Today we’d like to introduce you to Donald Woodard.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Ol’fashioned lumber was created here in San Diego but it all started years ago climbing ninety foot trees with a chain saw.
My passion for woodworking started when I lived in Eugene Oregon about eight years ago. I created a small landscaping business of my own while I was working with an incredible arborist who was teaching me the ropes. I learned by watching him climb massive trees and helping him get them all the way to the ground and into the chipper. I always hated seeing large beautiful tree trunks cut up for fire wood or hauled to the dump. So as I started my own journey into becoming an Arborist. My appreciation for trees grew into my passion for making things out of wood. If I had to remove a tree from a client’s house I would try to save as much as I could in order to reuse or recycle these trees into pieces of furniture. My garage slowly became a shop and I started making pieces of rustic furniture for my home. I became hooked on the art of creating something out of natural materials. I began making so many things that I would just give it away to friends and family in order to make room in my garage.
I have always worked and played in the outdoors, and the woods have been my home away from home ever since I can remember. I worked as an at risk youth counselor for years in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and The City of Eugene’s Outdoor youth program. I was fortunate enough to teach our youth how to survive and play in the outdoors and get creative with their surroundings. This led me into becoming an instructor of snowboarding, surfing, river guide, mountain biking and rock climbing. With every adventure I became more and more in love with my surrounding in nature. The trees and rocks formed an artistic expression in my soul that needed to come out. And so it did in my furniture design and build.
The plan for Ol’fashioned Lumber started in my friend Mike’s living room while playing music together and drinking Old fashioned cocktails. I’m sure you can guess how this story goes. The plan was created and I began to put it into action. Find wood and start making furniture. Since I had connections in the North West I began a journey from Whidbey Island to California. Picking up reclaimed wood from old barns and old grow timbers along the way. Ocean Beach is home to me and I love it but there aren’t too many places for creating a wood shop that can house big projects and big slabs of timber. So a friend of mine let me use his back yard and Ol’fashioned Lumber became a reality. First project was a build out for The Nest coffee shop in Ocean Beach by the pier and then some seating for Pure Project Brewing in Mira Mesa. At the same time looking for a shop space to grow into. So I finally ended up in Barrio Logan. Now in our New Location on Main St. near the Coronado Bridge.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
All of our materials are sourced from the US. We don’t use any wood from other countries because most of them are not sustainabley harvested. In fact we get most of our materials from right here in San Diego. Often we get calls from people in San Diego County that would like us to help salvage the memory of their beloved tree by turning part of it into a unique piece of furniture. The challenge we face is not in the building but in the moving of heavy wood. It is not an easy task moving a 2,000 pound piece of timber. It is too often on terrain that is uneven or elevated and full of obstacles to maneuver around. Even after we get it to the shop we have to move it another three to four times in order to cut, store, and dry the piece. Then move it again to be shaped and sanded. And one more time to be finished and delivered to the customer. Our team has to be on point and ready to lift heavy wood just about every day. So our challenges come in keeping our equipment running and bodies in tip top shape.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Ol’ fashioned Lumber is a local company that is helping people bring a piece of nature back into their lives with beautiful wood furniture for their home or office.
Ol’fashioned Lumber furniture is handcrafted using locally salvaged wood sourced from neighborhoods in San Diego County and the Northwest. When trees are scheduled to be removal due to hazard or declining health, we salvage them and give them a second life as quality furniture that’s absolutely unique and one of a kind. Our team has to think out of the box or square. Most of the time we are not dealing with straight or dimensional lumber so our furniture resembles things you would see in nature.
We specialize in beautifully hand crafted live edge tables. We strive to keep the raw natural look in every piece of furniture. Embracing the imperfections that are natural, unlike most modern day manufacturers who want to cut it out and discard.
We make hand crafted table and furniture for everyone. We work with some of the most highly regarded San Diego Interior designer and architects. We also work with small local businesses, coffee shops, breweries and restaurants, and local home owners. Our range is vast and we have a price point for everyone.
Ol’fashioned Lumber works with locally sourced reclaimed wood as well. We sometimes salvage old pallet wood and building materials from new construction sites. Currently we have a huge supply of Marine Wood that was salvaged from the old bait dock here in Mission Bay.
Our variety of lumber is what sets us apart. We have unique pieces of wood that most people never get to see in their life time. Coming to the Ol’fashioned Lumber shop is a mind blowing experience in its self. You will get to see unbelievably big Old growth timbers that are hundreds of year’s old, giant red cedar burls, 23 foot tall by 4 foot wide live edge Sitka spruce slabs, beautiful black walnut, and amazing avocado root balls that where harvested from Jason Mraz Family Farms.
I am so proud of our team at the shop. They have become the roots of our business holding us together like a family while providing and nurturing this journey.
My wife Devon comes to the shop and helps with all aspects from chopping wood and moving lumber to cleaning the shop and getting supplies on her days off. She is a ray of light and brings a positive and all too important balance of feminine energy to the shop.
My partner in crime is Zakhar Smirnov from Moscow Russia. He joined the team last year and has been a huge blessing to have as a friend and employee. He is as passionate for design and wood working as anyone in the field and is team Ol’fashioned all the way. There is nothing we can’t figure out while working together. He just makes things done on the regular.
Brett is a long-time friend here in Ocean Beach and is a work horse. He brings a light hearted funny atmosphere to the work place every day. He has been off and on with Ol’fashioned from day one. His passion for health and teaching yoga is a good balance and reminder for us to stay tuned with our number one money maker that is our body.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1815 Main St. A
San Diego CA 92113 - Website: www.olfashionedlumber.com
- Phone: 619-808-6161
- Email: don@olfashionedlumber.com
- Instagram: olfashionedlumber
- Facebook: ol’fashioned lumber
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
