03/31/2026
Got a lot of messages these last few months asking if we're still sharpening because I (Tai) hadn't posted anything for awhile. Yes...the sharpening and disbursement of funds has been happening and won't ever stop because this is a lifetime project for me. Sharpening is how I relax...so you're doing me a favor by bringing me knives to play with.
That said, I did take the winter off from making "content". I usually take the winter off for doing garage sales and this year also decided not to do the monthly posts. It's the slow time of year for sharpening and I spent the last few months focusing on my practice (my "real" job is being a mental health provider) and doing some advocacy work during the WA state legislative session.
Spring has sprung and it's time to talk about CLEANING...your knives! A lot of people are afraid to clean their knives thoroughly because they're worried about cutting themselves or damaging the knife. Here's a video I made awhile back about how to REALLY clean your knives. Please do so before you send them in for sharpening.
Funny story about knives that aren't clean...I can smell them when I'm sharpening. For example, I sharpen knives for my neighbor who owns a fish and chips restaurant. Machine sharpening generally warms up the metal and any oils not thoroughly cleaned off the knife. I can DEFINITELY smell the cod when I sharpen those knives from the fish and chips shop. I think it's my neighbor's way of getting me hungry so I'll stop in the restaurant. Apparently Good Friday is the busiest day of the year for fish and chips restaurants.
For December 2025 through March 2026, we were able to disburse $3,057. Here's where the money went:
- $1,490 for mental health mutual aid: Paying for services for people who can't afford them and providing financial support for intern clinicians who work typically work unpaid internships. Priority to BIPOC and People with disabilities.
- $1,380 mutual aid: Providing grocery store gift cards and financial support. Priority to BIPOC, people with disabilities, and households with children.
- $100 to Immigrant Defense Network in Minneapolis.
- $87 for training and equipment for our alliance members. Priority to BIPOC and people with disabilities.
Garage Sale & Sharpening-While-You-Wait is back too. This Sunday from 10 am - 2 pm. All funds generated from sharpening support mutual aid and social justice. Used and new knives available for all price ranges, including free knives as mutual aid if you can't afford one. Just ask me for a mutual aid knife.
