My name’s Juniper Grato, and I’m a handtool woodworker in San Diego County.

I picked this up as a bit of psychic escape from my work in Software.

Seeing Math materialise into Art that I wanted as my home satisfied something that programming didn’t really touch.

Lately, I’ve been working with some close friends to develop a way to teach math and physics concepts through the physical medium of woodwork to young folks.

The subject is quite rich with Mathematics that you just don’t need an equation to understand.

It’s great fun, useful exercise, and teaches some excellent lessons in risk management and safe tool usage.

I only use hand tools. Without the power tools, I would say that this is about as dangerous as making dinner with a kitchen knife. I’ve worked with a child as young as 6, but I’d say older than 8 or 10 might make more sense.

I’ve noticed that children who don’t have much classroom attention span can be very attentive when I explain how a tool works and how it might hurt you.

This work can also be terribly frustrating, encouraging you to deal with some big emotions when a part breaks or you realize something is going to take longer than you imagined. Working through those in a healthy way is very much a part of what I want to do with this project.

We’ve been making some basic furniture. Starting with drawings, then moving into preparing, marking and cutting wood with the same tools I use to make the furniture in my own home.

In an introduction conversation, I’ll be able to select a project with an appropriate level of complexity.

A simple piece will take about 4-6, 2 hr sessions at $80 a session and a few boards of wood.

My tools all fit in three small boxes, so any space where we can be a little loud and a little dusty will work.

I can secure a space for an additional fee, but any garage or back patio will work just fine.

Please send me an email to discuss a project!

vgrato@gmail.com