The TaprootMesquite – There’s a Love/Hate Relationship
On our annual Mexican road-trip inland, we were drawn to the beauty of the mesquite tree. The traveler sees twisted, crooked limbs, sharp spiteful thorns amid flowers looking like long spikes of yellow catkins and delicate feather-like leaves; as yet, seasonal pods have not matured. There is a delicate fragrance perfuming the arid landscape.
Mesquite (from Nahuatl mizquitl) is a plant found in Mexico and upwards through Southern US; some species are also found in Central and northern South America. It is a deciduous tree reaching heights of 20-30 ft; depending on the particular species and environmental conditions, it can exhibit more shrub-like tendencies than tree. With long deep taproots making it an extremely hardy, drought-tolerant plant, ranchers consider this a nuisance tree because it competes with rangeland grasses for moisture.
Native Americans relied on the mesquite pod as a staple in their diet; the bark used for basketry, fabrics and medicine. Today, the flowers provide a nectar source for bees producing wonderfully flavoured honey. It made, and continues to be, a significant element in the natural and cultural landscape.
As with the harvest of many raw resources in developing countries, the growing demand for mesquite as a cooking fuel is causing environmental and potentially economic problems. It is being harvested to fulfill the growing demand for mesquite charcoal. Mesquite charcoal burns slowly releasing a smokeless, rich-scented heat. Beyond its primary purpose as a cooking and heating fuel in Mexico, it is used to fire kilns that create roof and floor tiles. Critics claim that the production of mesquite charcoal is an issue reminiscent of Third World tropical rain forests. It is my understanding that Mexico acknowledges these pressures and environmental concerns and is attempting to take measures to manage this.
As a species used for woodworking, it is hard and dimensionally stable. Teak, mahogany and mesquite are equally ranked as the most stable hardwoods in the world. It is harder than oak and maple. Long-lasting, it can withstand heavy weight and moisture changes. I’m hearing that it is becoming the ‘new exotic’ of the US as various woodworking and trade associations encourage the sourcing of local, home-grown woods to replace those that have fallen politically and environmentally out of favour.
The good points of mesquite are endless and yet it has been a most feared and hated tree. Despite the past scorn of stockmen, many are coming to the general belief that is it too valuable to extinguish and yet too dangerous to trust unwatched. Having reviewed the historical significance of mesquite, and the pros and cons of its modern wood-working value, I’ll say that for us at West Wind Hardwood, we do not actively source or sell this mesquite.
Shrimp fishermen in the Sea of Cortez have long used mesquite in the building of their boats, and its past significance to Colonial Mexico can be seen today from carved church doors to range fence posts. Weathered and well-worn furnishings can be found for sale throughout Mexico. Jan certainly took an interest in both the wood-working skills invested in these fixtures, but also in the idea of incorporating them in our future home; the casa of our dreams. We are owners of property in Sayulita, Nayarit…… someday we hope to build our ‘go-to’ home in the sun. And after 5-years, we started the process by talking to a local builder and an architect in March.
The reason I choose mesquite for this newsletter was because I loosely relate mesquite with the current trend to use wood smoke to flavour our food. Admittedly, it may be a loose word association at best, but I remind you that we are entering what is long-hoped, well-earned hot summer for the Pacific Northwest; filled with the smoke of outdoor bar-b-ques amidst family and friends. Please refer to my earlier Newsletter #12 – August 2007 – Smokin’ Hot. Read about the many choices for wood chips; their taste values and what wood best lends its flavour to which foods. Find out which wood smoke is Jan’s favourite! And don’t forget our salmon boards. These too enhance the flavours of fish and poultry. Try them in both your oven and on your bar-b-que or grill.
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ipe Wood-Stunning in Boat Work
This is an older boat, which my friend decided to restore. The old woodwork was taken out and each piece was replicated with templates, and Ipe has been installed. I can tell you the Ipe is stunning in boat work, however, it is very hard on the steel tools, like chisels and hand planes. Carbide power tools have no trouble at all with it. The wear on the steel tools is overwhelmed by the beauty, strength and value of Ipe.
- Bill Howard
Wood Carving by Don Bastian
Another amazing creation by our longtime customer Don Bastian.
His work is currently available at the Peninsula Gallery.
Don can be contacted by email at: donbastian@shaw.ca
Solomon Island Wood
I recently read an article form our brokerage company advising that logging practices in the Solomon Islands was not sustainable. So I immediately asked our contact for this wood to comment. Here is what was said:
“The Solomon Islands are a developing country and, as such, suffer from the misfortune of corruption and not having systems in place for conservation to the extent that we have here. It is true that there is illegal logging that occurs on some islands in the country. In particular, there is a great deal of bribery that occurs from the Asian logging companies that use naive landowner’s rights and privileges to log large areas. However, the government is making strides in enforcing conservation. For example, commercial logging can only occur on lands that are below 400 meters above sea level where the forest is accessible to logging. Some islands are low lying, and that is where this illegal activity is centered. There is also a maximum cut rate, and exports are monitored closely and include permitting, right of logging documentation and for species like the Tubi, extraordinary permission to log.
The majority of log resource land (80%) in the Solomon’s is owned by tribes in a community-like manner. Unfortunately, it does happen that a full tribe is convinced to log their area because the amount that the logging companies offer the tribes is more than they could earn in many years, even though in actual fact what the tribes are given is just a fraction of what the logs are really worth.
The article suggesting that logging resources will be depleted in the current year is, in my opinion, an exaggeration. There was a survey done over 5 years ago that came out with this prediction. Since that time, there have been other preventative measures put in place, to accompany the education that organizations like Greenpeace provided to rural landowners. Other measures like the establishment of a CITES office, and tightening of logging and exporting rules since the end of the civil tension which brought a strong Australian/New Zealand influence on government services.
In our practice, we do not participate in these methods of logging, but purchase from related parties in the Solomon’s at fair prices. We know exactly where the log comes from and how it is logged. The Narra from my last trip came specifically from the land belonging to my tribe.
A major part of my trips involves hours of education – teaching and explaining to landowners about conservation, and the long term risks of mass logging. I talk to them about getting the best value from their wood by selecting and cutting to maximize the grade of their wood and about replanting to ensure future generations have the same opportunities.”
You can check out pictures of logging on the Solomon Islands in Volume 37 – November 2011.
OR see our post about in HERE.
1947 Chris Craft Cruiser
After a full life on the Columbia River, OR, Lars Nielsen acquired her in 2004. Starting life as ‘Toby’, he renamed her ‘Marika II’ and refurbished her for family boating.
Now this old lady is living the life of a grand dame on the Elbe River. She is fully restored to her original state under the name of ‘Viva of Conover Cove’.
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