Hammerstone School combines craftsmanship with skill-building, offering classes that prioritize women as students and future builders. By teaching building skills, Hammerstone empowers both women and non-binary individuals to use their bodies and minds for creative and practical purposes.
They aim to challenge the long-standing societal norm where boys are taught to build while girls are not. One of the primary reasons they focus on carpentry for women is to address the significant underrepresentation of women in the trades. The women-only courses create a supportive environment, free from preconceptions about what students may or may not know or be capable of achieving.
According to the Department of Labor, fewer than 2% of carpenters are women. While some “women-to-work” programs exist, they typically emphasize job readiness rather than focusing on craftsmanship and skill-building.
Hammerstone’s workshops contribute to a sustainable workforce by enhancing the financial well-being of individual women. The courses equip students with the skills needed to build and maintain their own homes and provide access to non-traditional trades that have historically been closed off to women. Hammerstone is also dedicated to creating sustainable employment for its staff, including administrators, instructors, and builders. Above all, the instructors share a commitment to long-term, environmentally responsible building practices.
As one employee explained, “We teach our students about the benefits of using locally sourced materials, low embodied energy materials, and high-performance building materials, all of which are incorporated into our course projects.”
Contact Information:
Email: admin@hammerstoneschool.com
Phone: 607-280-8513
Website: https://hammerstoneschool.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HammerstoneSchoolCarpentryForWomen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hammerstoneschool
