What is balsa wood?
A. It is a hard wood called ochroma lagopus that grows naturally very fast in Equatorial forests coining the term ‘weed tree’. Its cells are 90% water which gives the tree strength to shoot up above the canopy, however, once dried the cells contain so much air that it is considered the natural foam equivalent. It is used commercially for insulation, packaging and of course modelling. Locals use balsa for roof insulation, ocean and river rafts and shavings as a sponge to absorb salt when watering coastal gardens with sea water.
