grew from a broader interest in the balance, harmony, and beauty of sustainable living. We’re excited about the intersections between carpentry and permaculture, ecology and shelter. In fact, we can’t help but bring permaculture principles into our house construction workshops, and building skills into our Permaculture Design Certificate Course.
Human beings (the vast majority of us anyway) live in structures, and those structures play a major role in our day-to-day lives. How our homes fit into the wider ecosystems of our neighborhoods, farms, gardens, and communities impacts how those bigger systems work. When we have the skills to design and build structures that integrate smoothly, efficiently, and beautifully, the whole system benefits. When we build and repair our structures with our own hands using local materials, we disentangle ourselves from the extractive global economy and increase resiliency.
If you want to become a Permaculture & Gardening Apprentice here at Wild Abundance, you can learn all about sustainable systems first hand.
Our Carpentry Courses & Home Construction Classes help you create the spaces you want to inhabit.
Want a sunny kitchen? Need a bookshelf to fit just right in that tight corner? Want to get your garden tools organized without hiring someone to build your shed? All these things, and more, are possible. We are here to help you make them a reality in our beginner carpentry classes, advanced home construction classes, and immersive carpentry trainings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Carpentry Courses
A beginner’s carpentry course should cover safety, tool use, tool care, and lots of hands-on practice guided by skilled and experienced instructors. Our Women’s Basic Carpentry Classes and Adult Beginner Woodworking Classes (open to all genders) cover all of this and more in a non-competitive and collaborative environment. We offer classes all throughout the year; come join us for a long weekend in the beautiful mountains outside of Asheville, NC.
Wild Abundance provides all large tools for our building and carpentry classes, and individuals are required to bring personal safety equipment like safety glasses and ear protection, tape measures, and a couple other small things. Some of our classes require students to bring their own impact drivers, others do not.
We sometimes have teenagers aged 14 and up join us for our carpentry classes. We find that younger teens and children can become worn out or unfocused during full days (which is distracting for the class as a whole). If you have a highly capable and focused child under the age of 14, you may be able to accompany them and take the class together. Please reach out to us with any questions at admin@wildabundance.net.
Nothing, everything, or anywhere in between!
Our Online Tiny House Academy goes into quite a bit of depth on many of the tools you’ll need to build a house, starting from the very basics of a carpenter’s pencil, utility knife, and tape measure, and going up through larger equipment like chop saws, table saws, and hammer drills. We highly highly recommend getting ahold of the tools you want to learn to use and practicing alongside the videos as you watch them. Nothing can substitute for hands-on practice developing that muscle-memory.
That said, if you’re a total newbie to tools & don’t yet own any, you may want to watch some of these videos before making purchases. They’ll break down different tool features and what all the buttons/switches/gadgets/doodads do, so you’ll have a better idea of what features are important to you when shopping.
Also, we highly recommend checking to see if there’s a Tool Library in your area. Check out a tool like you check out a book! It’s great for figuring out what to buy or if you only need a tool for a short period of time. Or check in with friends about borrowing as you get started!
If you’re going to actually tackle any sort of ‘real’ project, it’s almost certain you’ll need a pencil, tape measure, drill or driver, and some sort of power saw.
Tools covered in the Online Tiny House Academy:
- Carpenter’s Pencil
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
- Speed Square
- Chalk Line
- Plumb Bob
- Level
- Framing Square
- Hammer
- Drill
- Impact driver
- Nail Guns
- Hand Saws (both push & pull)
- Chop / Miter / Sliding-Miter Saw
- Circular / Skill Saw
- Table Saw
- Jigsaw
- Sawzall
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