Andreas is the passionate craftsman behind Puerto Rico Hardwoods—a man whose joyful spirit, unmatched artistry, and commitment to reviving forestry are at the heart of this story.
Every now and then....
you meet someone who seems to carry the whole rhythm of life within them. Someone who doesn’t just move through the world but dances with it—breathing it in with joy, meeting it head-on with energy, and shaping it into something beautiful. Andreas is one of those people. To describe him simply as the owner of Puerto Rico Hardwoods would miss the point entirely—he is its heartbeat, its soul, and its story.
Andreas is a man who truly lives. Every day is fresh in his eyes, like he’s seeing the morning light for the first time. There’s a wild, contagious happiness in him, a deep joy that bubbles up just from being alive. He doesn’t take life for granted—he celebrates it. Whether it’s a piece of wood in his hands, a guitar across his lap, or a deep conversation about the state of the world, Andreas shows up fully, with curiosity, playfulness, and purpose.
The Art Of Hardwood
His love for wood isn’t a profession—it’s a calling. He breathes it. It lives in his bones. Watching Andreas work with timber is like watching a musician play an instrument they were born to hold. I had the pleasure of witnessing this first-hand—standing beside him as he worked on what would become a stunning mahogany table. It wasn’t just a job. It was a kind of quiet ceremony. He ran his hands across the surface like he was listening to it, like it was telling him what it wanted to become. His tools moved with intention, with care, with respect. Every stroke of the sander, every measured cut, every moment of pause—it was all part of the dance between artist and material. He doesn’t force the wood; he collaborates with it.
And this is no ordinary craft. Andreas has spent his life fighting to bring back the lost art of forestry—not just in Puerto Rico, but across the United States. What was once a noble and essential tradition has, in many places, been abandoned or stripped of its soul. But Andreas refuses to let that happen. Through Puerto Rico Hardwoods, he’s reclaiming what was lost—not just the trees, but the stories, the patience, the connection to the land. He knows every species like an old friend. He can read the age, the strength, the memory of a tree in its grain. And in each piece he creates, those memories live on.
Where dose it comes from..
Andreas is powered by three great passions: wood, music, and politics. Each of them reflects a part of his soul. With wood, he is grounded, present, and deeply connected to something older than any of us. With music, he is fluid, expressive, and free. When he plays guitar and sings, there’s something raw and honest in his voice—as if the same hands that carve beauty from a slab of cedar can strum out truths we all feel but can’t say. And with politics, Andreas is fiery. He believes in justice, in speaking up, in doing things the right way even when it’s the hard way. He doesn’t shy away from complexity—he dives into it with both feet.
But what truly sets Andreas apart is how he meets adversity. Most people, when faced with challenges, hesitate. They second-guess, they stall, they back away. Andreas does the opposite. He welcomes the hard stuff with open arms and a grin that says, “Let’s go.” He doesn’t just face difficulty—he thrives in it.
Whether it’s navigating the impossible red tape of land use laws, surviving literal storms that have wiped out landscapes and tools alike, or just managing the grind of running a business that values integrity over shortcuts—Andreas never flinches.
He laughs, he sings, he gets to work. It’s not that life gives him a free pass—it’s that he chooses not to crumble. He chooses to turn resistance into rhythm, to carve beauty out of chaos.
Georgia Forestry Commission
This special post features Andreas from Puerto Rico Hardwoods and highlights his recent meeting with leaders from Georgia’s forestry industry, including Matt Hedstad (Georgia Forestry Association), Devon Dartnell (Georgia Forestry Commission), and Layla Wallace (GFA Foundation). Georgia, once almost entirely deforested, now boasts a $400B timber economy—driven by collaboration between government, academia, and sawmills. The conversation offered powerful insights for Puerto Rico’s own forestry future.
Andreas brings his trademark passion and clarity to the table, sharing what it might take for Puerto Rico to build a thriving, sustainable wood economy rooted in craft, conservation, and community. A must-read for anyone interested in the future of forestry on the island.
Be Mindful
When you see one of the tables, chairs, or sculptures from Puerto Rico Hardwoods, you’re not just seeing wood—you’re seeing the soul of someone who fought for that piece. Andreas honours where each tree came from and shapes every creation with joy, intention, and reverence. You’re witnessing the years of a man’s life spent learning the language of trees and translating it into something that will last for generations.
Andreas makes you believe in craft again. In slowing down. In doing things properly, with care, beauty, and purpose. Through Puerto Rico Hardwoods, he’s not just building furniture—he’s telling stories. He’s preserving a lost language of place, material, and meaning. He reminds us to pay attention—to where things come from, and how they’re made.
So when you sit at one of Andreas’s tables, you’re not just sitting at furniture. You’re sitting in the presence of art, memory, and soul.
You’re sitting with a piece of him.
And That’s a good story.
