Stuff we do

Fox Maple School of Traditional Building
In the foothills of the White Mountains of western Maine, Fox Maple has been providing the opportunity for individuals to learn traditional timber framing and natural building skills in a wonderful environmental setting since 1983. Over this time well over a thousand students have participated and come to understand that 'perfection & grace' truly does put a smile on your face.

Timber Framing & Natural Building
Workshops begin with a joined timber frame, and go on to explore the use of natural enclosures; thatch, straw/clay, wood chip/clay, wattle & daub, cob, straw bales, finished with clay plasters. We focus on the natural and traditional systems that we feel are the most practical and efficient to meet our modern needs and to provide a truly Green Building alternative.

Craftsmanship
Fine Craftsmanship is at the heart of our teaching philosophy. Exploring ways to make traditional systems practical to create high quality dwellings to meet our current building needs is our mission. Teaching people to become fine craftsmen is what we do. Vive Jean-Claude!

Spring 2004 Advanced TF course project

Fox Maple Timber Framing
In 1973 the seeds of Fox Maple were beginning to sprout through the study and renovation of barns and colonial house frames in the western foothills of Maine. In 1975, Fox Maple Post & Beam began offering new house frames in the tradition of the 18th century Maine architectural landscape to discerning clients in what was to be the first seed of the revival of this ancient craft. The rest is history. Our goal was to first thoroughly understand the ancient methods from which we could then develop practical and aesthetically pleasing joinery systems and frame designs appropriate for a modern timber framing tradition. This included the development of complex joinery systems that allowed the framing of joined hip and valley roof system.

Throughout our educational efforts over the past 25 years we have always maintained that sharing as much of the knowledge that we gleaned to both those aspiring to build their own house as well as to those wishing to make timber framing their profession would result in the most fertile ground to nurture the craft into the 21st century. We have arrived.

With the Birth of Brady Hayes Chappell, in November of 2007, Fox Maple now enters into its 4th Generation of a family Timber Framing Tradition. In his short but illustrious life, Brady has taken part in several raising's, including Costa Rica and Asturias, Spain. The future of timber framing now seems to be secure.

Our initial goals set down back in 1975 remain the same—to build exquisitely crafted timber frames for discerning clients.

Spring 2005 Advanced TF course project

Asturias, Spain Summer 2008

Fox Maple Press
Joiners' Quarterly began publishing technical information about Timber Framing and Traditional Building in 1983.

Traditional timber framing and joinery techniques are at the core of the editorial content, but Natural Building is an important aspect because traditional building, by virtue of its pure and simple approach, is natural building. Timber, Straw, Wood & Clay; these were the traditional materials of the past, but today we think of them as Alternative Building. JQ offers insightful, technical articles about how to make traditional timber framing, combined with natural building systems, appropriate once again to build houses that will last for many generations. Craftsmanship is a key essential to any building endeavor. Articles in JQ and editorial content take this as the first essential, and present it as such. JQ Back issues offer a unique glimpse into the revival of timber framing through insightful articles.

Patagonia, Winter 2006

Octagon Pendants, 1986

Copyright 2009 Fox Maple Press, Inc. All rights reserved.