In 2002 my friend Bill Lane and I took a ride around the backroads of Tioga and Chemung Counties in New York and Bradford County in Pennsylvania. Our discussion lead to thoughts on how to preserve the heritage and workmanship that went into the building of the surrounding farmland structures and other architecture in the deteriorating countryside. From that seed the thought of recycling the wood and architectural features set in motion Wood & What-Knots of Character.

The thought was to devise ways to salvage and reuse the materials and reduce the impact on the demand for hardwoods and softwoods prevalent in the timber industry in our area. It was also intended to salvage and honor the heritage established by our forefathers.

After taking down my first barn in Newark valley New York I discovered a love for things vintage and antique as I was required to remove a large number of items stored in the barn prior to the deconstruction process. Tools, furniture, hardware, toys, and a myriad of other items filled my truck before the first board was salvaged. I had inherited a new love of all things old and well crafted.

Although a lot of the wodden beams were sold off immediately the salvaged pine, hemlock and hardwood planks and siding languished instorage with little strategy for their turnover. In addition I was ill equipped to broker the many other items I had accumulated and needed to find storage for them as well. Twas a learning process all the way.

Eventually I began selling at flea markets and through the help of friends set up a quaint shop in the small Village of Waverly NY. The turnover was slow and I spent more money supporting the project than the project could generate.

I began to successfully recreate a few things that sold, and found venues via E-bay and long term setups in flea markets and small shops for both the antique and vintage items as well as my own primitives. I still needed to develop a strategy to support these activities although I began seeing progress in the previously lopsided balance sheet.

That was when I added additional products to my line including woodworker hardware and accent pieces. These were natural compliments to the things creation I was engaged in.. Although these are not directly created by me they became enough of a seller to enable me to break even on my efforts to renew, reuse, and recycle.

At first most of the items I made were rather primitive and my son-in-law, wife and a few others were "kind" enough to let me know just what they thought of them. With time I think I have become better at producing items from my recycled materials that have beauty and character with solid, and useful design. I'll let you be the judges of that though.

On January 1, 2014 I awoke to realize that I no longer had a commitment to make a living for my corporate employers. Retirement had become a reality. Although my employers have provided a decent living and the funds to support a few of my own dreams I find myself much more enthusiastic about pursuing my commitment to sustainability and to another project that has become near to my heart.

As I move on to my new full time commitment to the goals of Wood & What-Knots of character I have also given my commitment to do what I can to combat world hunger. In today's society with all our capacity to produce, process and distribute food I find it deplorable to think that companies will waste and dispose of hundreds of thousands of tons of food each year while so many people both here and abroad are dying, in ill health or are just plain hungry.

In the 70's and 80's my family and I were active supporters of the Lancaster PA Jaycees and as such I have evolved to affirm the tenet that "Service to humanity is the BEST WORK OF LIFE" and as such please peruse the following.

I am fortunate enough to be an American. I believe that we are "all", and when I say all I mean all and not just Americans, endowed with certain inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I also believe that without life no one can pursue anything much less liberty or happiness. Life requires food, water and shelter. When we deny anyone food, water or shelter we deny them their most basic rights. In turn that denies them of any possibility of gaining any other rights. We are our brothers' keeper and as such "A thousand times each day I must remind myself that my inner and outer life is dependent on men (and women) both living and died from whom I have received and am still receiving and I must give of myself in the same measure. (Albert Einstein).

With this new year, 2014, I will begin my effort to ensure life for all world citizens. I hope you will join me in the effort.

I frequently Sponsor the United Nations (UN) the WFP provides an extremely efficient distribution of much needed foods throughout the world. Beneficiaries of the program include the poverty stricken citizens of the USA, as well as needy populations on the 6 major continents of the world. Thank you for recycling, saving heritage and feeding the world.