Why Origin Woodworks Exists
Origin Story
It’s always good to start with why. Knowing a company’s purpose and what it stands for is important in today’s marketplace.
So, I wanted to share the story of why Origin Woodworks exists.
Origin Woodworks was born from solving a problem. Namely, I needed furniture for my new abode in 2019. I was specifically looking for a coffee table that looked earthy, asymmetrical and not mass-produced.
After meticulously searching online I was intrigued by the modern rustic style known as “live edge” furniture.
This style looks like a cross section of a tree was cut out and made into functional art.
I loved the look of it but I didn’t love the price. So I thought, “My Dad is a master craftsman and has done woodworking for many years, maybe he and I can make our own coffee table.”
I’d also created some of my own wood furniture before and knew it was something I wanted to explore a bit more.
Thus, I began my search locally for a piece of black walnut. Once I located the piece I took it to my dad’s workshop and we began work on it. As I was learning from him how to prep and form the walnut slab, I fell in love with the process.
The grain looked stunning. Sanding it smooth was therapeutic and I enjoyed focusing on crafting my own piece of functional art.
That day in my Dad’s workshop, Origin Woodworks was born.
I wanted to carry on his work and bring a slice of nature to not just my own home, but to many others.
And now I am doing just that, offering made-to-order live edge furniture including coffee, dining, and end tables to smaller items such as charcuterie/serving boards, candle holders, and wine racks.
Why Create with Wood?
Throughout my career with various small businesses, I’ve always strived to make environmental sustainability front and center.
To my core, I believe it is our shared responsibility to care for our communities and the shared place we call Earth. All of our collective actions and consumption habits add up.
For example:
On a micro-scale it may not seem like much if we buy one plastic, mass-produced item. On a macro-scale this adds up in a huge way. If millions (or billions) of people buy a plastic, mass-produced item, we end up with scenarios like our enormous plastic ocean problem.
Plastic is just one example of how as a worldwide population, we are endangering wildlife, ecosystems, and ultimately ourselves because we depend on a functioning environment.
So, one of my main goals with Origin Woodworks is to create a furniture business that treads as lightly as possible on the environment.
Creating with wood is an eco-friendly choice for a few reasons:
-It’s a material that helps with CO2 capture before it is harvested. If responsibly harvested and new trees are planted after harvest, we create demand for a product that provides environmental benefits for it’s entire life-cycle
-I only source lumber from local mills in and around Springfield, MO so I support the local economy and the inputs to source my raw materials are low from an environmental impact standpoint.
-Wood furniture is durable and lasts many years, eliminating the need for constant replacement
With all of this in mind, it’s easy to see why wood is an eco-friendly choice for creating products.
In closing I’d like to say I’m very excited to keep sharing my “Why” with you, explore these topics with you, and create community around these topics!
Until next time, leave a comment with you thoughts!