Viable Lumber
We're not your typical tree huggers.
About
Viable
Lumber is a cooperative venture - a partnership that includes
arborists, saw millers, municipal waste managers, woodworkers, and a
host of dedicated volunteers. Our goal is to divert urban hardwood
trees from being burned or mulched. Each tree is a different
story; as a result, we are more like a lumber boutique that specializes
in unique pieces in limited quantities, rather than a lumber yard.
It takes a lot of work to recover usable wood from urban trees,
but we think it is worth it!
Alternatives – a mountain of mulch or an award-winning
conference table? This table was made from logs intercepted on
their way to the dump!
Viable Lumber works with the following organizations:
The process: Typically,
when a tree needs to be removed, the property owner contacts an
arborist or tree service to cut it down and remove it. Most owners
don't even know where the resulting logs go (to the dump to be chipped
into mulch or designated for fuel, i.e., burned). Viable Lumber
has a different plan in mind. This plan starts with the person
cutting down the tree. Instead of cutting the tree into many small
chunks (which is necessary to fit the wood into the chipper), the tree
needs to be felled with as few cuts as possible to preserve the length
of the log. The longer the logs, the more possible uses the urban
timber has. Viable Lumber does not cut down trees, but can refer
you to experienced arborists and tree removal experts that we work with.
As part of the Viable Lumber cooperative, these professionals are
able to offer tree owners a discount for qualified trees, since the
wood can be recovered rather than dumped, which often incurs a fee.
Please note: not all trees can be recovered. Please refer to
the frequently asked questions (FAQ) lists below for the trees that
Viable Lumber is currently accepting. If the tree is recoverable,
Viable Lumber will remove the logs. If they cannot be milled right away,
the logs are sealed and stored to prevent the wood from splitting.
During a milling event, the
logs are sawed into lumber slabs or boards. Our Woodmizer
portable sawmill can handle logs up to 30" in diameter and we use a
different process for larger trunks. The green (wet) wood is then
stacked in sequence and air dried in our kiln room. After drying,
the wood is usable by a variety of craftsmen, allowing the recovered
trees to be converted into wood floors, cabinets, furniture, and
lathe-created wood products like bowls, vases, and beautiful art
sculptures.
Additional Information:
Frequently Asked Questions
Artist & Woodworker FAQ - Coming Soon!
Green Credits/LEED FAQ - Coming Soon!
Tree Identification Key - Coming Soon!
In the meantime, check out the "What Tree Is That?" tool at ArborDay.org, or if you have an iPhone, consider downloading the LeafSnap App.
Viable Lumber Contacts:
Pete Richardson: (727) 643-2807, viablelumber@yahoo.com
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