Monday, February 8, 2010

Skipping Through the Lumber Yard


I just returned from my morning adventure, roaming about a new playground.  If your idea of a playground is a big, weird lot in the middle of industrial wasteland punctuated by piles of random logs, lumber and a doggie that wants you to throw the stick just one more time, then we're on the same page.  Green Waste Recycle Yard combines tree care/removal with lumber milling in a most fantastical way.  It's a great alternative to reclaimed lumber if you're not into the rustic "my saw just hit a 40 year old nail" kind of thing. 


I picked up some redwood pieces I'll be incorporating into stepping stones (or sticks?) and had a chance to wander around amidst the tractor fumes and steaming mulch piles.  Can't wait to dream up some projects that will give me an excuse to go back.  I had to check myself for drool while eyeing the giant, very dangerous milling tools, including the bandsaw of whose blades are shown above.

4 comments:

  1. Yes, that is my idea of high adventure. In Sacramento, I would have to worry about termites in wood stepping stones.

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  2. So glad you agree, Lynn! I might have to worry about termites as well, but I'm not planning on it lasting 50 years, either. Just a nice touch to an evolving garden.

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  3. oh my, this sounds like nirvana to me. there is nothing more wonderful than a steamy load of redwood chip. i use redwood chip and logs everywhere and i have not seen termites as of yet. should i be concerned as i do intend for it all to stay around for a very long time? did you know they originally made septic tanks here in the santa cruz mountains out of redwood? many of them lasted >50 years. ls

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  4. Wow, that's faith if they used them for septic tanks! Part of the durability is the strength of the wood itself. If the growth rings are tight, it will make for stronger wood that will be able to withstand damage for longer than a redwood, say planted in a lawn with way more water than it's used to, causing it to shoot up fast and high. Even if it does decompose over time, it will be a lovely process to watch- mushrooms, animals, insects using it for their purposes until there's nothing left!

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