Written by Valeria Turturro Klamm
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photography by Demond Meek
From spring to fall, Justin Leszcz of yellowtree Farm is a main fixture at farmers markets and provides fresh produce to many St. Louis restaurants. but come wintertime, he has always been a maker of things. Last winter it was ceramics; this winter, he converted a 6-by-6 closet in his apartment into a woodworking studio. “i’ve always done art. i look at woodworking as an art form,” Leszcz says. his woodwork has quickly become more than just a hobby to keep him occupied during agriculture’s off-season. With no formal training, Leszcz has gone from carving ducks in high school shop class to creating beautiful spoons, spatulas and cutting boards. his pieces are used in kitchens such as Juniper in the Central West end and are available for purchase at parker’s table. he’s even creating tap handles for perennial artisan ales and coasters for Sump Coffee. aside from hand-carved kitchen utensils, Leszcz has also crafted coffee tables and headboards, although he says he’s not a furniture maker. Some of his most striking work features the intricate geometric designs he fashions out of lath – thin, narrow strips of wood once used in latticework
Inspired Food Culture
FEBRUARY 2014
51