EW’S
gift
GUIDE
he guys at Back Forty
Woods in Eugene hand-
craft Oregon wood into
products that capture
the beauty and grit of
the Pacific Northwest’s
countryside while also
pairing well with an urban aesthetic.
Three brothers — Caleb, Jai and Tan-
ner Ralls — co-founded the company five
years ago. “We had a brainstorming ses-
sion when Jai came up with the name [Back
Forty Woods],” Tanner Ralls says. “It really
embodied the aesthetic we were after, hav-
ing the allure of wood, the grittiness.”
The Ralls brothers have hired only one
other person: Eli Kreigh, a woodworker,
designer and longtime friend.
Their work ranges from ping-pong
paddles that turn sport into art all the way
to large construction projects like de-
signing and constructing the Will Leather
Goods boxcar-style shop at the 5th Street
Market.
Woods native to the Pacific Northwest
like fir, walnut, maple, oak and madrone
are the medium of choice for these de-
signers. They source the wood from old
buildings, trees that came down in storms
or diseased trees, as well as trees from a
friend’s property.
“Any time we get ahold of a log we get
excited,” Tanner Ralls says, adding that
there is a several-years-long process of
milling and drying the wood before they
can craft with it. They like doing it all
themselves.
The most giftable items at the Back
Forty Woods shop are the table tennis
(aka ping pong) paddles, dog bowl stands
and cutting boards. A black walnut leath-
er-wrapped panel will run you around
$120, and maple or walnut cutting boards
start at $125.
The wood and metal raised dog feed-
ers start at $160. Spendy, but these are
not just utilitarian: They are art.
The most life-changing thing Back
Forty offers is building or remodeling
your home. They can redo your floor or
wall into a pattern of hardwoods that is
either complex and artistic, or simpler but
still elegant.
Ordering soon is imperative, as this
small shop is booked far in advance. It
could take months for them to get to your
order, according to Ralls, so plan ahead.
This is especially true because they re-
cently worked with a large brand, pushing
them to their limits.
“It’s been a long haul, but it’s been a
great learning experience and a lot of
fun,” Ralls says.
T
Head over to BackFortyWoods.com for the full catalog.
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Eugene Weekly’s GIFT GUIDE 2017 5