Giving Back
*There was a last minute opening in the Follansbee “Carve a 17th century box” class next week. Check out details and contact me at peter@petergalbert.com if you want to claim it.*
Taking the long view is always a challenge. I try to measure my productivity or goals in terms of what I’ve achieved in a month or year(s), not days. When you a gainfully unemployed (work for yourself), it’s always difficult to feel like you are doing enough, have caught up on all your tasks or are exactly on schedule. But it’s shocking how a bunch of days that don’t feel particularly successful, add up to huge progress when I look back at a year. Part of the reason I’m feeling reflective in this way is because I’m about to start to plant trees on my property. This is the “giving back” part. Instead of finding the fastest way to process dead trees into chairs, I am engaging them on their time. I know it will take years to see them grow tall, provide fruit, offer shade and become landmarks of my everyday views.
The time scale of their lives is such a huge part of mine, but usually from the other side. I see the growth rings, I can tell the good years from the bad, but I see all that in a glance as I orient the part, make my choices and shave, turn or carve it to my will. I’m excited to step back into the trees world, concerning myself with light, water and time from their perspective.
Taking the long view became a survival tactic after I bought my property. When I started, I saw it as a three stage process that would take years. The first was the house, then the barn, then the landscape. I’m very excited to be on the last stage of my initial vision. There is much to do. I want to plant, make a back of the shop seating area with a pergola and get the junk left over from the house and barn either out of here or stowed properly.
I just wrapped a Temple chair class and the season change is finally real enough for me to feel like I can make progress beyond keeping snow cleared off the parking area. Here are a few shots from the class.
We got to use the new chuck extensions in the class and I couldn’t believe I didn’t make this move years ago. I am still waiting on parts for those who preordered and will ship them the minute they come in. Here is a quick video of one in use.
Another item I wanted to share before I get outside to start digging, is my favorite dust mask. You may have heard me talking about my now extreme sensitivity to dust. Years of exposure have made me the as delicate as a wet Victorian child in the workshop. I wear a dust mask every time I do anything remotely dusty. This mask, introduced to me by Kelly Harris is my hands down favorite. I put it on with excitement, not dread. My glasses don’t fog and I can wear it for hours without any discomfort. I use the one with the strap that goes around my head.
After years of use, the gel part that goes against my face started wearing out, so I called the company, spoke with a human (Holy Crap!) and they guided me to a replacement part that made my mask good as new. I don’t have to tell you how unusual that was, or how appreciated. Buy one or you’ll end up like me guv’nor.