“I first saw the wooden spoons and became interested in making them when I came to Saruhanlar village 13 years ago after getting married. Although the work looked easy, I realized how difficult it was when I first took a knife in my hand to shape the spoons. People here become involved in making wooden spoons when they are children,” said Öztürk. She praised her mother-in-law for helping her learn the technique. “I learned how to do it in a year with the help of my mother-in-law. Whenever I am done with the housework, I start to make wooden spoons. It is absorbing and helps supplement my family’s income,” she added.
For almost three centuries, the majority of people residing in Saruhanlar have made a living from producing traditional wooden spoons. The spoons are not used for eating, as might be expected; instead, people use them as musical instruments, and they are also sold as souvenirs.
In the village, whose population is 500, the wooden-spoon producers have resisted the introduction of technology and have remained faithful to the production methods of their grandfathers.
Öztürk told the Anatolia news agency that the spoons are produced in her home where she lives with her husband and her mother-in-law, Ayşe.
