I was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains - in Boone, North Carolina to be exact. That’s where I live and work today.
I created this line of garden products from natural materials native to my hometown, referencing designs from the Arts & Crafts Movement and Classical Art & Architecture.
My team and I work with several different types of local wood: locust, poplar bark, rhododendron and sugar maple to name a few.
The locust has been used by generations of families in my area. Typically this hardood is used for fences and railings: in fact, before codes became so strict, it was even used to buttress the foundations of homes. The wood is so unusually hard that it has to be cut with a chainsaw.
The bark that skins the boxes is from the poplar tree. Once a year, the bark can be harvested in the spring when it sheds. It’s then cured in a dry-heat kiln for four days where the temperature is raised to over 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This eliminates any moisture or living organisms to parent rot or mold. Typically the application for this bark is a shingle on the exterior of a home in my area: however, I make planter boxes instead.
My products are created out of durable materials and are meant to be enjoyed and last: however, like any outdoor furniture, it’s best to bring the boxes inside during the winter months. I also recommend not planting the steel liners flush with dirt but rather placing a terracotta pot on the inside. This allows for easy season changes.
These materials are familiar to me and my family - many of them are harvested from the woods adjacent to my childhood home. These pieces are more than just product from my workshop; they are artistic expressions of my lifetime and a celebration of the land I love.
Best,
Raleigh
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MY PRODUCTS
My team and I work with several different types of local wood: locust, poplar bark, rhododendron, and sugar maple, to name a few. The locust has been used by generations of families in my area. Typically this hardwood is used for fences and railings: in fact, before codes became so strict, it was even used to buttress the foundations of homes. The wood is so unusually hard that it has to be cut with a chainsaw.
The bark that skins the boxes is from the poplar tree. Once a year, the bark can be harvested in the spring when it sheds. It’s then cured in a dry-heat kiln for four days where the temperature is raised to over 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This eliminates any moisture or living organisms to parent rot or mold. Typically the application for this bark is a shingle on the exterior of a home in my area: however, I make planter boxes instead.
These products are created out of durable materials and are meant to be enjoyed and last: however, like any outdoor furniture, it’s best to bring the boxes inside during the winter months. I also recommend not planting the steel liners flush with dirt but rather placing a terracotta pot on the inside. This allows for easy season changes.
