Longhouse construction started on May 1, 2012. Green saplings that had been stripped of their bark during a large community workday on April 28 were bent around a wooden frame on the ground. Logs were charred at one end to prevent decay, then lifted into post holes and tied together with log beams. The bent saplings were then lashed to this post-and-beam framework using saved strips of bark. Thin plywood was secured over the saplings to provide support for a final covering of synthetic bark sheets. Volunteers tied short saplings to long bunks on both sides of the longhouse during two additional community work days on May 19 and May 26. For additional construction photos, visit Lancaster Longhouse on Facebook. "Like" the Lancaster Longhouse page to stay up-to-date with the progress!