Sjors van der Meer developed his passion for woodworking when he was a student at a furniture making company. He learned all about joinery and became an amateur cabinetmaker. Though this gave him a lot of joy, he fell in love with wood and trees when he discovered the craft of green woodworking; his love for nature and craft came together in this way. The simple hand tools, the raw materials and the often-ancient techniques were a revelation. He decided to make a living out of the craft. Ever since, he has spent a lot of time in nature, working on green wood furniture and spoon carving. Since 2011 he has run green woodworking workshops with his friend and co-author Job Suijker.

Job Suijker studied at the Technical University of Delft and worked for 20 years as an environmental advisor. In his late twenties he developed a passion for nature, especially for trees and forests, with a special fascination for the ancient trees (yew tree) of Great Britain. He fell in love with green woodworking while chopping firewood for his wood stove. After having been to the west coast of Ireland for a sabbatical, a self-educating period started; he saw a chance for a green woodworking revival.