Island Blacksmith - Spring 2019

Special kajiba (鍛冶場) forge building edition.

Gathering materials began in Fall 2018, site preparation in December 2018, the lumber was milled in the first week of January 2019, the frame assembled February 5th, and roofed February 7th. Yakisugi siding and tsuchikabe walls installed during March, and interior wall finishing in April.

Thanks to all who were involved in one way or another in helping facilitate this project, providing space, time, materials, assistance, advice, and encouragement.

Tsuchikabe - earthen walls

The upper sections of the walls are tsuchikabe (土壁), a mixture of natural clay, sand, and straw applied over a mortised and tied bamboo lath. In this case split cedar is used instead of split bamboo for the lath and scraps of old natural fiber rope are twisted apart and used as the binding twine.

See the photos

In the shadow of Mt. Arrowsmith,
deep in a forest clearing,
away from the things of man,
there is a place where blades are born
of earth, and air, and fire, and water.