From Code to Coconuts: The Story of Our Quiet Life

Just a few years ago, my life was measured in lines of code and lit by the unwavering glow of a computer screen. I’m Oakley, and back then, my wife, Rae, and I lived in a sprawling city where I worked as a programmer for a big tech company. Our days were a cycle of deadlines, traffic, and takeout meals. By modern standards, we were successful, but we felt a deep and growing disconnect—a quiet ache for the natural world we both loved.

We knew we needed a change, a real one, something more than just a weekend escape. So, we made a choice that seemed radical to many: we left the city behind and moved to the countryside, searching for a quieter, more grounded way of life.

Our new life was a return to the essentials. We started a small homestead, and our days began to fill with the simple, joyful sounds of the earth—the clucks of chickens, the quacks of ducks, and the honks of geese. This was the soundtrack to a life being rebuilt by hand. Instead of buying mass-produced items, we began crafting things for our own home: simple wooden spoons, bowls, and decorations. We weren't trying to start a business; we were building a life that felt authentic. For us, quality wasn't a label—it was the feeling of an object made slowly, with purpose, held in our own hands.

Slowly, something beautiful began to happen. When friends and family visited, they were drawn to the items we had made. They held them, felt the grain of the hand-carved wood, and saw the simple, organic beauty in our creations. Their encouragement planted a seed, making us realize that this quiet passion for craftsmanship was something others were searching for as well.

This desire to share our passion coincided with a profound shift in our perspective. We had committed to making our love for the Earth an active promise, not just a passive feeling. This led us on a search for materials that embodied this promise. Our journey took us to Vietnam, where we now source coconut shells that are carefully selected from local farms for their strength and beauty. These shells, often seen as waste and destined to be burned, were the perfect symbol of our mission: to create something beautiful while being kind to the planet.

This is the foundation of OakenArk’s quality. Our products were born not from a business plan, but from this way of life. I personally craft each item, and to make them truly special, I carve custom symbols chosen by their new owners. My favorite part of this whole journey is knowing that every single product that leaves our workshop is completely unique, carrying our commitment and a little piece of your story with it.

Today, we are sharing our handcrafted goods with people all over the world, but our philosophy remains the same. We have no desire to become a big company. Our dream is to run this shop slowly and peacefully, to tend to it with the same care and love that we tend to our own home and garden. For you, this means every piece receives our full attention.

This is more than a business to us; it's a promise. When you hold one of our pieces, you are holding our declaration: an object made with sincerity, rooted in nature, and crafted to be a quiet, beautiful part of your life. Thank you for trusting us to bring a piece of our quiet journey into your home.