Apologies for the long review, but I felt I needed the space to properly say what I wanted to say about the experience.

I am writing this review after attending the first two of three stand-alone courses offered by Pacific Rim Timberworks. I recently completed the Timber Framing Core Skills course with Matthew Lovemark and Kieran McLaury, and I would rate the overall experience a solid 10/10.

Matt brings a tremendous amount of practical, common-sense knowledge to timber framing. I especially appreciated that his perspective goes beyond Western timber framing traditions and includes an extensive understanding of Japanese influences on the craft. He has a way of connecting the techniques being taught with the larger ideas behind the craft, which made the course much more meaningful than simply learning how to cut joints.

Both Matt and Kieran approached the course with the attitude that the class was really about the students—learning the craft, developing skills, and becoming capable of continuing to educate themselves after the course was over.

There was a wide range of experience and ability among the students, and I thought the instructors handled that extremely well. Everyone was allowed to progress at their own pace without feeling rushed or held back. Inevitably, students made a few small mistakes while learning. Matt and Kieran handled those situations particularly well. Rather than focusing on the mistake or making the student feel bad about it, they calmly worked through the problem, found a solution, and turned it into part of the learning experience. That created a very comfortable environment in which people were willing to try things and learn.

Kieran was an absolute treasure trove of technical knowledge. He has a unique and very pleasant teaching style, and his ability to explain the technical side of timber framing added a great deal to the course.

The class was extremely hands-on. There was ample time devoted to instruction, followed by plenty of time to actually practice and develop the new skills. The course was also very well organized and progressed in a logical, orderly manner throughout the week.

Matt’s shop was excellent. There was plenty of room to work, everything was very clean and organized, and all of the equipment necessary for the course was readily available. The tools and machinery were top-notch, and there was good instruction on how to operate everything safely and efficiently.

The hospitality was another exceptional part of the experience. Three meals a day were provided, and the food was absolutely amazing. There was a tremendous variety throughout the week, and every meal was different and delicious. I honestly cannot remember another time in my life when I ate this well for an entire week. The meals were professional-chef quality.

Matt, his wife, and his sister-in-law were wonderful hosts and made everyone feel welcome. The evening meals in particular created a nice opportunity for everyone to sit together, talk, and get to know one another outside of the shop.

Most of the participants camped along the river and seemed very happy with the experience. The setting was beautiful, and good bathroom facilities were provided. I personally chose not to camp and was able to find Airbnb accommodations only about five minutes away, so there were good options either way.

I also thought the value of the course was excellent. In the span of one week, I went from having limited practical timber-framing experience to feeling that I now have the fundamental skills and confidence necessary to execute and build a simple timber-frame structure.

I flew in from Colorado and then drove from Eugene, so I had a significant investment in both travel and time in order to attend these courses. Even with that added expense and effort, I still feel the value was absolutely there.

Having now attended the first two courses, I am looking forward to returning for the third. One important point is that these are stand-alone courses, so someone interested in attending the third course should not feel that they needed to have taken the first two in order to participate.

For anyone with a genuine interest in timber framing, I would strongly encourage you to sign up and attend. Whether you are just beginning or already have some experience, the combination of hands-on learning, knowledgeable instructors, excellent facilities, and outstanding hospitality makes this a very worthwhile experience.

10/10.