Kentuckian repurposing guns into garden tools

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Things are always heating up in Craig Kaviar's studio. His canvases, what were once guns, quickly become tools for growth.

"Start with a ripe barrel and then I flatten it, and then I punch a hole in it and the hole is for a handle," Kaviar said as he described his process.

After studying fine arts in college, Kaviar thought he was signing up to be an apprentice to blacksmith in Massachusetts.

But after the blacksmith left over a labor dispute, Kaviar stepped up.

"When I arrived, they said, ‘how’d you like to be the blacksmith?’" he recalled. "And I knew very little, but I just sort of… I knew enough to get started and I went to workshops."

The prominent forger has created many notable installations and hand railings.

But now the owner of Craig Kaviar Forge is using his craft to grow plants—and a safer community.

Guns to Gardens works to get guns off of the streets and into the garden.

According to Kentucky state law, guns seized by law enforcement that are part of a crime are turned over to state police and put up for sale at a public auction.

"So it doesn't get off the street, it just gets recycled on the street," Kaviar said. "And so [Guns to Gardens] managed to figure out the legalities of doing this so it doesn't have to be surrendered to the state police. So that's an amazing thing."

When he was asked to help turn guns into garden tools, Kaviar was "very happy" to join the cause.

Kaviar says that even though the organization is based on people voluntarily handing over their guns, it still represents the desire to change gun access.

"I think it's more symbolic to show people really don't like the laws and having guns so accessible to people who are not responsible," he said.

This allows Kaviar to mix a cause he is passionate about with his craft.

"And I’m making a tool that is highly functional."

On Sunday, June 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Douglas Blvd Christian Church, the local Guns to Garden chapter is hosting a safe surrender event where community members can anonymously bring in unwanted guns, which will then be turned into garden tools.