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Woodshanti History
In 1997 Tom Clossey and Shawn Berry started on the road to economic self-sufficiency when they took over a furniture shop in San Francisco's Bayview district. The shop grew slowly over the first four years. From the beginning there was a primary sensitivity to ecological concerns, and in 2001 the shop was certified by SmartWood as a Chain of Custody (COC) producer. In 2002, the decision was made to formally organize as a worker-owned cooperative. Early in 2003, Todd Rowan joined the Woodshanti workforce, rounding out the highly skilled team of inspired craftsmen. Bookkeeper extraordinaire Genevieve Munsey also joined the team in 2003 and whipped the company into financial shape. More recently, Laura King came on board in late 2004 to take over the finishing operations. From its humble beginnings, Woodshanti has now become a model for progressive business development in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In addition to using responsibly harvested woods, Woodshanti also uses the best natural finishes available in the natural finishing market. In 2002, we sent a team member to the Germany to be trained by the industry leaders in natural finishing.
Woodshanti Philosophy
Woodshanti is committed to leading the craft of woodworking into a new era where efficiency of design and responsible use of resources receive equal importance to the high level of woodworking skill that is expected of master craftsman. We are also committed to making all aspects of our business as harmonious as possible. Shanti (shän-tee) is the Sanskrit word for peace and symbolizes this effort towards harmony. This includes everything that we interact with or influence, from the materials we use, to the companies we support, and everything in between. Our concerns fall into three main categories: economic, ecological, and social.
Economic
We strive to run a financially profitable business while adhering to our ecological and social concerns. We are commited to providing our clients with an economically viable alterantive to today's commercial woodworking. We also provide our workers with a living wage, health care, and educational benefits. Recently, we were certified as a Green Business by the City of San Francisco.
Ecological
Responsible Use of Resources
Our lumber has Chain of Custody (COC)
certification for FSC
certified responsibly harvested lumber and also SmartWood
certification for Rediscovered Wood,
which includes salvaged, recycled or reclaimed wood. These can count towards
LEED Materials & Resources credits.
For more information, visit the US
Green Building Council.
We use natural finishing products made from plant oils and resins. These actually produce a more beautiful final product than the conventional petro-chemical based finishes. In addition, there are minimal toxins introduced into the environment during manufacture, application, or disposal. Our finishing products are also far superior for indoor air quality concerns. Using natural finishes can count towards LEED Indoor Environmental Quality credit.
Social
Charity projects
We have a budget to sponsor charity projects for the local community. Past projects have included: Donating garden benches and a sign for a community garden in Hunters Point, donating a china cabinet for a KQED fundraising auction, donating a four-piece furniture set to the Woody Harrelson Oasis celebrity suite at the Hotel Triton (all proceeds from the suite go to Woody's non-profit organization).
Local groups
NoBAWC—Network of Bay Area Worker Owned Cooperatives
We are actively involved in the local coop movement. Our members played a leading role in organizing the highly successful Bay Area Worker Cooperative Conference held in San Francisco Fall of 2004.
SFUAS—San Francisco Urban Alliance for Sustainability
SFUAS was founded by several local businesses that--utilize sustainable practices and impart consciousness as the foundation of their business model. This includes sustainable businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, professionals, educators, non-profiteers, retirees, students and children coming together with a common vision. The intention is to create a dynamic model of sustainability in San Francisco, uniting responsible business practices with community development, social equity, and ecological integrity. Read more on sfuas.org