The Roots So Far: Notes From Late in the Season
Late in the season, a quiet look back at what began with a tractor and a stubborn decision not to light a fire.
We did not set out to start a studio. We set out not to burn something.
Summary
- The project began with a refusal to burn old coffee roots and grew, step by step, into candleholders turned by hand.
- Many things went differently from the plan, including the first bowls.
- The work ahead is mostly more of the same: patience, care, and honest description.
Key takeaways
- Small decisions can set a long course.
- Early failures shaped what we make now.
- Looking back is useful when it changes what you do next.
It is a good time of year to look back. The rains are easing, the cherry is starting to color, and the workshop in town is busy.
Where it started
It started with a heavy trunk and a simple instruction: do not burn it. See The Morning We Almost Burned a Century of Coffee Roots. We had no plan beyond that. We did not know whether the wood would be good for anything.
What we got wrong
We got a lot wrong. The first bowls were a disappointment, and we did not keep them. See The First Bowls We Did Not Keep. We underestimated how long the roots need to dry. We overestimated how many of them would turn out to be usable.
Each mistake taught us something. The bowls taught us that the wood wanted to be a different shape. The drying taught us patience. The failed roots taught us to choose more carefully.
What worked
The candleholder worked. It suited the wood, the lathe, and the size of the roots. It also suited the story, since a candle is a quiet, human object. See The Candleholder That Changed Our Plan.
Other things worked too. The serial numbers and the Verify page made each piece a record rather than just an object. The handwoven cloth bag gave the unwrapping a sense of ceremony.
What changed on the finca
Something shifted in how people on the finca talk about the old trees. Roots that would once have been burned are now carried out carefully. Workers ask which ones might make good pieces. That is a small change, but a real one.
What has not changed
The wood still takes its time. Marvin still prefers a plain explanation over a fancy one. The turner still stops when a root tells him it is done.
What comes next
More of the same, honestly. We will keep digging only the roots we need, drying them slowly, turning them with care, and describing them without exaggeration. We will keep building the laboratory and the roastery side of the finca at the same slow pace.
If there is a lesson in the last stretch, it is that a good project does not need a grand plan. It needs a first right decision, and then a willingness to keep paying attention.
Common questions
Did you plan to build a business from roots?
No. It began as an effort to avoid burning something valuable. The business followed from that.
Will you make other kinds of objects?
We are focused on candleholders. Anything else would need to be as well suited to the wood.
Keep reading
Every piece is one of one.
Browse the specimen archive and acquire the piece that speaks to you. Each is catalogued once and sold once.