Agave wood Workshops

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THIS EXPERIENCE ?

In this workshop you will create your own musical instruments and crafts handmade from agave wood, a true 100% sustainable material obtained from the Almerian desert. You will get the opportunity to learn about different varieties of this special material, its properties and possible uses.

The professional artisan and agave wood specialist Tim Bernhardt will give you an introduction to the various tools, manufacturing methods and natural surface treatments that he uses in his unique craft. Due to a careful selection of raw materials, your creations will be characterized by excellent quality in unique pieces which will be sanded by hand and treated with our home-made blend of natural oils. We will exclusively use a non-toxic and moisture resistant wood glue, as well as 100% solar energy for all our machines.

IS ANY PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY?

To join our workshops, previous knowledge in woodwork is not needed, which enables the participation for almost all ages. However, what we do welcome is an active desire to grow, learn, share and explore.

WHICH WORKSHOP TO CHOOSE 

Your participation can vary between 3 hours and 2 full days, depending on what and how many objects you want to create (shaker, guiro, kazoo, flute, didgeridoo, lamp, African mask, etc.). Please contact us so that we can plan and specify your project together. We are happy to support you in designing your own individual work plan.

Wood Harvesting Workshops

For our work we harvest the wood from different agave species. Each kind has its own characteristics (like colours, smells, durability, etc.); some are better for drum making, others are better for flutes, surfboards, etc. The right time for harvesting is important for the quality of the raw material.

Due to different flowering cycles, we are able to harvest three times a year: in March, May, and September. A special permit allows us to head out into the fields to get the best wood for our artistic creations.

The harvest is always good fun but also hard work, and we need to wear special protection. To replenish our wood stock, our team is always thankful for every helping hand.

So if you want to learn how to harvest and find good quality wood, we will teach you how to distinguish between the different types and how you can find the flower stem that best suits your project. This activity is meant to be an exchange and thus it is free of charge.

Get in touch for further details and information.

Integral Usage of the Agave

In our workshop for the integral usage of agave, we are happy to share our knowledge (partly acquired through the special visit of Don Miguel) to teach you techniques and processes used since generations as a basic element for survival in Mexican culture.

We will teach you how to extract the ‘nectar of the gods’ (Aguamiel), how to make ecological construction and extract the fibres from the leaves (Sisal), how to process agave wood into musical instruments and handicrafts, how to prepare the traditional beer of the Aztecs (Pulque), agave syrup, and much more.

At a time when water becomes an increasingly limited resource, we believe that it is of vital importance to know how to utilize the limited biodiversity that can be found in arid areas.

Due to its broad spectrum of usage and low demand on water and soil fertility, the agave already offers hope and an improved standard of living for millions of people in arid areas around the planet. It can be used for foodstuff, drinks, fibres, construction materials, healthy sweeteners, medicine and much more…