Getting our hands dirty

It’s an incredible experience to dream and build the useful things we see around us everyday. Since we moved to the rural forest of Northern California in 2020 we’ve endeavored to try our hand at a number of projects that were unattainable in the city.

Workshop

Our shop, like many others, is a work-in-progress—an ever-changing meditation on use and workflow.

Using an existing RV structure on the property (and snow-rated roof) we poured a foundation, enclosed and insulated the new structure. Utilizing existing electrical power we’ve added conduit and outlets for both 120 & 220v. To make the shop useful in the winter we’ve added a heater.

For the exterior we created a ship-lap profile and charred our own siding using a modified yakisugi method. It looks awesome in the snow. (2022/2023)

Doors

We looked at a number of options including a rolling-up style. In the end we decided to build them to keep the overall shop height as usable space.

But building doors this size (107”x47”) is not without a challenge.

Menorah (Hanukkiah)

It was time to retire my wife’s travel menorah for something more suitable as settled adults. I sketched several iterations before committing to a simple design. Made of walnut and with oak accent, milled from our property. (2022)

Hook

I wanted a simple hook with soft edges for use around the house. I couldn’t find one I liked, so I made one. This design has a low profile mounting bracket and rail system that snicks into place. It’s strong enough for a heavy parka but is low profile. Oh, and it’s 3D print-ready so I can make as many as I need. (2022)

Hügelkultur beds

This is the start growing our own vegetables. The beds are made a bit taller to incorporate hügelkultur (decaying materials below the potting surface). They’re constructed with pine and spruce and the lower sections are yakisugi-charred to preserve the wood. The upper “lids” are constructed using walnut dowels as tenons and sealed with boiled linseed oil. (2022)

Double Manifold

Woodworkers know dust is the main enemy in a shop (perhaps second to Dunning-Kruger). While the shop workflow is still in flux I’m constantly trying to find the right means of collecting shavings/sawdust from various tools. This manifold is a stopgap measure of bringing multiple tools to a consolidated vacuum system. (2023)

Knife block

Sharp and readily accessible knives are the key to good kitchen workflow. This block is made of walnut with maple accent. (2022)

Odds & Sods

There are always things to make when you live in the country— cutting board, crayon caddy, self-milled lumber (fir & cedar) from trees on the property, nesting root vegetable baskets, a kid-sized climbing wall and a firewood doghouse, (2022/2023)

Slatted bench

Our mud room needed some help. In 2022 we took down a few trees on the property (58) and this winter I spent some time milling a section of one. The result was a stack of 4x4 lumber that quickly turned into this bench.

Garden

Cue: Lenny Kravitz “I build this garden for us”

We’ve wanted a garden since we moved onto the property. And for all that time I’ve been watching the path of the sun throughout the seasons in order to find the right spot. We finally broke ground on a 62’x 36’ area.

The fencing is 7’ high with each post stationed underground 3’.

To keep critters out we included a mesh of 1” chicken wire and cattle panel at the bottom and 3/16” braided steel wire above. We included electrical fencing around the perimeter to keep out larger pests (read: bear).

The gate is big enough to get our tractor inside and secured with custom holds and a latch made from oak I took down a few years back.

Inside the garden is a 10’x8’ shaded arbor and a sandbox—you know, for the kids.

The garden includes 12 raised a several in-ground beds for veggies and herbs. We’ve tried to incorporate companion plants for each bed to aid in growing and/or pest control. Also, each bed includes a vermicomposter made of perforated drainage pipe.

The chart below details the first plantings but as the season went on we amended different areas with more fruit (raspberry, blackberry and strawberry) as well as sweet corn and several varieties of tomato (Roma, heirloom)

Planters

Our love of fresh fruit knows no bounds. Actually, our son’s ability to eat all the fresh fruit does and that makes us want for more places to grow strawberries.

Using some scraps from the posts we milled two planters were constructed for our deck. They’re charred on the inside and linseed oil added to the outside to seal the wood. As an experiment these planters are now hosting several strawberry bushes but the “waterfall” design of water management failed almost immediately leaving the lower tray dry. (c 2023)

Airlock

With a new baby coming our modest house with an open floorplan is in need of some, uh, separation. After designing several ways of enclosing the upstairs loft we decided to create a new wall with sliding barn door entry. (c 2023)

Coming soon…

Timber frame wood shed