The Green Wood Year Course
New for 2026.
A journey into craft and community.
Taking a course with Yoav Elkayam was a fantastic experience! The enjoyable and engaging atmosphere, combined with top-notch instruction, made learning so much fun. I gained invaluable skills and knowledge from an excellent tutor who brings passion and expertise to every session.
Alex Smith
Client Review
After taking the greenwood craft courses with Yoav Elkayam, I've discovered a passion for green woodwork that I never knew existed. I am so proud of the pieces I've crafted, and with each project, my confidence grows. These skills have not only allowed me to create beautiful work but also inspired me to tackle my own projects from the comfort of my home.
Drew Carlyle
Client Review
A beautiful space, expert tuition and an encouraging environment. Attending Yoav's course was an absolute pleasure, the highlight of my year. I highly recommend it to others.
Charlie McMann
Client Review
The Green Wood Year
The Green Wood Year is a small-group, year-long course in traditional green woodworking:
22 days spread across 10 months, allowing skills to develop at a natural, sustainable pace.
Through guided projects, shared making, and time to reflect, the course supports participants in building confidence, understanding, and a lasting relationship with green wood.
March - July: Building Foundations
Over five weekends, you will become familiar with the tools, techniques and materials of green woodworking. From splitting and shaping timber from nearby woodlands to securing handles on tools that will stay with you, to sharpening, forging, turning and carving — these sessions will give you the core skills to work with confidence and creativity.
August: Time to Digest
A chance to pause, reflect, and let your new knowledge settle, while the wood dries and the seasons turn.
September - December: Individual Projects
Returning for another four weekends, the focus shifts to your own projects. Guided by your interests, and building on your newly acquired skills, you will have the chance to shape more advanced pieces or build tools that will enable you to continue your craft.
Fill these days with a singular project like a chair or side table, or a larger woodworking tool such as a shave horse or pole lathe, or simply use this time to hone your turning and carving skills. Whatever your choice, ideas will be discussed and refined together. I will be guiding you throughout the process and will be available via phone/email between sessions.
You will be supported in developing hand skills, while discovering a deeper appreciation for the rhythm of craft and seasons, the living nature of wood, and the small, creative community of green woodworkers.
Kick off the course by making your own knife handle, fitting a forged steel blade (provided) and crafting a protective bark sheath. You'll split, shape and drill wood to make your own axe block and prepare timber for the following session: side table or stool making.
This session includes a hands-on introduction to essential tools and techniques, including axe techniques and safety.
Develop your skills by turning the prepared timber from the previous weekend into an aesthetic and functional stool or side table. Learn shaping and refining using a drawknife and spoke shave, compound angle drilling, joinery, and finishing techniques.
Learn to forge your own green woodworking hook tools, then shape, harden and sharpen them in preparation for use on a pole lathe.
Each participant will make the basic set of tools required, complete with handle and sheath, and learn to maintain them before our following weekend of woodturning.
Using your self-made hook tools from the previous weekend, we will prepare a bowl blank for the lathe and begin turning.
Depending on your ability, we can explore more complex shapes like closed forms, or larger items and grain orientation.
We will cover the basic turning techniques step-by-step and have ample time to practice and explore this fascinating craft, while creating pieces that combine beauty and functionality.
The last session before summer brings a surprise guest tutor, offering a fresh perspective, new techniques, and creative inspiration to expand your approach to green woodworking.
Returning for another four weekends, the focus shifts to your own projects. Shaped by your interests and building on what you’ve learned, you will have the opportunity to craft more advanced pieces, or build additional tools that will allow you to work on your projects at home. An expert in his field, Yoav will provide essential support and guidance.
Yoav Elkayam
Master craftsman & course leader
I’m Yoav Elkayam, woodturner and craftsman with over a decade's experience practising and teaching traditional green woodwork.
My journey began with a two day workshop, just like the ones I'm offering here. Today, it's a real pleasure to share these valuable heritage skills and build a crafting community.
Together, we can dive into the rich tradition of greenwood craft and create beautiful pieces that carry a story.
Who is this course for?
Curiosity, patience, and a willingness to learn
The Green Wood Year has been carefully designed to welcome a wide range of experience — from those completely new to green woodworking, to experienced makers looking to deepen, refine, or broaden their practice.
With only seven participants, the course is intentionally small. This allows teaching to adapt to each individual, creating a supportive environment that often feels closer to a private, mentored course than a group class.
Those with more experience will be encouraged to explore more complex forms, develop multiple designs, or spend time refining particular aspects of their work. Those new to the craft will be given the space, guidance, and time to work safely and confidently, and to leave with a rewarding body of finished work and tools.
Curiosity, patience, and a willingness to learn are far more important than prior experience.
Green Wood Year Course details
21/22 March
18/19 April
23/24 May
19/20/21 June
11/12 July (guest tutor)
Summer break
19/20 September
9/10/11 October
31 October/1 November
21/22 November
5/6 December
The price for this course is £3,750
This reflects 22 days of teaching across a year, a very small group (maximm 7), materials, use of tools and facilities, and close mentoring throughout the course.
A 10% deposit secures your place on the course.
The remaining balance can then be paid in staged or monthly instalments, arranged in a way that feels manageable for you across the year.
If you’d like to discuss payment options before booking, you’re very welcome to get in touch — I’m happy to be flexible where possible.
Curiosity, patience, and a willingness to learn are all you need.
Ty Mawr, Monmouth NP25 4DZ
The course will be held in a beautiful 17th century, timber-framed barn. My workshop is a part of an active regenerative farm project and located next to an ancient oak woodland.
Lunch and snacks will be provided throughout the course, please notify me if you have any dietary requirements.
There are many campsites and Airbnb options available in the area. Abergavenny is a lovely market town and Monmouth offers a charming high street, both surrounded by beautiful countryside and a 15 minute drive from the workshop.
Vans/campers will be welcomed on our farm (in Llanvetherine, 15 minutes from the workshop) for the night and in the spring/summer months camping pitches will also be available. Please get in touch to arrange.
Due to the nature of the course and the skills built from one session to the next, it is not possible to add people during the course of the year.
For this reason, the course is non-refundable once booked. If you are unable to attend one or several of the dates, please reach out and we will do our best to find a solution.
(March–July): Building Foundations
Over five weekends, you’ll gain familiarity with the tools, techniques, and materials of green woodworking. From splitting and shaping freshly felled wood, putting handles on tools that will stay with you throughout, sharpening, forging , turning and carving - these sessions will give you the core skills to work with confidence and creativity.
(August): Time to Digest
A chance to pause, reflect, and let your new knowledge settle—while the wood dries, and the seasons turn.
(September–December): Individual Projects
Returning for another four weekends, the focus shifts to your own projects. Guided by your interests and building on what you’ve learned, you’ll shape more advanced pieces or build the tools that will allow you to make back home.
These can be a longer one piece project like a chair, shave horse or bed side table or perhaps you want to build a lathe and just improve your turning skills - Ideas will be discussed and refined together.
I'll be guiding you throughout the process and will also be available via phone/email in between sessions.
You’ll be supported in developing both hand skills and a deeper appreciation for the rhythm of craft, the seasons, and the living material of green wood.
Become part of a small, creative community.
WHAT COURSE PARTICIPANTS SAY
I thoroughly enjoyed Yoav’s two day turning course. We turned a plate on day 1 and a cup on day 2. In my opinion Yoav gets the balance right between letting you get stuck in, learning through doing, and pausing and reflecting on turning techniques, angles and how you could improve. He helpfully broke down each step of the project, has a relaxed and friendly manner and is very encouraging. I will definitely be back!
Sam
I turned my first end grain cup on one of Yoav’s courses and had a fantastic time. I learned so much and came away with a cup I’m really proud of (which was an added bonus!). Yoav is a brilliant teacher - patient, encouraging, and really constructive. I’d absolutely recommend taking one of Yoav’s courses if you get the chance.
Izzy
Yoav is an excellent teacher and has an abundance of knowledge to share. I Thoroughly enjoyed the end grain cup turning day, expanding on my turning knowledge and just having great conversation too. Thanks Yoav!
Gareth
Course Participant
