Bulrushed started in a place most people wouldn’t expect: the dump.We were there because of books—lots of them. Returns, overstock, slightly damaged copies. Books that were still readable and useful, but no longer convenient for the system that moved them. Watching them get tossed felt wrong in a way that was hard to explain but easy to feel.We’ve always loved books. Not as collectibles or decor, but as things meant to be used, shared, written in, carried around, and passed on. Seeing so many of them treated as garbage made us stop and ask a simple question:Is this really the best we can do?That question is where Bulrushed began.
Chapter 1 : At the Dump
Bulrushed didn’t come together all at once. We learned by doing.We spent time inside the world of used and excess books—how returns work, how damage is graded, how pricing decisions are made, and why so many perfectly good books fall through the cracks. A lot of it comes down to speed, volume, and efficiency. If something doesn’t move fast enough, it’s easier to write it off.We didn’t come in with big theories. We just paid attention.The more we learned, the more we realized that a small amount of care—extra handling, better sorting, a second look—could make a big difference. Not every book could be saved, but far more could be given another chance.
Chapter 2 : Figuring It Out as We Went
Bulrushed grew slowly, shaped by practical choices.What can be repaired?What can be resold?What can be reused in a way that still respects the book?We focused on building systems that actually work, even if they weren’t flashy. Sometimes that meant more labor. Sometimes it meant saying no to the fastest option. Often it meant doing the unglamorous middle work—sorting, grading, testing, rethinking.Sustainability gets talked about a lot these days, and often it feels vague or empty. For us, the word that fits better is stewardship. Taking responsibility for what’s already here. Doing the best we can with what we’ve got.
Chapter 3: Building Bulrushed, One Decision at a Time
From the beginning, we’ve held a simple belief: no book should be wasted.By the time we were building Bulrushed, we understood why so many books end up discarded. The system moves fast. It rewards efficiency, not second chances. But standing at the dump made one thing clear to us—there had to be a better way.So when a book can’t be resold, we don’t see it as the end. We look for another path forward. Through careful repair and thoughtful renewal, we work to find a home for every book, even the rough ones. Some return to shelves repaired. Others are renewed into notebooks or bookmarks made from paperback covers—useful things that keep the book’s material in circulation and in people’s hands.That belief—that every book deserves a home—guides the work we do every day. It’s practical, hopeful, and rooted in the care and love for books.
Chapter 4: A Home for Every Book
Bulrushed is built on a simple belief: no book should be wasted.We’ve learned that giving books a longer life doesn’t require perfection or big promises. It requires attention, care, and a willingness to do the extra work. Through repairing books that can be repaired and renewing the ones that can’t, we do our best to find a home for every book that comes through our hands.Some return to shelves. Some become notebooks or bookmarks made from paperback covers. Others move on in quieter ways. But none are treated as disposable by default.That belief guides everything we do. It’s how Bulrushed started, how it grew, and where it’s headed next—one book at a time.
Epilogue: where we are now
We shared our story with John John Sacco on an episode of "Pile of Scrap"
We talk about everything from the origin of our name "Bulrushed" to how we rebind textbooks. We took John to the shop gave him a tour and answered lots of question. Watch this 20 minute interview and learn everything about Bulrushed Books.