Dan and Vickie
My blogs
| Location | Southwest Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina, United States |
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| Introduction | I am a self taught wood worker. I have designed, built, and made a lot of different things most of my adult life. By chance I discovered the unique beauty of the wood grain from the Mountain Laurel. We needed sconces for our cabin and I decided to make some from the fallen trees on our land. Everything I make, if possible is from old-growth fallen trees from our land in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I use branches, logs and/or reclaimed wood from our land. I try to utilize every piece, so nothing is wasted or thrown away. Reclaimed, recovered, recycled, rediscovered and reused are all terms that I refer to wood that has been given a new lease on life. Environmentally reclaimed wood to me is the obvious choice, because using them replaces the need to harvest new timber. The wood is already out there, it's just a matter of finding it, cleaning it, and working with it. I find that using reclaimed wood is definitely worth the extra effort, since many of these woods have more richness of grain, color, and character. Some of the best quality wood comes from old-growth trees. Old growth timber is harder, denser, and more stable than wood from young trees. |
| Interests | wind power, solar power, organic farming, tractors, pioneering, yurts, log cabin, off grid, herbs, wildcrafting, wood stove cooking, wood working, wood crafting, carving, crochet, knitting, baking, soap making, sustainable living, vegetarian foods |
| Favorite books | How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods by J. Wayne Fears, The Foxfire Series, Wild Foods for Every Table by Tina Sams, Backyard Sugarin by Rink Mann, One Man's Wilderness by Sam Keith and Richard Proenneke, Country Wisdom & Know-How Everything You Need to Know to Live Off the Land, Highroad Guide to the Virginia Mountains by Deane and Garvey Winegar, Bee Keeping for Dummies |