Just 70 miles south of Italy on the northern coast of Africa, lies the country of Tunisia where olive trees as young as 500 years grow.  The families of Kairouan, Tunisia, hand carve and hand finish wood from sustainably harvested olive groves, using traditional methods passed down from generation to generation. Once the olives have been harvested, the trees are pruned to produce more fruit the following year. Trees that are too old to produce fruit cannot be harvested for wood without permission from the Tunisian government, and only after new trees are planted in their place.  The trees are irrigated with rain water and grown organically without the use of harmful chemicals.  After cutting, the wood is cured in saltwater for at least a month, then dried in the shade.  After carving and sanding, natural olive oil is applied to enhance the color and bring out the wood’s natural, beautiful grain.