Traceability
Sustainable, community forest management is a way of managing forest resources based on the principles of sustainable development. It’s where a geographic expansion of forest belongs to a community, which is responsible for operating and using it. This maintains its biological diversity, productivity, capacity for regeneration and vitality, without damaging other ecosystems, and ensures its numerous functions are protected for present and future generations.
The product that you have bought is part of the Forests by Made in Slow Project. The purpose of this project is to conserve the great wealth of our forests through sustainable use. The initial forests selected are the centenary chestnut groves of Corullón, in the Bierzo region, in the province of León. They are certified by PEFC España, the world’s leading association for forest sustainability.
Path to the chestnut groves of Corullón
We collect wood left over from the pruning work that takes place to maintain and clean the trees. Artisan carpenters use this wood to make our needles.
Each size of knitting needle has a different knob design, inspired by vintage spindles.
In the grove, among chestnut trees
View through wood
The passage of time
In the shade of a chestnut tree
Pruning the chestnut trees
Pruning the chestnut trees
From the forest, to you, thanks to the work of our artisans. They make the needles by hand, which means each one is unique.
Logs drying for cutting
Alfredo starting the transformation
If you look through the window of the carpentry workshop, inside, you’ll see a man surrounded by tools, with the fresh aroma of wood shavings flooding the room. This man is called Alfredo, and he is a turner.
Alfredo works only with chestnut wood that comes from pruning work in sustainable PEFC-certified forests. He transforms it on his lathe into Las Hidalgas knitting needles, one by one, by hand, and with a great deal of care.
Drying out the cut blocks, so they can be made into needles
It starts with the tip
Turning
Now, the needle has been shaped
The spindle
Sanding off the rough edges
Needles before final finishing
Putting on the final protection
Alfredo has a profound love and respect for his work. He carefully transforms the wood at every stage in the process, until the final step, when he protects and smooths the artisan finish of every Las Hidalgas needle using a natural blend of carnauba oil and wax.
With your purchase, you’re helping to keep professions like Alfredo’s alive, and making sure that we can all keep enjoying these forests. Thank you for your support!
The entire process is sustainable and PEFC certified. That includes forestry management of the Corullón chestnut groves and our process until we send you your needles.
The beautiful town of Corullón, reclining along the side of San Sadurnín hill, is in the north-west of the El Bierzo region. From its special vantage point, you can observe the beautiful landscape comprising the meadows around the Burbia river. Vegetable patches, orchards, vines and a light that changes with the seasons. This is a beautiful village, set amid vegetable patches, meadows, chestnut and walnut groves, cherry orchards and vines. Its people are gardeners, producers of the most exquisite delicacies of the land: tomatoes, onions, beans and, the most special of all, cherries and chestnuts.