Experiment with Nature » canada

Journey 024 – Lake Lovely Water

Shwood Shop — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 21:20:00 +0000

In Journey 024, we follow photographers Ben Giesbrecht, Shayd Johnson, and Nathan Martin on an excursion up to Lake Lovely Water in British Columbia, Canada. This trip has all the makings of an incredible adventure…good friends, glacial lakes, helicopters, cabins, fishing, canoeing, hiking, campfires, bears, the Northern Lights, wolves, and more!

Check out more HERE!

Journey 010 – Southern Saskatchewan

Steve Ebert — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 22:03:33 +0000

For the 10th installment of our Journeys series Ben Giesbrecht brought some of our shades along on an exploration of the prairies of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Most people have an idea of Southern Saskatchewan as flat, boring land – in Ben’s words “When people think about Saskatchewan, they don’t often associate it with anything but painfully flat fields, farms and roads that stretch out for hundreds of miles without the slightest turn or change of pitch. They aren’t wrong. Recently, we found ourselves in the southernmost part of the province that borders on North Dakota, these are a few rare cool places we found hidden deep within the featureless land.” See some selects from Ben’s Journey below, and check out the full photo essay HERE.

This is Oregon

Jillian Barkley — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:29:28 +0000

No matter where you live, adventure is much closer than you think. New experiences, unknown surroundings, and exciting opportunities are just waiting to be discovered. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of motivation and knowing where to start.

We’ve traveled to ten locations within a 90-minute drive from downtown Portland, Oregon to showcase the awe-inspiring landscapes that are waiting to be explored. From highway pull-offs to backcountry overnighters, and sun-baked coastlines to snowy mountainsides, there is something for everyone, everywhere.

At each location we captured a featured photograph and paired it with an interactive 360 degree panorama and Google map to help you find your way. Hopefully these destinations will light the fire for you to look beyond and explore the endless beauty waiting outside your door.

Happy Exploring

SEE THE FULL COLLECTION:

www.thisisor.com

Join Shwood & photographer Julian Bialowas for an interactive exhibition at The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel in Portland to get started on your adventure. Admission is free, and the first 250 guests will receive a custom Scoutbook. Complimentary beer provided by Widmer Brothers Brewing Company.

403 SW 10th Ave. Portland OR

May 3rd, 2012 / 7pm – 11pm

A project with ransom holding company

Shwood Shop — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:58:08 +0000

In a recent collaborative project with Canadian clothing manufacturer, Ransom Holding Co., we chose to work with a unique Canadian Oak that was sourced at The Century Mill, located outside the metro Toronto area. With the Mill dating back over 150 years, we were curious to gain some insight into the history of the place and the people that were tying this project together. Ransom got a chance to sit down with the some of the Mill employees and ask a few questions…

How long has the mill been around?

The land was purchased in 1848 and the mill itself was established in 1851.

Describe the family history and how the mill has remained a constant.

Established by William & Sarah Ratcliff from Essex, England. They started as a farm operation and set up a milling operation (both lumber and grist to start) on the present location using the power from the headwaters of the Rouge River which runs through the property. The business has changed names throughout the generations but has been passed down and is now run by the fifth generation, under the watchful eye of 90 year old Howard Ratcliff (4’th generation). Howard keeps us honest and has passed down a strong work ethic to not only the family but all of our employees.

How important is keeping the business family-run?

Good for the next in line in the family!!! (Nobody else cares that much.) It is good to maintain the family run operation, we stand behind our products and work, and take pride in running our business with old fashioned values.

It is good to maintain the family run operation, we stand behind our products and work, and take pride in running our business with old fashioned values.

Run us through a typical day on the mill.

In 1982 the water powered mill was destroyed by lightning. Fortunately the saws, pulleys and other equipment had been removed and donated to the Markham Museum the year before. They can still be viewed there and are still operational on occasion throughout events in the summer.

We still mill alot of lumber here at Century Mill but we are more of a re-saw, remanufacturing and milling operation now. Equipment has obviously been upgraded (though we still have some old machines and employees that work great!) and we now spend more time as a retail and wholesale yard in both domestic and foreign woods.

Canadian Oak was used for this this project, any unique attributes of this wood? Where did it originate from?

Oak from the northern and northeastern region of North America is well known for its consistency in colour, stability in movement and availability of good quality, kiln dried material. Northern Red Oak is a slower growing tree than its southern cousin and therefore is a harder, heavier timber. Red Oak can be milled, stained and polished to an excellent finish. Most (but not all) of our oak comes from Ontario, Quebec and NY State.

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