How it started
How It Started
Rustic Roots Woodworking began with a simple curiosity: what could I create by bringing different hardwoods together?
I had always enjoyed woodworking, so I used some scrap wood from the barn to make my first cutting board. It turned out better than I expected, but what mattered most was how much I enjoyed the process. That first project led to more ambitious designs, including end-grain boards and increasingly complex patterns.
With every board, I learned more about selecting, matching, and working with hardwoods such as walnut, maple, cherry, hickory, and white oak. Each species brings its own color, grain, and character. Finding combinations that complement one another—and turning them into something both beautiful and useful—quickly became the part of woodworking I enjoyed most.
Before long, my hardwood collection was growing nearly as quickly as the stack of finished boards around the house. I expanded into cheese boards, serving boards, chessboards, and custom pieces for friends. We gave away as many as we could, but eventually I was presented with a choice: start selling the boards or stop making them.
Selling them sounded like the better option.
Today, every Rustic Roots piece is still made by me, one at a time. I carefully select and combine real hardwoods, build each piece for lasting use, and finish every food-contact surface with food-safe mineral oil and natural beeswax. Because the grain and character of every piece of wood are different, most finished boards are genuinely one of a kind.
My goal is to create more than something that simply looks good on a counter. Each piece should feel substantial, perform well, and become something its owner is proud to use, display, and share for years to come.
