At one time, the trees of our forests were so well known that the common man, standing at a distance, could tell the species being cut by the sound of the axe. His knowledge of each species and its uses was an important factor in his life and even his survival.

It is ironic that now with our survival linked so closely to the fate of our forests we take our trees and forest for granted, instead of taking a hand in their growth.

As I began my career in 1976, I was fortunate to discover the wealth presented by the wide variety of woods and learned that to protect them, we must know their value. Sharing an understanding of this value has been a major objective of my work.

Each craftsperson working in wood has the opportunity to give voice to our forests. Just as human beings tell our own stories in words and through the things we make, trees are storytellers, too. Where there’s a knot, there had been a branch. Each day in the life of the tree and of the forest is recorded in color, figure and grain. The story told by and through wood is of the interconnectedness of all life. In the hands of a caring craftsperson, that story is then preserved and passed through to new generations.

Woodworking can be done in such a way that the story of the forest is more clearly expressed and understood.

In order to use my craftsmanship to better effect:

• I strive to use woods that are sustainably harvested from my local area and present them in their natural colors.
• I make use of natural edges and textures to enhance design.
• I attempt to use the technical and aesthetic properties of various woods to their best advantage in the work.
• I attempt to make work that will last for generations. * In signing my work, I identify the types of woods used so that others may learn to recognize them and know their beauty and value.
• I make certain that by-products of my work are recycled to best use.
• And through the creation of useful beauty, homage is offered to the spirit of the trees that have taken part.

Through teaching and by example, I hope that my work inspires others to take part.

Planting Trees

If, by chance, however, you are not a woodworker, there are things you can do to help.

Planting trees is a really feel good deal. If you don’t have a spot to do it yourself, Global Releaf can help. If you have a need for some shade, you can get free trees by becoming a member of the National Arbor Day Foundation. But there is no way to plant a true hardwood forest. Our existing hardwood forests are extremely complex eco-systems that we must preserve and protect. One of the best ways to protect our forests is to support the environmental organizations that focus on the protection of natural habitat. You might consider the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, or the World Wildlife Fund.

Our forests are our most important line of defense against climate change, which has placed them at great risk. Rather than conserving energy and building new solar capacity, conventional utilities have been “green energy” plants that are not truly green. These generation plants in Europe burn pellets made from American hardwood forests that are assumed “renewable” even though it may take well in excess of a century for a forest to mature.

Dogwood Alliance

Chipper mills process thousands of acres of immature hardwoods each year. New mills have been built all across the Southeastern United States, and more are being planned. These mills convert hardwoods to pulp for paper mills and to fuel pellets for export. While the industry touts their efficiency, the conversion of hardwood forest to pulp and pellets is a serious threat to those who have enjoyed working with these woods and who hope to leave a legacy of that work to future generations. Woodworkers and those who have enjoyed the benefits of their craftsmanship look to a bleak future if the chip mill expansion is not stopped. The Dogwood Alliance is an association of environmental organizations that is working to educate the public about the threat posed by chipper mills. I endorse the activities of the Dogwood Alliance and encourage your support.

How We Live

The most important consideration for the future of our forests is the way we live now. We must learn to become more conservative and caring in our use of resources of all kinds. We must learn to look beyond surface effect and low price and seek quality, integrity, and meaning in the things we buy. It is also important to go out into nature and experience it and allow ourselves to become transformed by it.

The wood thrush that sings from the treetops on my eleven acres of woods has a winter home in forests of other countries far to the south. When she returns in the spring, her song brings joy and relief. I am concerned for the world’s forests and hope that we can do more to protect them.