Kevan Palmer Carving Workshop

I've previously attended a couple of Kevan Palmer courses and both revolved around food; one was a foraging talk and three course evening meal in the now closed Foragers in St. Albans and the other was a fermentation day in Milton Keynes.

Now when this carving workshop ad appeared on his  Live Primally social media feed with a mobile phone number and almost seemed like a small ad in a shop window. I rang and got myself booked in because it is an event that is, for once, really close to my home (less than ten minutes), and it gives me a chance to concentrate on actually putting in the hard yards on a carving project or two.

Incidentally Amanda, the host, held a Druid ceremony at the site and one of the attendees knew Kevan which ultimately lead to the workshops happening.

Y'see, I am fairly competent at spoon carving (the above one is from spalted Birch firewood) and can knock out one that is perfectly functional, what I usually lack is the ability to stick at one to the end or at least to do one in one sitting.

I had decided to have a go at making a Youtube video on a recent camp so I messaged Amanda the organiser to see if she was happy for me to do a bit of filming if attendees were happy, she was and I also asked Kevan if he would be happy to do a quick question and answer session pre-workshop-He was too. So I prayed for a wind free day.

I got a heads up from Kevan that he was close and headed off promptly to the event, knowing where it was but not a lot about the site which is actually on the same road as Danemead Wood, Danemead Scout Campsite and this leads on to Paradise Wildlife Park. Incidentally the campsite is one I suggested whilst helping to produce the Outdoor Adventure Manual book.

 

Once greeted by Amanda's other half at the entrance (which is just past some pink gate posts if you are coming from the Hoddesdon way) which you take the left fork of once you've turned off the road).  The site I'd arrived is the Flopsy Wood Community Project, which up until recently was a Donkey sanctuary.

 

The site isn't dense woodland like much of the local area but it looks like it has potential nevertheless and Amanda said that she wants to develop the site to host a growing number of events and courses. The building was built by a neighbour and could house a workshop during inclement weather.

 

Kevan had already done the minimal set up and had put out a selection of his spoons in various shapes and sizes for attendees to see.

So with us both armed with a cup of tea we sat down to record an introduction, followed by a Q & A session. I was pleased to keep the flow going as up until recently I've taken stills not footage so wasn't used to talking and through Kevan a humorous flanker of a final question which was related to this fermentation day which spawned a spoof video from my wife admonishing Kev for all the bubbling jars I'd suddenly filled the fridge with. 

I had a  gusty wind blow up every now and then which meant that I had to subtitle and edit the chat for the Youtube video so I've since purchased a standalone microphone with a 'dead cat' cover.

And once everyone had arrived Kevan got the workshop underway by the fire pit, which remained as an unlit backdrop.

 

He had brought Sycamore to split and the example piece had some beautiful multicoloured spalting running through it. There was an odd number of attendees so I offered to buddy up with Amanda and started by splitting our Sycamore length, absolutely into two equal parts I'm pleased and relieved to say.

 

And with that I got stuck in in between doing a little filming and helping Amanda with her spoon from time to time.

 

The wood carving experience of the attendees varied but everyone seemed quite absorbed and chatted to both each other and Kev as they worked. It does help having a nice group of folks.

 

As folk neared the crook knife part (to make the bowl), Kev went round with a spare length of wood and demonstrated good practice and gave everyone a box containing a crook and two fine detail knives, these he sourced on amazon for £8 a box which seemed excellent value.

Once the group had got a rudimentary spoon made Kevan did a Lime wood spirit carving demo. I decided to use the time to get myself a second spoon roughed out.  

 

We laid out our various creations for a photo opportunity and then we all did the almost obligatory group pose with said creations.

I noticed some Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) and Thorn apple (Datura stramonium) on the way back to the car and I'm sure if and when Kevan returns (we has also done a basket workshop) there will be more flora to see.

And here is the video of the workshop which starts with the said Q & A with Kevan about his professional career, his freelance and Live Primally activities and finish by ambushing him with the aforementioned  light hearted on the spot question at the end which drew both a smile and an apology!