Off-Grid Living, Woodworking, and Treasures
Donald J. Claxton | The Timberlander Off-Grid Living and WoodworkingTimberlander TreasuresUnlock the secrets of off-grid living and woodworking, plus, find Timberlander Treasures!
Off-grid living
Are you ready to live a more sustainable and independent life?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! On my website, you’ll find a wealth of information on off-grid living, including topics such as:
- Tent-camping
- Greenhouse gardening
- DIY timber frame shelters
- Bushcraft shelters
- Forestry and timberland management
- Alternative off-grid power sources
- How to meet basic survival needs
I’m dedicated to helping you achieve your off-grid goals, and I’m here to answer any questions you have along the way. So what are you waiting for? Start your journey to a more sustainable and independent life today!
Woodworking
Are you captivated by the scent and allure of freshly cut timber?
Do you enjoy creating visually stunning and functional pieces, large and/or small? Let’s attempt, build, carve, and experiment with woodworking as it applies to off-grid living.
Together, we will identify, plan, carve, and timber frame shelters with different:
- Wood species
- Vintage hand tools
- And present inspirational ideas you may apply to meet your needs
Enchant yourself in the world of woodworking!
Timberlander Treasures
Looking for one-of-a-kind gifts, furniture, and wall decor?
Click to find unique, handcrafted treasures that will bring the outdoors inside. My specialties include:
- Making rustic home decor into one-of-a-kind gifts like wooden custom crosses
- Basswood carvings of gnomes, Santas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas figurines
- Lake Superior driftwood art
- Wooden furniture
- A. Maycee Grace crazy dog t-shirts
- AI-generated decorative woodsy patterns
- Scenic landscape photography of Lake Superior and cool views of the UP
I also collect, use, and sell vintage hand tools, not to mention very sharp carving knives, gouges, and more.Â
The Donald J. Claxton | The Timberlander and A. Maycee Grace guarantee.
Donald J. Claxton | The Timberlander
Hey, Y’all!
Here are glimpses into my adventures in woodworking, making timber frame shelters, and practicing bushcraft on a shoestring budget. My Great Pyrenees, Maycee, and I spend considerable chunks of time in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, northwest of Marquette.
My specialties include making wooden custom crosses made from the land’s saplings and timber. This also includes whittling handcrafted treasures with basswood from the UP. I also make Lake Superior driftwood Christmas trees and art and prefer using vintage hand tools.
All posts, pictures, and videos show the rawness of off-grid living in a remote and dense forest within sight of the lake. Maycee and I share our triumphs and failures from experimenting with ways to grow more self-sufficient. Welcome to our beautiful, special world. You make being here all the better!Â
A. Maycee Grace
Woofff, and Hi!
My master makes t-shirts and other merch featuring the coolest Great Pyrenees on the planet–me!
Nothing ships without passing my “smell test.” Nothing.Â
Like most Great Pyrs, when told to do something I do not want to do, I don’t. When my daddy fusses at me, I always get in the last “moans.” Not to worry, this is how I keep him out of trouble. I love him so much and hope you will, too! Â
My woodworking; Let’s chop things down to size….
Woodworking Craft and Influence
My maternal grandfather, an artisan himself, began influencing my passion for woodworking more than 50 years ago.
He imparted his craft through books, articles, hand tools, and occasionally, harsh critique.
Growing up a good many years as a kid on K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base nurtured my enduring affection for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Reverence for Materials and Attention to Detail
Every woodworking project includes reverence for the materials used, regardless of their purpose.
Inspired by my grandfather’s teachings to examine art from multiple perspectives, including upside down, my emphasis centers on details that accentuate the distinctive attributes of every creation.
My hope is to craft enduring heirlooms that will withstand the passage of time.
Uniqueness, Quality, and Customer Satisfaction
My custom creations will never sell in big box stores.Â
They exemplify excellence, therefore, I do not compromise quantity at the expense of quality.Â
Satisfaction with price, experience, and timely delivery are top priorities.Â
Self-Sufficient Living: Clearing an Off-Grid Cabin Site – Donald J Claxton | The Timberlander
Are you dreaming of building an off-grid structure like a Shawn James or Trustin Timbers’ log cabin?
I’m taking on the challenge of building timber frame shelters while camping in the wilds of Upper Michigan. This is the greatest adventure of my lifetime.
Watch as I eliminate rust-infected balsam firs, answer questions about layout and health issues, and explore possibilities of running water.
With my experience and your dreams, let’s examine the possibilities of making your own off-grid dreams come true.
Testing modes for off-grid living projects
I’ve combined a version of the traditional 5-step Scientific Method with my own to create a four-step testing mode process for managing my off-grid living projects.
For projects beginning in June of 2023, this is the process I intend to follow to provide you with tangibles so we can discuss outcomes based on objective data.
The Planning, Design, and Theory Stage
When planning new off-grid living projects, whether creating a timber frame shelter, water or off-grid electrical plan, or gardening function, these aspects will be documented in a blog post with a datasheet, and/or, a YouTube video.
This establishes the anticipated, measurable, and manageable outcomes.
Afterall, “what gets measured gets managed.”Â
The Development and Building Stage
Stage 2 combines the creation of a prototype or functional tool.
This can be a development where many test cases are considered and ultimately how the project of concern comes into physical being.
While building a widget, lots of documentation, procedures, and processes get recorded for analysis and modification.
Testing and Analyzing Data Stage
No project that avoids achieving a series of benchmarks and then undergoing testing and analyzing produces the best possible outcomes.Â
When living off-grid, knowing what’s working v. what is more costly than productive can have great consequences. The same principle is applicable to understanding costs and the return on investment in business. This is a crucial stage that can make or break a successful off-grid project.Â
Evaluations, Conclusions, and Recommendations Stage
Based on the evaluation results, the process, product, or function is revised or modified as necessary. This may entail making adjustments to the design or development process to address the identified issues.
The conclusions are written and rewritten into recommendations before their release. These could bring further improvements to the design, development process, or testing procedures.Â
