Green Wood Spoon Maker

It is such a gift to find something to do that you love, and for nearly 30 years now I’ve been making wooden spoons and other utensils from green wood. For me, usually, there are only three simple tools involved. A hatchet, a knife, and a bent knife. These tools are small, easy to carry and to care for, and require no electricity. One set of them could last you close to a lifetime. As with any craft, there are literally hundreds of choices of tools, and dozens of ways to shape wood into a spoon. I’ve tried many tools and many ways. Making a spoon is a really nice project because you create something from start to finish in fairly short order, and get a wonderful sense of satisfaction. Then, you have a spoon. Everyone needs a spoon. You give them away or sell them, and they are gone, and because they are useful material objects made of wood, they are somewhat ephemeral. Every spoon you make teaches you something new. Every piece of wood is different, so there is always a sense of exploration and unknown. You learn how to take care of your tools. There is a rhythm.

Still, as with many things we do that we love, we can habituate, and lose connection with what we are doing, and question why we do it. I go through this from time to time, and when I do, I enjoy looking back at some old photos of past projects. I’ve made hundreds and hundreds of spoons.