timberdoodle was born out of a desire to share woodworking knowledge with other women. After asking girlfriends, sisters and mothers if they would be interested in such a workshop, the resounding "hell yes!" sealed the deal. Right now, we want to focus on building/woodworking fundamentals before we get into the home-maintenance/reno/patch-drywall-hole/fix-things-that-my-otherwise-lovely-yet-lazy-partner-never-gets-around-to-doing workshop.

timberdoodle was also born out of a frustration in the lack of women in the construction industry and the ridiculous amount of waste produced at most construction sites. The idea grew further into an opportunity to mentor/sponsor marginalized women, namely at-risk youth, women at shelters, immigrants, etc.

Another important aspect is keeping the tools accessible. We will try to avoid using large and specialized tools. Sounds strange doesn't it?! The idea is to keep woodworking monetarily cheap and to not barrage participants with obscure knowledge. Also, we don't want to give the impression that you need $5 000 worth of tools to build things. If that were so, woodworking would be rather elitist and intimidating to say the least. Our focus is on basic tools, their safe and efficient use and the care for these tools. And yes, this may mean using hand tools (gasp!) such as handsaws and screw drivers. If you can cut with a handsaw, you can easily cut with power tools; in fact, you'd probably be more accurate and safe.

We sincerely hope that timberdoodle will challenge perceptions of what women can accomplish and the 'role' we play at home, at work and in society. But even more importantly, we hope timberdoodle challenges the women themselves - in how they perceive themselves and their (perhaps hidden) abilities. 		 
         
 

Ali Lam
Lead Doodler

Ali likes to doodle with wood. It seems its just about the only thing that can keep her focused... somewhat. Ali brings to timberdoodle, a vast array of weapons at her disposal: saws, chisels, axes, zipties, spatulas and things that go "phrreeewwwwphhhhhhhzzzzzzzzzzzz".

She was once the director/instructor of another women-focused workshop series - Wenches With Wrenches; which taught bicycle mechanic skills. She is a graduate of Fleming College's Sustainable Building Design & Construction Course (2006); a former timber frame apprentice at Heartwood School, Massachusetts; the Project Co-ordinator/Assistant Teacher for Sustainable Building Design & Construction Course 2008 in Madoc, ON; and timber frame instructor and administrative super-ninja with Joshua Thornton at naturalbuild.ca. Her own company, Banyan Shelter, "grows" timber frame, straw homes and other recycled furnishings.

To add to her already over-flowing plate, she has also recently acquired an organic farm, Nightingales Organics, which is her new super fun and yummy adventure!

  
         
   

Shannon Muegge
Timber Queen

Shannon is a carpenter, cultural worker and master at salvaging garbage. She has been working in sustainable building and design for the past two years as a way to actualize her ideas about alternative land use and ownership, and ultimately political and economic justice. She has lived in Toronto for eleven years, establishing Punchclock; a screenprinting business and studio collective, and graduated in 2007 from the Sustainable Building Design and Construction course through Fleming College. She currently works with The Fourth Pig Worker Co-op (a non-profit organization) which specializes in sustainable building design, construction, education and renewable energy installation.

 
         
    Jane Hayes
Permaculture-Worm Guru

Jane is a gardener, educator and artist with fifteen years of experience developing and leading garden educational programs. She established the award-winning City of Toronto Children's Garden Program and High Park Children's Garden site in 1998. Jane also worked with FoodShare and the City of Toronto's Community Garden program, helping launch the Community Garden Network in the late 90's. In 2001, Jane went to Oregon where she worked with Food Not Lawns and co-directed Circus Discordia, an amateur circus and fundraiser. In 2003, Jane returned to Ontario and joined Evergreen, helping to establish food gardening in schools and communities across Canada.

Jane holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies (U of T), a Masters in Environmental Studies (York U) and certificates in Permaculture Design and Teaching Permaculture. She founded Garden Jane in 2007 as well as Cirque Dirt, with the hopes of building economy and community around deep gardening.