Kindling a Culture

Everything I create is carved completely through tradition. Living, renewable materials, that are locally sourced, and expertly chosen. Exceptional quality raw ingredients - These are turned into beautiful, generation lasting woodenware you can use in your home.

Walking through the surrounding forest with my packbasket, I fell select trees with the qualities needed for each unique project. Since 2006, everything carved is made using handtools- axe & knife, by utilizing the wood fibers' grain alignment to create strong craft.

Wood is a sustainable and renewable resource, unlike plastic - and, for eating utensils, much warmer and softer on the mouth than metal. Just like a chef relies on perfect ingredients to create fine dishes, I harvest my trees as the farmer would his crops - with the utmost care and respect for the tree.  I carve "green” wood meaning alive and full of sap. I therefore use my own careful drying techniques to deliver perfect, ready-to-ship items.

Unlike most modern woodworking which utilizes factory kiln dried wood and industrial sanding - my work achieves silky smooth finishes from a polished knife cut. No workshop, power outlets, safety goggles, ear protection, or respirators are needed. Just the clean and quiet cutting of wood fibers, as it has been done since ancient times. In complete harmony and balance with nature.

I feel that knowing where and how a product and it's materials are sourced, is a special and rare thing in our modern throw away culture.

— Alex Yerks, American Sloyd

#stopthrowawayculture