The tree designed by Gueules de Bois is about a meter high.

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Hangovers

  • The Gueules de Bois association offers wooden Christmas trees for the holidays.

  • The olive ash used for manufacturing is transported by bicycle by Velojo.

  • Gueules de Bois wishes to involve beneficiaries of the La Cloche association, which helps precarious people, to make the trees.

The month of December is approaching and with it its garlands, Christmas balls and traditional Christmas tree.

But this year, the latter could well be "united" and "responsible".

In any case, this is what the Nantes association Gueules de Bois decided to do, by manufacturing fir trees in sustainable wood.

An alternative to the classic cut green shrub.

Matthieu Indianas, former construction team leader, is a volunteer and soon to be an employee of the association.

He is very happy to be able to share his passion.

“With the whole team, we really want to pass on techniques related to wood.

The tree is a great opportunity to do so, ”he explains.

The association, which has existed since 2017, has for a year had premises located on the Ile de Nantes where amateurs and individuals can come and practice woodwork.

No leaves but blades and wood

The tree offered by Gueules de Bois is entirely fashioned in the association's workshop, made up of ten volunteers and one employee.

The tree is carved from olive ash.

“It's a little used wood which is very durable,” says the 30-something.

The manufacture of the shrub is carried out from a raw product.

“We receive an olive ash block locally and it is really a log sawn with the branches.

Then, thanks to our new stationary machines, we will edge it, bend it, cut it, drill it, chamfer it.

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The production is therefore based on meticulous work which takes on its full dimension when it comes to assembling the boards.

"The base of the tree is made up of a metal tube into which about forty 25-millimeter blades are fitted", explains Matthieu.

The tree, which measures a meter in diameter and a little over a meter in height, can have various shapes.

"Future buyers decide on the shape of their tree and then you have to let everyone's artistic inspiration speak for themselves," smiles the volunteer.

A material delivered by bike

This wooden tree costs 90 euros and is an ecological alternative to the traditional tree, often thrown away just after the holidays.

A finding that exasperated Jonathan Gevaert, at the origin of the idea.

The latter is the founder of Velojo, a bicycle transport company.

“Gueules de Bois is a partner of Velojo and Jonathan had this idea last year,” says Matthieu.

He is someone with a certain ecological conscience who was tired of collecting trees from December 26, 27.

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Jonathan, a former haulier, now travels the roads of Nantes and its surroundings with his trailer to deliver all types of products including wood and plants.

“We missed the boat last year, but this time Jonathan came back.

We thought about it and we said to ourselves that it could be a great opportunity to pass on and introduce people to woodworking ”, testifies Matthieu.

A solidarity initiative

If this new tree is more responsible than a usual tree with a much longer lifespan, it is also "united".

Some Gueules de Bois volunteers have already made a few but also want to allow the beneficiaries of the La Cloche association, people in precarious situations, to participate in the project.

"We started to do it because if the confinement lasts, we cannot afford to wait until the last moment, analyzes Matthew.

We hope that it will stop at the beginning of December that we can bring in the people of the association and that they can make some.

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For the moment, around twenty pre-orders have been placed.

All profits, i.e. 20 euros per tree, are donated to La Cloche.

“We thought of them because we wanted it to be a beautiful Christmas.

Maybe with this money they can organize activities.

"

Nantes

Christmas: How does Christmas tree rental work?

The trees are in pre-order until December 4

If you want to buy a Christmas tree, you can contact the Gueules de Bois association at the following email address: contact@gueulesdebois.fr

  • Decoration

  • Bike

  • ecology

  • Christmas

  • Association

  • Wood

  • Solidarity

  • Nantes