From Tree to Table (literally)

The woodworking equivalent of “farm to table.”

Wood by the Cliff is a play on words and the etymology of my given name (Clifford, which originates from “ford by the cliff” or cliff-side ford). It’s also a good literal description of my woodworking: I first make the wood from the tree, and then I make the project from the wood.

Much of my wood is locally sourced. I enjoy milling trees from the urban/suburban environment, especially those that are unusual or not widely used in the products available in today’s mass market. These unusual woods (such as mulberry or elm),  give my creations and projects a unique character that you won’t find anywhere else.

In addition to sourcing wood from neighborhood trees, I have a plot of forested land in West Virginia from which I periodically select and mill new lumber. Felled trees are milled into rough-cut slabs, which are processed into finished or semi-finished boards, which are then sold or used in all of my projects. Since I select all of this lumber myself, I can be even more picky with my supply of wood – choosing the best length, width, and thickness for each future board in a way that takes advantage of the features ingrained in the wood during the tree’s growth. I can also look at a piece of wood and figure out what type of project it would be best for, which is how I often choose what to work on.

I am currently located in Fairfax, VA.