A busy wood shop, even if it has just one worker, has a constant flow of materials and products. Even though I have a pretty big shop, organizing this flow is tough. When it’s done right, it minimizes wood waste, keeps work spaces clear, provides good stock for instruments, supplies other artists with stock, feeds the wood stove and mulches they garden. A good example of reducing waste are these “mosaic” style block rims. Instead of using clear walnut stock for the rim, I save and process all the laminated scraps left from making the necks. It probably takes 5 banjos before I’ve got enough for one of these rims. Because the stock is laid out randomly, I never know how they will turn out, which I love. The walnut for the neck on this banjo comes from an orchard in Missouri, harvested by a customer’s grandfather. The pistachio comes from California orchards.