There are a lot of very talented woodworking bloggers out there. OK, maybe not me, but folks like Kari Hultman, Robert Pridgen, Dan Bean, Dyami Plotke and dozens of others are out there cranking out impressive woodworking know-how that hundreds of woodworkers look at, study and then go into their shops and apply the inspiration at their benches.

But, what about the woodworkers who can’t get into their shops? For them, the content we provide is a vital lifeline back to their shops – perhaps thousands of miles away.

Case in point – meet David Wert, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. He has been in active duty for 15 years now and stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. He is married to an amazing woman and has two little girls. He has really gotten into woodworking in the last couple years, and has a background in woodworking for most of his life. David’s Grandfather is the one who got him started when he was just a kid.  Check out some of David’s work at his RusticJoy Woodworking Facebook page.

Now, he’s three months into a one-year deployment in Afghanistan. Away from his family, friends and shop, following his favorite blogs has been a vital lifeline back to civilization. “ I work anywhere for 12 to 20 hours a day and sometimes it’s just sitting waiting for something to happen. It helps pass the time when I can sit and read what’s going on back in the real world having to do with woodworking. I really like reading all the blogs from you, Shannon Rogers from the Renaissance Woodworker, Marc from The Wood Whisperer and many others that I get a chance to read. I have learned a lot form all the blogs and other web content I have been able to get my hands on.”

When it comes to what he enjoys seeing the most, David has lots of favorites. “I love to read about projects that everyone is working on. Right now I am enjoying Matt’s “Walls of shelves” podcast he is doing. I am limited on what I can do on the Internet over here so I set my computer to play the video and a few hours later it is ready for me to push play. Rob Bois is another one that I really like to watch. He does a great job with the videos he does. I have learned a lot from all the guys on the Internet that I get to watch or read about.”

And, I just had to ask David – what does it mean knowing that we are back here in the States doing the woodworking thing and posting it online? “ I am in awe of the guys that are able to pump out content like they do. I go back and look at all that Matt has put out on Matt’s Basement Workshop and you would think that is his full time job. I just hope to one day contribute to the woodworking community like the guys I follow out there do.”

Any last words, David? “I consider every one of you guys my teachers I follow you all very closely and I want to thank each and every one of you out there that put content out there for the world to see.”

David, I don’t want to go too far out on a limb here, but I think I speak for all of the woodworking bloggers out there when I say thank you for what you are doing, and we look forward to seeing what comes out of your shop when you return home safely to your family.

Happy Independence Day.