Buying used tools is better for the planet and better for your wallet, but where do you find good deals? I periodically check a handful of sources - auction sites, message boards, and a few online communities. Read on for some specific links, and a few tips and tricks on how to find a great deal.

I remain committed to directing 10% of my revenue to net new clean energy projects, and since my last update on the accounting of this was over two years ago, it was time to refresh the systems I’ve had installed, and how much electricity they have generated.

Finding homes for beautiful scrap wood is a constant challenge for me; I’m always on the lookout for projects (or collaborators) that can put smaller and odd-shaped pieces to use. This design both caught my eye and was perfect for some pieces sitting in the workshop. Learn about the joints and fabrication of this unique piece, including a detailed dimensioned drawing to aid you in building it yourself!

I have committed Branching Out Wood to dedicate at least 10% of revenues to net new solar projects. In the years since opening up shop, I wanted to provide an update on how I’ve followed through on that commitment, as well as provide a few pointers to resources you might find useful in helping to evaluate whether solar would be useful for you.

A few examples of applying the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra to my workshop, and resources you can take advantage of that allow you to do the same. This is good for the planet, and good for your wallet. And - at least for me - gave me some warm fuzzies in meeting a community of fellow makers and woodworkers who could benefit from my scraps, and were willing to give me theirs, all free of charge.

How environmentally conscious is using wood as a building material? What is embodied carbon? Don’t plastics last longer? If you’ve been confused about the environmental impact of wood products and wood furniture - or even about a campfire - this article will help you make sense of it all.

Much of what I sell requires “wall power” both to validate for the customer that it works, and to attract folks to the booth in the first place. Yet selling at booths, on the street or in a festival, I am rarely provided with power, and generators are almost never allowed. This article describes the battery / inverter / solar solution I’ve put together to close this gap.

Sustainability has always been part of my creed, well before starting Branching Out Wood, and certainly living in Northern California has only cemented my practices. This article describes the net new solar investments I have made - and continue to make, what “net new” means and why it matters, and the thinking behind a solar business I recently started.

What to do with all those wood cut-offs, narrow strips, and odd-shaped pieces that just aren’t quite big enough to make a lamp or tealight? They’re too nice to burn or compost, and too many to give away as samples at the festivals. In this article, I explore share two ideas that I’ll be exploring in earnest in the coming months to keep the scrap bins from overflowing.