The Mathews' Yellow Birch is from the Mathews' farm in Monson. According to the family lore, the tree was planted by Captain Jonathan Mathews in around 1820 to shade the well of the original farm house he built after moving here from Lewiston. (He thought it was getting too crowded there.) The tree finally needed to be cut down in 2020 and Ed was granted access to the wood. From that tree have come many bowls now in use at the farm. My son has one this size, and they use it for a family popcorn bowl. It is a beauty.
These are hand-made wooden bowls, created one at a time from local trees, in Ed Hoovler's Monson workshop. From the time a tree is identified as a possible source of interesting, useful, well-crafted bowls to the end of the finishing and buffing process, nearly a year passes. The wood is shaped, set off to dry for 6+ months, given its final shape, hand-sanded in a 10-step procedure, finished in a 6-step technique and, finally, buffed in three-step operation. Theses bowls are meant to be used and are easy to maintain. Wash in warm soap and water, then dry with a soft cloth. Do not soak and do not use in a microwave. When the finish becomes dull over the course of time, renew with a liberal hand application of mineral oil, allow to sit for 30 minutes, then polish with a soft cloth. #226
