What Are We Doing to Our Own Name? A Kashmiri Reflection on Saffron, Trust, and the Future
Saffron is not simply a product in Kashmir. It is labor, landscape and family memory, and that is why it matters when its name is sold carelessly.
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Author: Ishtyaq Qadri
Ishtyaq Qadri, also known as Wosta, is the maker and founder of Koshur Chaan Woodworking, established in 2015 in Johns Creek, Georgia. His Kashmiri heritage and years of healthcare work serving U.S. veterans inform a practice grounded in precision, patience, and care. He makes hardwood cutting boards, serving boards, and custom pieces by hand and writes about woodworking, board care, heritage, and everyday craft.
The Beauty We See — and the Craft We Should Not Ignore
Kashmiri walnut carving is admired for what we see. This essay looks at what we don't: the history, the wood, the joinery and the standards beneath the carving.
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The Trees of Kashmir: Kashmiri and English Names
Discover the trees of Kashmir through their Kashmiri, English and botanical names—from chinar and walnut to deodar, willow and birch—with stories of craft, language, landscape and Burzahom.
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What Building a Kashmiri Shikara Taught Me About Family, Heritage, and Craftsmanship
A friend's daughter wanted a decorative cart for her wedding. We built a Kashmiri shikara instead: a small piece of Dal Lake, far from home.
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Why Humans Love Natural Wood: The Science Behind Our Connection to Nature
Discover why humans are naturally drawn to wood and how natural materials influence comfort, well-being, craftsmanship, and our connection to the natural world.
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Why Oiling a Cutting Board Feels So Good: The Psychology of Caring for Things
How to oil a hardwood cutting board, how often, and with what, plus why five quiet minutes of board care feel so good.
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