Here’s a video that we wanted to share with readers right away. If you’re a woodworker, this is a MUST WATCH video.
(Source: Highland Woodworking)
A Video History of America’s Forests
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9 Responses to “A Video History of America’s Forests”
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This is an awesome, thought provoking, humbling, and sobering video. Well worth the watch! Is there a way we could get a copy?
a 15 minute commercial is a must see?
Boy, I didn’t see that as a commercial for anything. I’m sorry if I offended you! A lot of wood working people sent me notes appreciating that history. Not many people were aware of the history of chestnut in this country. Or that only 5 o/o of the old growth forest remains. Some have never even seen an old growth tree. but then not every article in TiC is going to ring a bell for every reader. Fortunately, most readers understand that and patiently enjoy the stories they do enjoy.
Although I knew it to be a promotional piece, I was, none the less, moved by the loss of our great forests. I’m a cabinetmaker and tree-hugger simultaneously. This was a well written and understated film and like the old trees… you don’t see much of this any more.
I live in the Pacific northwest that was once covered by huge, old growth trees–mainly Douglas Fir—millions and millions of acres. All gone—It’s called greed. This was a sustainable forest that is now a plantation for big lumber corporations. The old growth trees had 22 or more growth rings per inch. The plantation trees have 2 or 3 rings per inch.
Now and then I visit what is known as the Doerner Fir located around 60 miles from our home. It stands 325 ft. tall and is 11 1/2 ft. in diameter. Yes, I give it a hug.
Larry Haun
Born and raised in PA., I’m lucky to have seen pieces built from American Chestnut. The remains of Giant Hemlocks timbered for tannin at Rickett’s Glen. It is indeed a sad to see what of American has been lost to disease and progress.
Larry Haun, who posted above, may appreciate a recent discovery in the same hills as the Doerner fir. We located several Doug Firs over 300 feet tall, and one of them at 322′ tall is the world’s tallest “live-top” of the species. So the Doerner (or Brummet) Fir has one or more companions. Likely to overtake it since the Doerner has near 40 feet of dead top. The trunks are magnificent though.
MDV
I have been in the building materials industry throughout my career and have witnessed the positive changes made in havesting requirements and procedures in recent years.. I believe we fall short of where we need to be on diversity of replanting necessary for healthy forests and wildlife but we have come a long way from the unrestricted problems highlighted in the video. It really just takes a little common sense and balance to achieve our goals of timber supply without destroying everything. Unfortunately the current trends are to exploit the forests of third world countries that are desperate for money and have week governments with little obstacles to exploitation. The reality is that it takes timber for us all to breath and build. If we continue to abuse the resource we won’t be able to do either!
Commercial ad or not it explains alot about the early generations. Harvesting without a plan to reforest leaves us with less of a valuable resource. All material usage must have consideration to leave some for future generations. We carpenters of today pay the price for the sins of our fathers and are stuck with weaker, warped, twisted, knotty, shrinking material. I love the idea of reclaiming the wood from the old homes and making something useful with it. I do this on my remodel projects whenever possible.