Cutting Board, Maple & Walnut Multi-Strip

Artisan-made in Michigan
Sustainably- and locally-harvested maple and walnut
Dimensions: Approximately 16" x 11" x 1"

Please allow 7-10 business days from time of order for a final coat and curing process to be applied.

CUSTOM ORDERS ACCEPTED! Want a different size, shape, or design? Just let us know. Cutting boards can be made to your specifications. Please contact us for more details. Email us at orders@thegreatergreen.com.

Check out our NEW ETSY SHOP, with even more styles and designs.

Sustainably- and locally-harvested Michigan maple and walnut, non-toxic wood glue, food-grade butcher block oil

This elegant cutting board was handmade here in Michigan by Alex Livieratos from sustainably-harvested maple and walnut.

Classy, elegant, and durable, this wood cutting board will provide a lifetime of use if cared for properly.

SIZE: Approximately 20" (from tip of handle to end of board) x 11" x 1". Actual cutting surface (not including handle) is approximately 14" x 11"

ALL stages of this cutting board were done sustainably, by hand, from the cutting down of the tree, to the milling, planing, cutting- all meticulously and carefully performed with the utmost care for the environment in mind.

How to care for your cutting board:

All of our boards are treated with olive oil, mineral oil, and/or coconut oil before leaving the workshop. However, this coating will quickly fade away and need to be replaced. Though olive oil is fine for an initial coating on a tightly-grained, new board, it does have a tendency to go rancid if repeatedly used and allowed to absorb into the wood. We recommend one of the following oils for re-application 2-3 times per month, after washing: Mineral oil, beeswax, walnut, almond or coconut oil.

To clean your board: It is a good idea to clean your board after every use. Use a sponge with soapy, warm water, and wipe down until clean. Do not submerse your board in water or get too wet, as water will be absorbed by the wood and slowly wear down the integrity of your board. Definitely do not ever put your board in the dishwasher! Stand board upright to dry if it becomes too wet, and promptly oil once dry.

How much oil should you use? You can never use too much! If wood is allowed to dry out (as washing with soap and water tends to do), it is more likely to crack and split. Oil your board liberally and frequently, and never allow it to remain wet for any period of time. Food grade mineral oil is what many people consider the best oil for wood.

How to remove stains or odors from your board: sprinkle a liberal coating of salt onto the board and rub with half of a lemon, then rinse with hot water. Baking soda also works well to eliminate odors.

You can also use 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide to disinfect your board (instead of a bleach solution, which won't work as well on wood), if you are concerned about bacteria growth. Remember to oil after either of these procedures!

What about splitting? Because wood was once part of a growing, living organism, it is not unusual for cutting boards, especially those made of multiple strips glued together, to expand and contract due to changes in moisture levels (both internal and external). Most splitting should be slight and will most likely close up again over time.

Our wood has been barn drying for at least one year. The best way to prevent further changes in moisture that might cause splitting is through proper care of your board. Please oil regularly, following the instructions above, since this keeps the board from drying out (which is what ultimately causes splitting). Also try to keep your board from getting too wet, which results in excessive moisture changes- again, resulting in splitting.

Should you wish to fill minor splits in your cutting board, please use food-grade paraffin (wax). Melt the paraffin, and allow it to seep into the split. Once the paraffin has dried, scrape off any excess. The flexible nature of the paraffin will allow the wood to continue it's natural expansion and contraction cycles.

 

 

STARS: 5 out of 5 stars for sustainability
COMMENTS: A bit about the artisan:



Alex Livieratos has been creating wood designs since he was old enough to hold a hammer. Growing up immersed in a family business that made quality wooden restaurant furniture, Alex's designs have sprung from years of creative carpentry. Simple, elegant, and durable, these wood cutting boards will provide a lifetime of use, if cared for properly, and will add a touch of class to any home kitchen.

The wood used to manufacture the creative wood designs was sustainably harvested from Grand Junction, MI, by a local miller, Mr. Michael Korpak.

Mr. Korpak sustainably harvests trees either one at a time (no clear cutting!) or reclaims wood that has been cut down for purposes other than lumber (for example, when someone is building a house). This guarantees the integrity of the forest ecosystems that we cherish so much.

When mature trees are harvested one at a time, their removal allows younger trees to receive much-needed sunlight and water resources, sparking considerable growth that quickly replaces the taken tree. This is the way to manage and maintain forests, while allowing all of their inhabitants, small and large, to thrive.

In fact, we here at The Greater Green have a major stake in ensuring that these trees are indeed harvested sustainably- they are taken from our very own forest behind our house and from connecting forest areas! Our forest is a living, breathing, growing part of our life, which we cherish and respect, in the hopes that our children and our children's children will one day still have these forests through which to roam and wander.