What Sustainability Means at Circle 7 Drums.
Circle7 Drums is a “Certified Green Small Business”, and we take that commitment seriously.
This is where I live. It is amazing and beautiful and I want to keep it that way.
It is our vision not only to produce incredible musical instruments, but also to be an example for other small business owners in order to help them commit to a sustainable future for their business and the world.
The cedar used for our drums is grown, harvested, cut, cured, and made into drums all within about a 50 mile radius. These trees grow slowly in the rugged mountainous terrain of the Mythical State of Jefferson in far Northern California. The wood is purchased directly from a local one man milling operation that only services our county. He specializes in cedar, mostly from private property owners, I personally select his best boards. I pay him cash, crack a couple jokes, shake hands, it’s very local.
Our woods are not only the local and sustainable choice but also have the advantages of dimensional stability, light weight, and as a music wood, cedar is warm and resonant with a "neutral overtone response". The other body parts are Sapele tone woods salvaged from the Mobius Megatar guitar factory.
Drums are finished with a special blend of non-toxic finishes, inside and out. Each drum gets a many-layered and ultra-durable finish, and as beautiful and durable as it is, our finishes are considered food safe by the FDA. This is really important to us, not only because it makes the workplace safer and more pleasant, but we have kids, and want to teach them to respect their habitat.
Our shop is built into a renovated old barn using a lot of reclaimed and salvaged materials as well as lumber from standing dead trees that were harvested and milled by hand. We burn scraps in a wood stove, and when that doesn’t keep things warm enough up here in the mountains, the rest of the firewood comes from our own land.
We recycle and purchase renewable energy credits to offset electricity use.
It is about scale, C7D is a home based family business. We are not a drum factory. Each drum is hand made with care with a name attached to it and with the primary intention being to delight, inspire, and immerse the player in positive vibrations and that is the truth.