Got Patience? Grow Some Furniture in Your Yard

34 by Derek Markham on January 24, 2009

Australian artists Peter Cook (Pook) and Becky Northey shape living trees into sculptures, growing chairs and tables and mirror frames, even candelabras and people trees. Their partnership, Pooktre Tree Shapers, uses wild plum and black cherry for their art, which takes as long as 8 to 10 years to grow for the bigger pieces.

Some of them stay alive in their garden and others are harvested when done. You can even collaborate with Pooktre to grow a piece for you in their garden or they can help you with one in yours.

Pook had the idea for growing a chair from willow in 1986, but the idea didn't really take root until about 1995, when he started working with suckers from wild plum trees. His partnership with Becky became Pooktre, and the couple has been growing sculptures from trees ever since.

Pooktre has shown their work at the World Expo in Japan in 2005, and are working on a book that shows others how to shape trees for furniture and art.

For more information or to contact the artists, visit the Pooktre website. Maybe you'll be inspired to start shaping your own trees or have Pook and Becky grow one for you.

http://askmicheleweeks.com/blog Michele Weeks

Amazing artwork. You don’t see many artists working in this medium. As a gardener, I appreciate the amount of time, patience and love that goes into projects such as these.

It was wonderful viewing your photos.
@AskMichele
Pelagasus

Why do people always feel the need to photoshop?
http://www.velovision.nl Marc Siepman

Cool idea. I wonder if they have a bicycle-shaped tree. I’d like one!
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Gabriel

Ok… So this is also ‘green’… Well, the thing is, what does ‘green’ really mean? Obviously here you’re forcing a tree to grow in the way you want, for you to to… feel glad? Very odd, and ironic that you would think you’re closer to nature this way.
C

excellent and beautiful! I have to admit, I don’t get Gabriel’s criticism.
David

this is awesome! hmmm if only you could get these chairs indoors. they would make nice patio furniture for sure though
http://www.thepistlist.com MYSTERYMAN

cool. very long project!
GOIN GREEN MAN
http://www.thepistlist.com MYSTERYMAN

Nicely done. can you do ohio next?
Michelle Glaser

This is SO cool. I can’t wait for the ground to thaw out so I can try it!
http://www.worldsalon.net Supermance

lol, that is so cute !
Jacob

I what Gabriel is getting at is the fact that this person is forcing a living thing to grow in an unnatural manner. How can we be ‘green’ when we have to constantly control nature, and can’t just live with it? These furniture-trees were interesting, by in my mind they also seem to be somewhat similar to those terrible kitten-in-a-bottle monstrosities.
http://graphics-illustrations.com bsilvia

This is not natural. I don’t think that we should live in caves without electricity or something, but forcing nature that much is too much.
matt

bsilvia- the clothes that you wear wear most likely came from a farm of some sort where wool or cotton was forced to grow for your benefit.

gabriel- the word “green” is a catchphrase and nothing else. everyone has their own opinion as to what being “green” means. yes, shaping trees to make furniture might be considered “unnatural”, but consider the alternative.

Buying lawn furniture made out of plastic or wood or metal aids consumerism, creates waste, and requires energy for production and transportation. These works of art are sustainable, requires nothing but a seed, water, earth, and sun, and are something that both humans and other species can utilize. Shapping a tree might be unnatural, but it is man’s ability to micro manage resources that puts us apart from many species. I think this is an excellent use of nature.

http://Website(optional) Василий

Прикольно пишете, жизненно. Все-таки, для того, чтобы делать действительно интересный блог, нужно не только сообщать о чем-то, но и делать это в интересной форме:)

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http://ww.thexbike.com Antique Cabinets

I like them, i think they are fantastic, but i am still wondering how did they do that.
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http://www.thexbike.com antique

Thas was fantastic. I did not know about all those things before I watched this website. This is wonderful.
http://ww.thexbike.com Cabinet

This is wonderful. I think that this is a project that should be expanded all around the globe
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http://outdoorceilingfans.biz outdoor ceiling fans

These are so great, I wish i had thought of it.

bsilvia – what is “forcing nature” I mean what does that mean” Cant you just enjoy something without adding your political views?
http://www.santaferanch.com Western Furniture

This has got to be some of the most unique ideas i’ve seen in a very long time. No doubt I have seen a ton of unique rustic furniture ideas but these are ultra creative. Nice finds!
http://www.phillydiy.com Brian Hastings

That looks so comfortable. I so want to sit on it.
http://Website(optional) кceня

Ну естественно, действительно так оно и есть.
http://www.sitefind.org/Shopping/Furniture/ glenda

great pictures. just wondering if you could really sit in one of those chairs or are they just for looks?
Jeff Vincent

A mate encoraged me to check out this page, brill post, fascinating read… keep up the nice work!
http://www.interiorexpressoutlet.com store guy

There’s another source out there with some more pictures http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/trees.htm

I remember that there’s an amusement park, I think in California, that is all about bent trees. Some guy made it in his back yard over something like 50 years. Awesome stuff.
http://www.debtmediators.com.au/blog/ Bankruptcy Ben

I have had dreams about growing a house, the chairs and the coffee table make it look like it may be a possibility. Hmmmm Might start with a cubby house for the kids first:)
Meme`s Boutique

Awesome !
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