Wood Sources
The process for making a spoon begins with the search for scrap wood. In San Lucas Tolimán, a coffee growing region, coffee and gravilea are the most common woods available. Gravilea is the shade tree for the coffee plants and many people use old scraps of coffee bushes for firewood. Both types are a softer type of wood and have lighter colors. Neither of these woods is restricted so it is simply a matter of going out into the fields and collecting, although we also do have certification and a license to work with the wood.
The woods that are used by the Spoonmakers in Petén are native to the humid flatlands that make up the region. They are hardwoods and have their own unique colors and designs. The woods are Jobillo, Cericote, and Manchiche.
All of the wood comes from either what is found from dead tree trunks or what is purchased as certified wood. And while scrap wood (or what will be used as firewood) is still a common source, the group has been making the transition to buying more certified wood. It is imperative that no trees are cut to obtain wood for these projects and special efforts are made to preserve the local forests and natural tree growth. The Spoonmakers have also contributed to a reforestation project by planting trees.
|
