Behind the Materials: Hand-Carved

This is the beginning of many hand-carved items from measuring spoons to a nativity set. This is a sustainable choice because the Jacaranda or Musave trees used to make these items grow back once they have been cut!

The wood is then traced and prepared to be carved into a one-of-a kind piece. The shape, shade, and measurement of each piece may vary slightly as they are all carved by hand from different cuts of wood.

The final, and most important, step to creating a hand-carved piece is the carving and shaping. A variety of tools are used to achieve the desired look.

In 2003, a community of Catholic nuns in Cyeza Parish provided training in woodcarving to two disabled members of the community. Those two men went on to train three others, and the Inganzo woodcarvers’ association was born. Rural life can be very tough, particularly for those who are physically challenged, and the income and dignity from Inganzo’s work has proved to be very significant for all seven of the group’s current members.