The cart ! is much more than just a tool to carry luggage; it is a physical manifestation of a philosophy. It emerged from years of journaling and a deep-seated desire to explore an alternative, more connected way of living and moving through the world.
Why the Cart was Built
The main catalyst for the cart was Spot, the dog. Spot struggled with van travel, often panting and uncomfortable during drives. Traveling by foot seemed like the natural choice, but carrying heavy packs filled with camping gear and dog food wasn't sustainable for long periods. The instinct was to find a solution that integrated Spot's journey harmoniously—giving him purpose without a physical burden.
The cart solved the weight problem and served as a playful step toward inventing a life that didn't just consume modern comforts but embraced simplicity, nature, and self-reliance.
How it was Built: Bones and Muscles
Before the cart came to life, it lived in numerous sketches—exploring designs like box carts, backpack rigs, and one-wheelers. The design had strict demands: it needed to be dismantlable for hitchhiking, easy to carry as a backpack, and repairable in the wild.
- Wood and Rope Construction: The cart is held together entirely by wood and rope. No screws, nails, or factory-made hardware were used (aside from the wheels and axle). The wood acts as the rigid "bones" while the rope acts as the "muscles and ligaments," tightly holding everything into a sturdy but semi-flexible frame.
- Semi-Flexible Strength: Because it's bound by rope, the frame flexes upon impact instead of snapping like a rigid metal or screwed wooden frame would. (This was tested firsthand when the cart survived hitting a concrete pole during a bike pull!)
- Dismantlable: Tension from the ropes can be quickly loosened, allowing the whole chassis to fall apart. This makes it possible to stow the pieces away into a giant pack to hitchhike or jump on public transport. Burned markings on the wood act as a guide to easily piece it back together.
- High Center of Gravity: The larger mass sits up high. While this makes it prone to tipping on steep trails, it prevents the cart from sinking into mud and makes it much easier to push through tall grasses and brush.
The Philosophy and Benefits
The cart represents a move away from modern, care-free consumer objects toward objects that demand skill, care, and connection.
Nurturing Over Consuming
Modern products are often built to resist decay, meaning they require massive amounts of human energy to recycle or deal with once they break. The cart is different. It relies on natural objects that welcome nurturing (like treating the wood with linseed oil). If a wooden piece breaks, you can simply drop it on the ground—it naturally returns to the Earth, demanding no complex recycling process and leaving no toxic footprint.
Independence & DIY Repair
When a piece is lost or broken, there is no need for a specialized mechanic or warranties. Armed with just a chisel, a folding saw, and a woodworking knife, broken struts can be replaced by foraging fresh branches from the woods.
Comfort From Within
Traveling with the cart strips away the excessive luxuries of modern life. It forces you to balance exposure (getting wet, walking barefoot, sleeping in fields) with gentleness (oiling the wood, resting when tired). By relying on fewer external comforts, you cultivate comfort from within. It transforms movement from a rigid schedule of "trying to get somewhere" into an organic, wandering dance.
Freedom of Mind
Dragging a handmade wooden cart with a loose dog through city streets or backcountry dirt paths draws stares and judgments. But this exposed way of traveling strips away the ego. It teaches you to accept the world's feedback without fear, shedding the burden of social expectations. It is a daily practice in moving to your own inner rhythm, allowing you to move through the world beautifully, capably, fully, light and life, more freely.
