Pete Farmer’s barn adjacent to his Cedar home is unassuming on the outside. But just inside is the world headquarters of Farmer Musical Instruments, complete with plenty of foot-tapping musical contraptions.

At the core of his line of handcrafted instruments is the Farmers FootDrum, a system that incorporates numerous percussion pieces -- including snare and bass drums, hi hats, cymbals and a jingle stick -- into a small, suitcase-sized wooden frame. Performers operate the device with their feet, leaving their hands free to play another instrument.

The basic design, which sells for around $1,900, is made for economy and ease of operation. Farmer says he fashioned the instrument's rounded edges after the stylish sets of radio's golden age.

For musicians on the move, Farmer also offers the BackBeat, a customizable drum kit attached to a backpack frame. One part Dr. Seuss and two parts street show, the BackBeat is a marriage of innovation and practicality. And ingenuity is what Farmer is all about.

"My dad was really lenient with the rules in the woodshop as I was growing up," Farmer says with a smile. "He would just let me go for it with a hammer, probably at too young of an age."

Farmer discovered the liberating allure of music around 15 years ago while on a road trip.

"It was actually, [in] probably Colorado that I picked up an old, used guitar and just kind of bumed around on it," he says. "Even though it wasn't sounding good it was fun to just pluck away." Ever since, he has been collecting instruments of "american ilk" like banjos and lap steels.

When Farmer lost his job teaching social studies in Seattle in 2008, it forced him to reevaluate his plans.

"It did kind of kick my rear end into gear and into doing something that is slightly uncomfortable, which is trying to make money on something I didn't know was going to succeed," says Farmer. "There's no examples out there of people doing something like this."

Farmer combined his limited woodworking and music skills and started selling the forerunners to his current Footdrums. He experienced minimal success in Washington, and soon decided to head east. Northern Michigan, he says, seems more in tune with his brand.

"I've been shocked at how many people are coming out of the woodwork," says Farmer. "There's a lot of great music up here and I think people are open to this kind of thing."

Farmer's small operation now includes his wife Kate, a Holland native, and another part-time employee. They also rely on a growing band of satisfied performers and customers who spread positive word-of-mouth near and far.

Farmer Musical Instruments will be hosting a show at their shop May 10. The $13 show will feature The Suitcase Junket, local musician Matt Lorenz's "nationally touring, throat-singing, slide guitar playing one-man-band." Tickets and details here.