Ashburton Courier: April 21, 2022

THURSDAY, 21APRIL, 2022 |GERALDINE NEWS |PAGE 7
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TutorGraeme Mould(front,second right) with participants in the2022NewZealand LogBuilding Associations annuallog building
coursewith theMtLyford-boundcabin theyve partially constructed. PHOTO: Jan Finlayson
Geraldine host to annual
log building course
The New Zealand Log Building Associations
annual building course is available only
in Geraldine, atGraeme MouldsNatural
Log Homes. The 2022 event, in early
April, saw itsnine participants construct
much of acabin destined for Mt Lyford.
Graeme, who has 30 years experience
in log building, saysthatitis empowering,
teaching not only the spectrum of log
building skills but also helping students
become conversant withthe crafts technical
and bureaucratic landscape. The threeweek
course, itself oneofjust ahandful
internationally, giveslearners everything
they need to know; the proper way to
build their own log homes.
Participant Adam Brownless, a
Whakatane agricultural contractor, says
he and his family have always dreamed
of building aloghome. Im thinking of
using Graemes expertise -and joiningin.
With abackground that includes beef
farming, bricklaying, and optometry,
Pierre Besson, from France, says he has
found his niche: From my point of view,
you need to practice. I want to work in
this industry.
Graeme says thatstudents were expected
to supply their own tools and safety
equipment. Theyspent the first few days
working on disposable firewood logs,
learning how to peel, scribe and notch
(plot andcut away parts of logscrosswise
and lengthways to allow them to lock
togetherwhenstacked).
They then moved tothe high-value
logs that are both the structure and
wallpaper of log buildings -inthiscase,
thelogs thatwill collectively make up the
Mt Lyford cabin.
Theyve got to learn a lot of different
chainsaw skills and theyve got to learn
log selection. Its abit like art. The logs
are natural; theytaper. They [the course
participants] learn howtofit themtogether
like theyre gluedtogether.
He says, Theres classroom work as
well. We looked at plans and designs;we
had Jess Paterson, the architect, come
in to talk about plans, consents, and the
building code. And other technical aspects:
roof systems, staircases, fittings, and
joinery.
We also went on abus tour around
South Canterbury tolook atother log
homes that Natural LogHomes havebuilt,
including some under construction.
Log construction goes back to the
Bronze Age (around3,500BC), beginning
in Russia, eastern Europe, and Scandinavia.
The concept was transported to North
America around 400 years ago. Log
buildings withstand earthquakes well.
(Wikipedia)
Natural Log Homes is at the corner
of KennedyStreet and High Street; phone
03 693 7468. Forinformationabout the
Log Building Association of New Zealand s
annualbuildingcourse, call06370 8199
or email: secretary@logbuildingnz.org.nz
JAN FINLAYSON
M & G A U T O C E N TRE
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