How a Very Wet Spring Shapes New England Forests — And the Cutting Boards Born From Them
This year’s wet spring is doing more than just flooding basements and canceling hikes — it’s changing the landscape of New England’s forests. From Connecticut to Vermont, record rainfall is impacting key hardwoods like maple and black walnut — the very woods used to craft Kong Boards. Here’s how Mother Nature is shaping your next premium cutting board.
🌧️ Rainfall and the Forest Floor
This spring has brought rainfall levels 30% above average. While forests rely on moisture, this kind of saturation can drown roots, accelerate fungal growth, and slow tree development — especially in younger or low-lying trees.
🍁 Maple Trees: Stressed but Resilient
Sugar maples, a New England staple, are sensitive to overwatering:
• Oxygen-deprived roots in saturated soil
• Delayed budding, slowing their growth cycle
• Greater risk of fungal infections like anthracnose
The result? A more vulnerable but often more colorful and unique grain structure in the long term — something we take into account when selecting lumber for Kong Boards.
🌰 Black Walnut: Deep Roots and High Stakes
Black walnut handles wet years better, but still faces risks:
• Lower seedling survival
• Faster spread of invasive species
• Increased fungal disease risk, like Thousand Cankers
Still, its dark, rich wood and durability make it one of our most prized materials — and one of the reasons Kong Boards are both beautiful and built to last.
🪵 What This Means for Your Kong Board
Every piece of wood has a story. The ultra-wet spring of 2025 will leave its mark on the lumber we see in years to come — potentially deeper grain tones, and more character in each plank. At Kong Boards, we hand-select and kiln-dry each board to perfection, ensuring stability, beauty, and heirloom quality no matter what the weather brings.
🌿 Closing Thoughts
Kong Boards are more than kitchen tools — they’re a slice of New England forest, shaped by the seasons, crafted by hand. This year’s wet spring reminds us how connected we are to the land and how important it is to source sustainably, build mindfully, and honor the story in every tree.
Explore our handcrafted collection — rooted in nature, refined for your kitchen.