Hey 33,
This part of Northern Michigan used to be a major center for making wooden utensils (turn of the century) and I understand they made them from all kinds of wood (mostly Linden/ basswood though).
Anyways, they finished them with vegetable oil by dipping them in the stuff when it's just short of boiling. set them aside for a bit then rub off the excess. Ya can wash 'em and everything and if needed all ya do is re-dip as necessary to refresh the "finish". When ya put the wood into the hot grease, it will actually foam (quite vigorusly too).....thats the air being driven out of the wood as the oil replaces it.........works pretty slick. That's exactly how I finish my bows, only I use the grease/pitch combo instead. After about 2-3 treatments that wood will laugh at water, snow etc. JMO
rich