Today in the orchard
The wood that will become the door. In clockwise order (starting at the top and ending in the center); ash, birch, tigerstripe maple, cherry, beech, red oak, and apple,
(Report by Skylar.) Some days we hop between a number of tasks; other days we focus on just one. Today we spent the majority of our time building a door. This door will live in the little cabin being constructed in the Finley Lane Orchard. Its primary functions are to fit snugly into its frame, to open, to close, to keep certain things out, and to keep certain things in. That said, we’re also treating it as a bit of an art piece. Being nice to look at is another important function of a front door. This door is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of wood. I don’t know how many species of trees’ wood will end up in the final product, but in John’s shop we’re surrounded by at least 11: apple, ash, beech, birch, cedar, cherry, hickory, hemlock, red oak, tigerstripe maple, and white pine. I’ve haven’t learned the types of wood by sight, but I recognize the splendor in the variation that I see. The other day we were talking about a small piece of wood. I asked if it was apple. He said it was cherry. I asked how he knew that. He said “I just do.” I laughed. John is a wonderful teacher, and most of the time he can answer to my questions with clarity and an empathy for the beginner’s mind. However, there are some things that require time and countless encounters with a subject to learn. I’m thinking that knowing your kinds of wood well enough to identify any random piece at a glimpse is one such example.
