What Da Cover Says: Out of all the trees in the world, the ash is most closely bound up with who we are: the tree we have made the greatest and most varied use of over the course of human history. One frigid winter morning, Robert Penn lovingly selected an ash tree and cut it down. He wanted to see how many beautiful, handmade objects could be made from it.
Thus begins an adventure of craftsmanship and discovery. Penn visits the shops of modern-day woodworkers—whose expertise has been handed down through generations—and finds that ancient woodworking techniques are far from dead. He introduces artisans who create a flawless axe handle, a rugged and true wagon wheel, a deadly bow and arrow, an Olympic-grade toboggan, and many other handmade objects using their knowledge of ash’s unique properties. Penn connects our daily lives back to the natural woodlands that once dominated our landscapes.
Throughout his travels—from his home in Wales, across Europe, and America—Penn makes a case for the continued and better use of the ash tree as a sustainable resource and reveals some of the dire threats to our ash trees. The emerald ash borer, a voracious and destructive beetle, has killed tens of millions of ash trees across North America since 2002. Unless we are prepared to act now and better value our trees, Penn argues, the ash tree and its many magnificent contributions to mankind will become a thing of the past. This exuberant tale of nature, human ingenuity, and the pleasure of making things by hand chronicles how the urge to understand and appreciate trees still runs through us all like grain through wood.
What I Says: What a fascinating read, just like Robert Penn and his Ash tree I got so much from this book. Penn one day decides to find the perfect ash tree, chop it down and see how many things he can make from it. Each chapter is based around an item being made, from Axe handles, to bowls, and even a deadly arrow. In the chapter you find out the history of how ash wood has been used to make that product, a history of it’s use, how it is made and the person who Penn has located to make it. So many interesting little things to learn about.
My favourite part of the book has to be Robin Wood and his bowl making, he uses a pole lathe, no electric lathe with CNC programming or big kilns for drying the wood, this is all done with man power. I’ve seen a pole lathe in action before and it is mesmerising, the fact that the wood worker can’t see what he is doing as the wood turns and yet somehow create something smooth and beautiful is insane, I own a Spurtle (porridge stirrer) that was made on a pole lathe and it is a thing of beauty.
I liked how much respect Penn had for the tree, he takes the time to pick the right one, he feels the guilt about cutting it down and promises the tree it will not be wasted and looking at the list of items at the end of the book he kept his end of the bargain. He also makes sure that some of the tree (the brash) is left behind to rot down for local insects, he also goes back a couple of years later to check on things which was a nice addition to the book.
I do have a couple of issues with the book, 1: the title, Penn doesn’t actually make anything out of the tree, I think it should be called the PEOPLE who made things out of trees. 2: it is hard to picture a few of the items being made, especially the desk, luckily Penn has many pictures and more information on his website, it is really worthwhile checking it out HERE, great to have a read if you are deciding whether this book is for you or not.
This was an excellent book, I enjoyed every page of it and goes onto my list of books to recommend to everybody.
Gnome Appreciation Society 