This spring eleven students enjoyed a day of hands-on learning at Nana Cardoon. Check out their journey from beginning with an applewood log, to ending with their own wooden spoon.
With hatchets ready, logs neatly piled, and examples of the spoon in various stages of making, artist and instructor Kiko Denzer explains the process and craft of designing and making a wooden spoon.
Each spoon begins with finding the perfect log, and getting it to the right length, too!
Working together to split the log.
Kiko demonstrates the many stages of spoon making, from the shape of a spoon to how each tool is used.
Students use hatchets and knifes to begin carving out the spoon shape.
Yes, that’s a cow with real cream. What else comes with a coffee break?
Then there is the spoon carving knife! Each knife is hand-made, beautifully crafted, and very sharp. The knife is included with the class, so students take the knife home to make more spoons for family and friends . Kiko mentions everyone should give away the spoons they make today, so they’ll make another one. (Everyone seems attached to their spoon at the end of the day – not sure how many were given away.)
The class doesn’t bother the local resident birds. This bird continues to feed its young just a few feet above all the action.
Mid-day break happens over a farm-fresh lunch. Everyone enjoys just-picked greens, farm-grown polenta, cardoons in a tomato sauce, farm-made cheeses, and the first strawberries of the season topped with Charlene’s own kefir-fermented creme fraiche for dessert.
More instruction, more carving – and the afternoon passes quickly.
“I didn’t believe I’d really make a spoon out of that log today,” a student states. Yet everyone crafts a beautiful and unique wooden spoon to take home.
Because the class was so popular another session has been added on August 15th. For more information or to reserve your seat contact Charlene at 503-357-4992 or at charlene@foodwaysatnanacardoon.com