…they’ll want to build a house with it.
And if they build a new house, they’ll need to take the old one down first.
Making a new house reminds them that they’ll need a plan.
So they’ll meet with old friends, and they’ll open books and make drawings.
Once they have a plan, they’ll want to hew round logs square.
And to hew round logs into timbers for building, they’ll need the right ax.
So their blacksmith will make them one.
They’ll need charcoal to bring iron and steel to a great heat.
For that they’ll build a collier’s pit and burn the earth and the wood inside.
And if they build a coal-pit in a field, they’ll need to mow tall hay with a scythe.
Once they have the field, the pit, the charcoal, and the ax, they can hew the oak.
When they’re finished hewing one, they’ll want to hew another.
And when they’ve squared enough timber,
they’ll pit-saw some of the big pieces into smaller ones.
They’ll start pit-sawing.
The work will remind them of old friends they used to saw with.
Some will even come to saw with them.
Soon, they’ll have enough timber to frame a cottage.
And if they build a house, they’ll probably want to put a roof on it.
So they’ll put down their axes and go to the marsh to gather thatch.
And after they go to the marsh for thatch, they’ll need a place to dry all of it.
When the thatch has seasoned and been put away, they’ll want to return to the frame.
They’ll scratch their heads and pull their beards & carefully lay out the oak timbers.
To cut the joints, they’ll need sharp chisels and saws.
When they start joining parts together, they’ll want to share their labors
with people who are interested in what they do.
When enough timbers are ready, they’ll need to clear the lot,
and dig holes for the corner posts.
They’ll join the squared oak pieces together on the ground.
And because the oak is heavy, they’ll invite some friends to come help them raise the frame.
After two posts are put in, they’ll all want to put in two more,
and set them firmly in the ground.
And having so many friends there to help, they’ll want to carry over big timbers
to put on top of the posts and beams.
And chances are, if they build a house where the old one once stood…
…they’ll want an oak tree to help finish it.
photos by Marie Pelletier, Peter Follansbee, and Sally Rothemich