can anyone tell me if one can use yellow cedar in the making of cooking utensils, ie:salad bowls(from raw wood unfinished) and other hand utensils, is the tree or its sap poisonous or have toxic or side effects.you can email me at northstar_2@telus.net this is the first time i've used a forum and i'm not sure how to use it. thank you
The sawdust is reported to be toxic/allergenic, so I'd suggest not using it for food utensils. The strong odour would probably also taint the food. The traditional wood for food bowls is maple.
Depends on whose traditions you are talking about. "The tough, straight-grained wood of yellow-cedar was used to make implements by virtually all northwest coast peoples" "The Kwakwaka'wakw used it for paddles, chests, dishes and fishing net hoops, and they made bows from the roots. The Haida used it for digging sticks, adz handles, paddles and dishes". - Pojar/Mackinnon, Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast
