The Creation of The Elderwood Project

The Elderwood Project began the same way most worthwhile things do. With a problem, a pile of discarded materials, and a stubborn refusal to accept waste as inevitable.

Over time, one thing became impossible to ignore. Perfectly usable wood was being thrown away at an alarming rate. Pallets, beams, boards, offcuts, furniture, and structural timber were ending up in skips or fires when they still had decades of life left in them. Wood that had already done the hard work of growing was being discarded simply because it was no longer convenient.

The Elderwood Project was created to change that.

This project represents the first stage of the Nordheim Viking village project. It serves two clear purposes. To source and process usable wood for future buildings at Nordheim, and to raise the funds needed to bring that vision into reality.

The approach is straightforward. Unused and unwanted wood is rescued and assessed honestly. Some pieces are cleaned, prepared, and sold on at affordable prices to help others build without buying new. Some are repurposed into handmade items that are both useful and well-made. Where timber is strong enough and suitable, it is processed, seasoned, and stored specifically for use in the construction of Nordheim itself.

This is not about chasing a rustic look for the sake of it. It is about respect for materials. Wood takes decades to grow and moments to waste. Every board that passes through the Elderwood workshop is judged not by its age or appearance, but by its potential and structural integrity.

From the outset, The Elderwood Project was never intended to be just a workshop. In time, it will grow into a dedicated shop offering handcrafted wooden wares made from reclaimed materials. Alongside this, the project will run classes and workshops for the local community, sharing practical skills, traditional techniques, and a deeper understanding of working with natural materials.

Most importantly, every sale, every saved board, and every finished piece directly supports the creation of Nordheim. Elderwood is the groundwork. The quiet, practical beginning that makes the larger vision possible.

The Elderwood Project exists because old wood still has value. Because sustainability should be practical, not performative. And because building something meaningful starts long before the first wall is raised.

Where old wood tells new stories.