Kitchen and home decor, hand crafted from sustainably sourced wood, using solar power.
SolarTreeGoods products
My shop is expanding. 5 years of design and fabrication have seen me start from an idea to help dry and recycle plastic bags, to a kitchen utensil rack, and framed mirrors with inlay and most recently checkerboard themed tealight holders.
I’ve always loved useful gadgets and handmade wood products, so my work in the garage of my home is a joy, and seeing the products loved by my customers is fulfilling.
How to shop
The purpose of this site is to tell my story and share more information about the products I create. At this time, I sell exclusively on Etsy and at local craft fairs. If you already know what you want to purchase, use the Etsy links throughout this site to visit my Etsy Storefront!
Why Etsy? As small business owner, Etsy helps me manage the bookkeeping, shipping, customer reviews, and other logistics, so that I can spend my time in the workshop!
Mark’s story
I have been a “maker” and craftsman most of my life. My first job was in a custom cabinet shop. The hands on aspect took hold and in my 30s I entered the world of fine jewelry. I operated my own jewelry store for almost 25 years. Through it all, I enjoyed making and repairing beautiful things for others, as well as for my family. Creating “Useful gadgets” has always been a particular joy for me. Along the way, I’ve always included sensitivity to re-use and recycling, as well as alternative energy. Using solar power and sustainably sourced woods in my shop is a firm commitment to further those goals.
Now, I’m using my tools and talents in my semi retirement to support myself, as well as this endangered planet, with your help.
About the wood
All the wood which SolarTreeGoods uses is sourced from trees that were discarded in the area close to Minneapolis and Saint Paul of Minnesota. As just one example, you may have heard of the infection of Ash trees by the Emerald Ash Borer. This invasive beetle species is deadly to the trees it infests. Consequently those cities are removing and replacing Ash trees. My supplier collects and processes their wood into kiln dried slabs which I can fashion into products. Other species of trees are available as well.
About the solar power
I had solar panels installed on my house in 2016. Planning and efficiency resulted in those panels producing over 30% more electricity than I use each year. That is the solar power I now use to run the machines in my shop.
“I love the fact that this wooden bag dryer is made from repurposed wood using solar power--double sustainability! Plus, the wood is well crafted and smooth, which is key when putting thin plastic bags over it--no snags. Easy instructions and this drying rack is attractive on my countertop when not in use. Practical, well made, and high quality.”
—Etsy Review
FAQs
How do I shop your products?
Currently I only sell through Etsy and at local craft fairs. Use this site to learn about the types of products I make, and visit my Etsy storefront.
Where does the wood for SolarTreeGoods products come from?
Every piece starts as a tree that was already coming down in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area — often removed due to disease or storm damage, like ash trees lost to the Emerald Ash Borer. A local supplier collects and kiln-dries that wood into slabs, which I then shape into finished products. Nothing is cut from a living forest for this shop.
Can I get an item customized?
Yes. I had solar panels installed on my home in 2016, and they generate about 30% more electricity than my household uses in a year. That surplus is what powers the saws and tools in my shop — so the "solar" in SolarTreeGoods isn't a metaphor.
Are your tools actually powered by solar energy?
Drying racks come in different forms. I can change the number of gallon or quart size posts, for instance
I have also made custom mirror sizes and wood choices as available materials allow. Send me a message via the messaging app at ETSY for a direct conversation.