The buzzword of the decade is green. It's come to have all sorts of meanings, mostly political. And now, green, along with its cousins eco-, enviro- planet, recycle, organic, and natural seem to be more marketing buzzwords than anything else. I often think that I would like to open up a store in Mill Valley and call it Ecogreen Enviroplanet. I have no idea what it would sell, but the name alone should surely be enough.
As woodworkers, we were green long before it was cool. Historically, lumber workers have been true stewards of the landscape that surrounds us, our environment. We understand the balance better than most of organic matter to man's uses for it. We all struggle with mounds of scrapwood that we won't part with. Eventually we recycle it into something better than it was.
Most lumber comes from sustainable farms. It is simply not practical to clear cut forests and have to sift through lumber for good pieces, nor is it profitable. Mantras about avoiding all wood and paper products seem misguided. Why are we not equally concerned when we use other forms of vegetation, such as potatoes? The fact of the matter is, if you want more potatoes to be planted, eat more fries. Want more trees planted? Use more lumber and paper.
Recycle when it is practical and makes financial and environmental sense. Throwing out old shelves is wasteful when they could be made into something more useful and save us money. This project is made with recycled wood and is 100% certified all natural, eco-friendly and organic.
And remember: Don't hassel the Hoff!
