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Ian Snider

@mtnworks

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MOUNTAIN WORKS CONSERVATION
Protecting our natural resources on the farm, in the forest, and by crafting natural built timber frame structures.

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In the fall of 2024, Hurricane Helene touched down in the Appalachian high country. In the Grayson Highlands of Virginia a grove of Red Spruce trees were toppled by the powerful winds.
It was an area I was very familiar with, just a few minutes drive from my shop.
Red Spruce from the Grayson Highlands is a very special tonewood that has a storied history with local instrument makers, and it is an ideal wood for tops and braces on guitars, mandolins and other stringed instruments.
My thought was that perhaps among all this destruction there could be a chance to salvage workable timber that would become musical instrument grade tonewood.
In the spring of 2025, after securing the proper salvage permits from the regional Forest Service, I called on my neighbor and respected woodsman, Ian Snider @mtnworks
I asked him to assist me and a few friends in salvaging sections of the Red Spruce blowdowns while the timber was still usable.
We selected the trees that had the most promising characteristics: largest in circumference/diameter, free from branches, free from twist/runout, and free from defects like storm damage and wood boring insects. We sawed the Spruce sections into 2’ rounds, the rounds were then hand-split into quartered billets and hiked on foot out of the woods.
I am very thankful for this special opportunity and I would like to thank everyone who helped out in the process.
Many generations of my family have cut, milled and worked with timber, including Red Spruce, I’m proud to be carrying it on.
I am excited to offer this wood in my musical instruments for years to come. - Jackson Cunningham. #cunninghamhandmadeinstruments #mountainworks #redspruce #tonewood #salvage #reclaimedwood #sawtostrings #swva #boutiqueguitars #appalachianspruce by @mtnworks

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a year ago

“Steeped in Stewardship” is our trademark for a reason. #horselogging #timberframe #custombuild #nchighcountry #wataugacounty #ashecounty #blueridge #appalachia #sawmillbusiness #forester #steepground #familyforest #workhorse #mtnworks #conservation taken in Phipps General Store by @mtnworks

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2 years ago

Log camp with the boys.
#forest #forestry #horse #horselogging #farm #ranch #postandbeam #timber #timberframersguild #timberframe #custombuild #appalachia #blueridgemountains #alleghanycountync #local #harvest #lumberjack #carpentry #sawmill #mountain #mtnworks #conservation taken in Piney Creek, North Carolina by @mtnworks

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3 years ago

Hay y’all! Eat hearty and enjoy the snow. #hay #explore #appalachia #ashecounty #wataugacountyfarmersmarket #lamb #grassfed #family #farm #ranch #mountains #trad #wool #northcountrycheviot #sheep #mtnworks #conservation by @mtnworks

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3 years ago

This we shall conserve. Happy New Year to all y’all. #wncfamily #ashecounty #appalachian #farmkids #sawmill #logyard #sledding #childhood #childhoodunplugged #sharingiscaring #siblinglove #mountain #mountainkids #mtnworksfarms #mtnworks #conservation by @mtnworks

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3 years ago

Mountain runnin’ Works. High ground with @keithbosak is the best ground. taken in Blue Ridge Mountains by @mtnworks

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3 years ago

Blood, salt*, and grass makes flesh and bone. #grassfedlamb #grassfedbeef #watugacountyfarmersmarket #boone #goodneighbors #farm #ranch #farmlife #ranchlife #beef #lamb #dryaged #mountains #pastoralism #appalachia #transhumance #local #locallamb #localbeef #ashe #wilkes #watauga #rotationalgrazing #sweat #tears #minerals #mtnworks #conservation taken in Appalachian Mountains by @mtnworks

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3 years ago

Conservation Carpentry…Forest to Frame. #timberframe #local #nchighcountry #watauga #ashecountync #alleghanycountync #graysoncounty #woodmizer #whitepine #mortiseandtenon #mallet #chisel #handmade #mtnworksconstruction #mtnworks #conservation taken in Boone, North Carolina by @mtnworks

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3 years ago

Grinding through the winter like…

#horseloggers #timberframehomes #appalachia #blueridge #timber #forestry #boone #wildlife #habitat #goldenwingedwarbler #whitepine #ranch #farm #mountain #nc #va #tn ##nchighcountry #customhomes #construction #smallbusiness #sawmillbusiness #local #craft #smallbatch #mtnworks #conservation by @mtnworks

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4 years ago

‘Cause we still know how. #sorghum #fall #blueridge #workhorses #mtnworks #conservation taken in Cherry Lane, North Carolina by @mtnworks

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4 years ago

Late Summer vibes in the High Country log woods. Happy to be helping Anderson Precision Forestry harvest some monoculture Eastern White Pine. This project will create critical habitat for the threatened Golden Winged Warbler and renew a more bio diverse native hardwood forest #cablelogging #yarderlogging #regenerativeforestry #highsouth #nrcs #mtnworks #conservation by @mtnworks

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4 years ago

Smokin’ em cause we got ‘em. Happy Solstice and 40th Birthday to Ian McAfee Snider. #lamb_shoulder #Brushy #mtnworks #conservarion by @mtnworks

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4 years ago