A tiny manifesto
Life is getting more and more connected, online, busy, rushed, shared. Our use of the natural resources given to us, more and more abstracted and commoditised. The things we use and surround ourselves with in our day-to-day lives are getting cheaper, mass produced, destined to last less and less time.
My reaction to this is to spend some real time making the most basic things in life – something to eat with, something to eat from, something to sit on. To make them well, to last, and with an understanding and respect for trees they came from.
In practice
With an end goal in mind, I walk into the woodland looking for the perfect piece of green (fresh, living) wood or wind fall timber. I take only what I need. I cut the wood in the right way to encourage regrowth. Working the wood green allows a mix of both green woodworking and modern power tool techniques in my work, allowing room for both tradition and batch efficiency.
Gaining a deep understanding the character of only a few local woodland species allows for a strong product, that will last and age beautifully. It’s not quick turn around work, but it’s deeply satisfying knowing what I make will be around for generations to come.