Being a craftsman means many different things but today woodworking is the main focus. Roman Miller is a craftsman for Knoll Acres Woodworking who has worked there for four to five years. 

“After I retired, I was looking for something that would get me engaged. I grew up on a farm way back when I was a kid and farmers have a certain kind of carpentry. It’s rough carpentry, but I’ve always enjoyed it,” Miller said.

Miller makes children’s toys, puzzles, plaques, mottos and games. To make each of these items he needs different skills, skills that help him as he encounters new problems per project. 

Miller still gets his wood from his former farms. 

“We used to have a small farm west of town and had a mature oak forest on it, so we cut some trees and I still have a few boards left from that,” Miller said. 

He also gets some of his wood from Neff’s Lumber Supply up near Broadway, which supplies different types of wood. Using a variety of types of wood is helpful for different projects and different colors of the wood and grains. One of which is hardwood which includes oak and walnut that are more durable than softwoods. but in woodworking you develop unique skills and encounter new problems per project. 

“It allows you to be creative. There’s a certain amount of skill that gets developed. The things that I make today are much better than ones I made three years ago,” Miller said. 

In relation to creativity, Miller said enjoys that in woodworking, he can choose the pattern he creates. He then gets to cut it out and sand it. He does not like painting as much but at times has to use that skill. 

“Most of the things that I’ve made are from hardwoods. Softwoods are things like pine. I use pine sometimes, but hardwood is more durable,” Miller said. 

As a woodworker, sustainability is important to Miller. His example was to take a plastic and paper straw, you will throw the cup and straw away when you are done with it. He said is not sustainable, but if you have a reusable mug, that would be a sustainable item.