Urban Logging

When a piece of furniture is built to last from a log that would otherwise be mulched, not only do we get to experience its unique beauty but also all the carbon that tree absorbed over a lifetime remains out of our atmosphere, helping fight climate disaster. Western North Carolina is a uniquely privileged area for hardwoods, and of course the evolution of forestry. We work with neighbors, preservation-minded arborists and a variety of sawyers and kilns in the greater Asheville area to salvage lumber from trees that are either storm-damaged or must come down. It is a unique pleasure to know something of the true origin of so many of our furniture pieces, and to help share an appreciation of this potentially sustainable resource with others.

Responsible urban wood salvage involves safe felling done by certified arborists, hauling to a mill or milling in place, careful and patient air-drying, and then kiln-drying to remove insect larvae before the lumber can be milled flat again and fashioned into furniture. Each stage of this process involves planning, expertise and cost, and not every tree is worth all that investment, but we’re always happy to look!