Grant Olive
Snowmageddon claimed the tree, but Grant Olive carries its story forward.
The Story
Nate Grant is my neighbor, my good friend, and a Journeyman Bladesmith who works under the name Made by Tuna. During what we now call Snowmageddon—a rare week of snow and freezing weather here in South-Central Texas—an olive tree in Nate’s backyard didn’t survive.
It was a small tree, and I almost turned him down when he offered it to me. I’m glad I didn’t. Though the yield was limited, the wood revealed striking figure and unexpected beauty. It became a prized addition to my collection of reclaimed woods—proof that even a tree cut short by a storm can still carry forward a remarkable story.
About the Tree
Olive (Olea europaea) is better known for its fruit than its timber. Native to the Mediterranean, it’s an evergreen with narrow, silver-green leaves and a slow, gnarled growth habit that only grows more graceful with age. While Texas isn’t its homeland, olive trees are sometimes planted here as ornamentals, their resilience in heat and drought making them well-suited to the landscape.
What they can’t endure is prolonged hard freeze. Snowmageddon—the rare winter storm that struck South-Central Texas—proved too much for many, including the small backyard olive that became Grant Olive.
The tree shown here is simply an example of the species — not Nate Grant’s actual tree.
About the Wood
Olive wood is dense, fine-grained, and full of character. Its heartwood ranges from creamy gold to warm brown, often streaked with dark ribbons that twist through the grain. The figure can shift from calm waves to wild, chaotic patterns — no two pieces ever alike.
In the shop, olive turns cleanly and takes on a natural luster with just oil, though its density and interlocked grain ask for sharp tools and patience. Boards are often short and irregular, making yield limited, but every usable inch is worth the effort.
Grant Olive may have been small in supply, but it revealed striking figure and unexpected beauty — proof that even a single backyard tree can bring uncommon character into the Salt Shaker shop.
Why It Matters
Every board of Grant Olive carries more than the figure in its grain — it carries the story of friendship, storm, and salvage. When Snowmageddon killed the small olive in my neighbor’s backyard, it could easily have been discarded. Instead, it was shared, saved, and given purpose in the shop.
Olive wood itself is a reminder that beauty isn’t measured in size or yield. Even a small tree can hold striking character, its grain revealing patterns already written into its life. For me, working with Grant Olive is about honoring that truth — that no piece of good wood, and no story tied to it, is ever too small to matter.
Made From Grant Olive
The first Grant Olive pieces have already found homes, but a little more of this rare wood remains. A few new creations will be coming — not much, but enough to carry the story forward.
Grant Olive vase — this piece has found a home.
Grant Olive lidded bowl — this piece has found a home.