Applegater., July 01, 2014, Page 23, Image 23

Applegater Summer 2014
23
Creativity and sustainability
meet in new local business
by mElISSA mATThEWSON
It’s easy to get stuck in patterns.
Modern-day conveniences allow us to shop
where we want, buy whatever we want
whenever we want it and, most of all, allow
us to forget what goes into the making of
a product. It’s easy to forget the source of
the many things we purchase at Costco or
Best Buy and the negative consequences of
those products on our ecosystems.
Though it’s easy to shop this way, it’s
important to remember what goes into a
product. It matters how something was
produced. It matters that care, artistry, and
a conservation ethic are inherent in the
production of some things we purchase,
including clothes, food and furniture.
We live in an age of false abundance
with many of our preferences directed
toward affordability instead of quality
handmade and environmentally sound
products. I’m guilty of this myself, so it’s
always refreshing and exciting to discover
someone with a passion for integrating
artistry, conservation, and care into a
business.
Shane Jimerfield of ShaneJ
Woodworks is a conservationist
who has spent the last 25 years working
tirelessly for the environmental movement
by protecting some of the forests and
streams here in the Applegate. While
working in the conservation field, Shane
continued to pursue his passion and hobby
of woodworking. He has now transitioned
full time into channeling his creativity into
finely crafted furniture and buildings using
reclaimed materials and sustainable forest
products.
Shane’s business is unique in that
he is passionate about using reclaimed
materials from wood to hardware. He’s
interested in preserving the small-scale
craft of woodworking that has virtually
disappeared due to big business, global
markets, and mass-produced commodities.
Shane’s products—dining tables, garden
gates, furniture, or small houses—are
produced with a fine attention to their
environmental impact, so most of the
materials are sourced locally, offering
people an alternative to the Ikea model.
A prime example of Shane’s
The Dragonfly Teahouse is made partially
from reclaimed timber from the
demolition of some Oregon mills.
beautiful work is his Dragonfly
Te a h o u s e ( s e e p h o t o ) . I n t h e
construction of the building, Shane used
reclaimed timber from the demolition of
the Klamath Falls and McCloud mills as
well as sustainably harvested local timber.
He spent time looking for hardware
on eBay as well as at local antique shops.
He also worked with a local blacksmith at
Siskiyou Forge to design hardware for the
house. The Dragonfly Teahouse is currently
for sale. Visit his website to take a virtual
tour and see examples of his other work.
It’s easy to get stuck in patterns, but
Shane Jimerfield of
ShaneJ Woodworks and his apprentice.
Photo: Teena Jo Neal.
there is value in breaking those patterns to
support a local, sustainable business that
builds community, contributes to our local
economy, and considers the environment
in every aspect of its structure.
Shane Jimerfield can be reached at
541-499-2064 or shanej64@gmail.com.
And be sure to check out his website at
www.shanej.com.
Melissa Matthewson
melmatthewson@gmail.com