I gather wood from many places, Hard rubbish collections, Rubbish Tips, 2nd hand shops and Opp Shops, Discarded wood items given by neighbours and friends.  Wood is warmth with a history of use as fire,  for housing, weapons, furniture, boats, wagons and much more.  Our society discards wooden objects that have been created from our forests.  I prefer to save what I can and create something that retains marks of age and usage and where possible elements of the original identity of the wood.  I am not a traditional worker in wood.  I don't restore the wood to as new status, preferring to allow the wood to define the finished piece, using the contrast between the different conditions of the timber.   Its fun.