The blog
Notes from the bench.
Longer pieces about reclaimed wood, board care, sourcing trips around Ventura County, and the quiet realities of running a one-woman workshop. New entries when we have something worth saying.
October 14, 2024 · 4 min read
How to oil a cutting board (without overthinking it)
A short, opinionated guide that boils down to: warm food-grade oil, a soft cloth, and patience. Twice a year is enough for most boards.
Read the full piece →September 2, 2024 · 5 min read
Where Batch 46 came from
A 1932 dairy barn in Santa Paula came down in May. We took home 240 board-feet of Douglas fir. Here's what we did with it.
Read the full piece →July 22, 2024 · 6 min read
Five small mistakes I've stopped making
Three years into the workshop, the list of things I do differently now is short, but it's saved me a surprising amount of wood.
Read the full piece →May 8, 2024 · 5 min read
On not running out of barnwood
We're often asked whether we'll run out of reclaimed material. The honest answer involves more old fences than you'd think.
Read the full piece →March 18, 2024 · 4 min read
A board's first month
People ask how to keep a wooden board looking good for years. The honest answer is that the first month does most of the work.
Read the full piece →