Fallen Trees Get a Second Life

Silocone, metal, wood... most of us have a favorite for cooking utensils. Wooden utensils can make a great addition to your set. They're durable and won't absorb heat like metal. 

They can also be beautiful works of art. A few of my family went to the Vashon farmers market this weekend, and stumbled across this awesome crafter, John Moore of Treen Ware, who turns out beautiful pieces like these turners and spatulas. 

Each piece is engraved with his signature and the type of wood identified. 

He makes spatulas, turners, ladles, spoons, and more. Look at this gorgeous wood pattern.

While wood is a durable, heat-resistant, and renewable material, you still don't need to use virgin lumber for pieces like this. John only uses "second chance" wood, that is, trees that have fallen naturally or need to be removed for other reasons. 

Like what you see? You can find John at the contact info below, or at the Vashon farmer's market. 

You can find similar pieces and other wood-working using fallen trees by searching: "second chance", "reclaimed", or "salvaged" wood.

While these utensils do cost a bit more than at  standard department store, you are also paying for the craftmanship.

You can also look into these businesses as an option to take away fallen trees. Seattlewoodturners.org is an example organization who will take your wood (no cost to you, and a donation receipt!) for use by their members. Compared to landscapers, waste removal, and other services, this can potentially save you hundreds $$$ while providing free raw materials to craftspeople.

Digest: 20 Tips to Stretch Your Food

To say I love food is an understatement. Taste is my favorite of the senses, cooking is a creative outlet for me, and eating a treasured hobby. 

Therefore, my fridge is always full, and there are always leftover meals or ingredients to get creative with. It should come as no surprise that over the years, we've gathered all of the following posts and tips to make the most of your food: 

Use Up Raw Ingredients

Preserve your end-of-season tomatoes by making sauce. 

Clean out your fridge after a holiday feast and make something completely brand new.  

Portion that tomato paste for future recipes.

Produce subscriptions connect you to "ugly" produce at a discount.  

Make your own spice mixes on demand. 

 

Reinvent Cooked Foods

Leftover mashed potatoes turn into a gourmet breakfast. 

Reinvent your Thanksgiving turkey and veggies with this cheesy pot pie.  

Use Scrap Parts

Most vegetable greens can make for a good pesto.

Reuse pickle brine for more pickles!

Don't throw out the oils from your jarred marinated veggies. 

Use whole foods (fennel fronds and lemons with rind!) for a flavor-packed entree.

Who knew bean juice was so versatile? 

Turn cobs and shells into a delicious broth for soups, risottos, and more.

Eggs shells make a good supplement for your plants. 

Keep your marshmallows fresh with a heel of bread.  

 Peel those (broccoli) stems for use in soups, stir fry, and more. 

Gardening

Regrow lettuce from it's core. 

Potatoes and tomatoes are easy to start in a home garden. 

 

Motivation

Get inspired by watching top chefs get creative with scraps.  

 Documentaries can help expand your thinking about other ways to reduce waste or reuse scraps.