About Us - Roots & Boards

Roots & Boards was started by Bryen Boniface with a vision to create a space where people can learn practical, hands-on skills that reconnect them to their community, their creativity, the land, and the work of their own hands. At the heart of that vision is my Christian faith and a desire to use the skills, opportunities, and resources God has given me to serve others.

My woodworking journey began in 2016 in the garage of my apartment, building projects out of pallet wood with very little experience and a willingness to learn. Since then, I have been almost completely self-taught through YouTube, research, trial and error, and simply taking on projects that challenged me to learn something new. I know firsthand what it feels like to start without formal training, an expensive shop, or all the right tools. That experience is a big part of why Roots & Boards exists.

My gardening journey started a little later, in 2023. Much like woodworking, I began by learning as I went—researching, experimenting, making mistakes, asking questions, and figuring out what worked through hands-on experience. I am still learning, and I do not consider myself an expert gardener. But that is also part of what I want Roots & Boards to represent. You do not have to know everything before you begin, and you do not have to be an expert before you can learn alongside others, share what you have discovered, and help create opportunities for people to grow.

Over time, I began to see how naturally woodworking and gardening could go hand in hand. A garden may need raised beds, planter boxes, trellises, compost bins, potting benches, fencing, or storage. Woodworking gives us the ability to build many of the things that help a garden function, while gardening teaches patience, stewardship, sustainability, and how to work with the land. Both skills encourage people to slow down, work with their hands, solve problems, and gain confidence by seeing something grow or come together because of their own effort.

The idea for Roots & Boards began taking shape in 2025. I wanted to create more than just a woodworking shop or a place to take classes. I envisioned a welcoming community where people could learn by doing, build confidence, develop practical skills, and form relationships with others along the way. I also wanted to offer gardening education for people who may want to grow some of their own food but are unsure where to begin. Since I am still on my own gardening journey, I want Roots & Boards to be a place where we can continue learning together and bring in experienced gardeners, growers, and community partners who can share their knowledge as well.

On the woodworking side, I wanted to create a place where someone interested in the craft could learn the basics and try different tools before spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars building their own shop. Sometimes people are interested in learning but simply do not have access to the tools, space, or someone willing to show them where to start. Roots & Boards is meant to help remove some of those barriers.

Giving back to the community has always been an important part of that vision. Through Roots & Boards, I want participants to learn while working on projects that can serve local organizations, families, and neighborhoods. Instead of simply building something for practice, whenever possible we can use those same skills to build something that has a purpose—whether that is a food pantry box, a bench, a picnic table, a raised garden bed, or another project that can bless someone else.

My faith has also shaped my desire to make these opportunities accessible to people who may not otherwise have them. One of my long-term goals is to provide free or low-cost opportunities for young people transitioning into adulthood, as well as adults rebuilding their lives through recovery programs, including Christian recovery ministries. Someone may be looking for a fresh start, a productive outlet, a new career interest, a way to grow their own food, or simply the confidence that comes from realizing, “I can do this.” Lack of money or previous experience should not automatically prevent them from having that opportunity.

Roots & Boards is built around the belief that people learn best by doing. You do not have to already know how to build, garden, grow food, or use a shop full of tools. You just have to be willing to learn. I am still learning too, and I believe there is something powerful about creating a community where knowledge is shared instead of guarded.

My hope is that Roots & Boards becomes a place where people can develop practical skills, serve others, grow in confidence, reconnect with the land and their food, and build relationships along the way. Whether someone comes to pick up a drill for the first time, plant their first vegetable, build something for a neighbor, or simply find a community where they feel welcome, I want there to be a place for them at the workbench and in the garden.