Step inside the woodshop at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, and you’ll discover much more than a place filled with tools and equipment. It is a gathering place where creativity, craftsmanship, friendship and lifelong learning come together. Here, residents share knowledge, explore new interests and create meaningful projects that enrich both their own lives and the Oak Hammock community.
The woodworking shop reflects the spirit of Oak Hammock’s vibrant senior living community, where residents develop new talents and contribute their experience well into retirement. Filled with professional-quality equipment and the familiar scent of freshly cut wood, the shop welcomes everyone from first-time woodworkers to accomplished craftspeople.
With nearly 40 resident members representing a wide range of backgrounds and skill levels; the group welcomes anyone interested in learning, creating or sharing their skills. For many of those members, the woodshop was the primary factor in moving to Oak Hammock.
Beautiful bowls crafted from locally harvested wood, segmented wood creations, handcrafted pens, kitchen utensils, wine accessories and decorative pieces showcase both technical skill and artistic vision.
That welcoming atmosphere comes to life through the residents who make the shop such an active part of campus life. Residents Steve Gird, Keith Berg and Kent Cori welcomed me into the workshop as they worked on a variety of projects before later sharing many of their completed pieces, now proudly displayed throughout their homes. Resident Gloria Nelson also shared her experiences during a phone interview. Several works created by woodshop members are displayed in the showcase located in the lower-level lobby hallway.
“Our goal is to make things, learn new skills, teach others, and above all, enjoy the creativity and engagement this wonderful hobby provides,” said Oak Hammock resident Steve Gird, president of the woodworking group.
The well-equipped shop includes lathes, table saws, band saws, routers, sanders, dust collection equipment and a dedicated assembly and finishing room. While Oak Hammock provided the original equipment, residents have expanded the shop over the years by donating tools and resources as they joined the community.
That spirit of generosity extends far beyond the workshop walls.
Over the years, resident woodshop members have completed numerous projects for Oak Hammock, including custom bookcases for the art studio and assisted living, storage cubbies for the fitness center and specialty racks and shelving used throughout campus. They even built protective storage crates for the community’s towering seven-foot Christmas nutcrackers, helping ensure the beloved holiday decorations remain in excellent condition year after year.
A Place to Learn
One of the woodshop’s greatest strengths is its culture of mentorship and neighbors helping their friends. Experienced woodworkers generously share their knowledge, helping newcomers safely learn techniques, gain confidence and discover the satisfaction of creating with their hands.
“We love to share and help others learn,” Gird said. “Also, the woodworking shop is my happy place, so I’m frequently there.”
Membership is open to all Oak Hammock residents and both men and women participate. Whether someone has decades of woodworking experience or has never stepped into a shop before, there is always someone willing to provide guidance and encouragement.
Lifelong Creativity
For many residents, woodworking represents the opportunity to explore a longtime passion or begin a creative journey they never had time to pursue earlier in life.
Every member brings a unique story and perspective to the shop.
Gird, who spent 40 years in research and development with James B. Beam Distilling Company, began woodworking after retirement and has become one of the shop’s mentors, helping maintain equipment and teaching others safe woodworking practices.
Gird, who also mentors students at Santa Fe College, was introduced to woodworking by his father. He began seriously pursuing the craft in 2006, creating furniture and desks, before discovering woodturning and the art of crafting wooden bowls in 2014.
Emeritus University of Florida psychology professor and Oak Hammock resident Keith Berg, Ph.D., creates intricate segmented intarsia wood art which often requires more than 100 hours of work. Intarsia wood art is a mosaic-like woodworking technique where individual pieces of natural, unstained wood are cut, shaped and fit together like a puzzle to create a three-dimensional image.
Although he always wanted to become a craftsman, Berg now finds inspiration in the wood itself, searching for pieces whose natural grain, color and character suggest a design.
“I don’t decide right away what I’m going to make,” Berg said. “Once I see something I like, I take what it gives me.”
Frequently inspired by nature, Berg carefully combines different wood species to highlight contrasting colors and unique grain patterns, transforming individual pieces into striking works of art.
“Different artists at Oak Hammock inspired and encouraged me,” Berg said.
Retired engineer and Oak Hammock resident Kent Cori also found woodworking to be both creative and restorative. After decades designing engineering projects for CH2M Hill, a global engineering firm, he turned to furniture making before discovering the art of woodturning. Today, due to a health condition which prevents him from working with wood, he channels that same creativity into acrylic art.
Cori first discovered woodworking in high school, then returned to the craft more than 30 years ago while balancing a demanding engineering career that involved frequent travel. He found that working with wood provided the perfect counterbalance to the pressures of his profession.
“Woodworking is a great stress reliever,” Cori said. “When you’re focused on creating something with your hands, everything else fades into the background.”
Building Community
The woodshop’s collaborative spirit extends beyond woodworking. Woodshop members frequently work alongside other creative groups at Oak Hammock, including the art studio, and are planning additional classes and demonstrations for residents interested in exploring the craft.
A relatively new member of the Oak Hammock woodshop, resident Gloria Nelson, also serves as an art instructor for the life plan community. As she has learned woodworking, she has been inspired by the welcoming atmosphere and generosity of fellow members.
“Everyone is extremely helpful,” Nelson said. “If you want to learn, someone is always willing to teach.”
Nelson believes the creative process, whether through painting or woodworking, offers benefits that extend far beyond the finished piece.
“I believe art is the cheapest therapy there is,” she said. “My recommendation is to just do it. There should be no stress or anxiety when you’re creating. Art gives people a sense of relaxation and peace.”
For Oak Hammock’s Vice President of Plant Operations and Facilities Management Bill Griffin, the value of the shop goes beyond the projects themselves.
“The residents in the Oak Hammock woodshop are just an incredible group of craftspeople,” Griffin said. “They’ve built everything from shelving and fitness equipment racks to the potting station and garden signage, and the quality of their work really stands out. The smaller pieces they create, such as bowls and wine holders, are just beautiful. I think it is great that we have such a richly talented group of woodworkers that contribute so greatly to the community.”
Whether they are building furniture, turning bowls, creating works of art or helping a neighbor discover a new hobby, members of the Oak Hammock woodshop demonstrate that craftsmanship is about much more than wood. It is about lifelong learning, meaningful friendships and the joy of creating something together.
The woodshop is one of the many activities and resident-led programs on campus. There are many other creative spaces which make Oak Hammock a vibrant community, where passions continue to grow and new experiences are always possible.