The Greenwoodworking Training Project has as one of it's primary missions, the training of third world artisans in low-tech woodworking methods. A low-tech approach and the ability to teach woodland skills allows this project to operate almost anywhere.
Tim Wade of Wales has taken his project to Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and France. However, one of the most successful has been in Pukapuka in the Cook Islands. It is one of the outer Cook Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean.
The Pukapuka project was aimed at helping the local economy which had been devastated by a cyclone on the island. Originally, Tim expected to set up 3 mobile sawmills on Pukapuka and Nassau. But the realization was that a sawmill could be linked to a training facility with the milled lumber being used for low cost housing, furniture and houshold/community projects.
Spring of 1999 saw Tim begin sourcing tools and machinery to equip the project. Tim boxed up the donated tools (many of them from his own workshop) and shipped them off in a big wooden box to Pukapuka. In the meantime, 12 men from the island were being trained to operate the sawmill. At the time, there was considerable political unrest on Pukapuka. Graft was rampant and one of Tim's first challenges was watching every dime of the aid money to be sure it didn't get diverted into a politician's pocket.
Tim arrived in Pukapuka with his training partner, Robin Simko, in August of 1999. They were warmly greeted, but not as woodworkers. Unfortunately, the powers in Pukapuka had not spread the word and their fame had not preceded them. Everyone originally thought Tim and his partner were the long awaited doctors the people had been promised.
Not to be detered from his purpose, Tim began and finished the workshop and a tool and wood store with the help of his partner. Over the course of a month, working from 6 AM to 10 PM, six days a week in extreme heat and adverse conditions, they installed and marked the tools and machinery; developed a solar power system for the school, church and hospital; built new water tanks and a cover building for water collection; repaired the airstrip and machinery and sawmilled coconut palm for building material and raft making. All this before they could begin the training program.
After discussions with the island council and the mayor, it was agreed that a group of young men from each village would be trained during the day, kids from the school would have a training session at lunch, and two evenings and Saturday morning there would be open enrollment. In addition, Tim was to train his replacement for workshop manager and trainer. During the day, the curriculum included correct usage of hand and power tools; forest management, tree felling and timber extraction; chainsaw safety; woodturning and carving; timber building and framing and joinery. All of the school children's training was confined to the workshop. The open sessions covered mostly milling timber.
Tim also held a 3 day workshop for women. The concentration was on craft making and the importance of bookkeeping, marketing and presentation of products. According to Tim, the people of Pukapuka have always produced high quality crafts such as mats, hats, baskets, model canoes and drums. He feels they now have a base, but could use even more training and encouragement. Just below you see some examples of islanders at work on their crafts.

Palmwood is the Cook Island's natural and renewable resource. With the new milling and drying processes, it can be transformed to a high quality prime hardwood. Only the trees which no longer bear fruit are harvested and they are plentiful on the old copra plantations. In addition, they are routinely replanted. It's an excellent form of timberland preservation.
Palmwood is similar to Teak in it's properties. It's clear-grained and knot free. Expanded use of Palmwood could help reduce the destruction of our rainforests.
Tim has built a new site dedicated to this project, the people of the Cook Islands and palmwood products. You can visit the site at this link Welcome To Palmwood .

For more information contact Tim Wade directly at

tim@greenwoodworking.co.uk