Out of all the National days to celebrate, National Tree Day may be one of the most important for our planet.

As a designer and a craftsman, my favorite material and medium is hardwood. How many times have I, and thousands like me, dressed a wood board and exposed the magic within, incredible grain and patterns as unique as snowflakes, never to be duplicated again in nature.

When I look at the amazing projects created by woodworkers all over the world, I can’t help but wonder where all of the material comes from, and for how much longer will we have it? A Canadian maple tree will take 30 to 40 years to mature and reach a height of 30 to 45 Feet. Black Walnut may reach 50 Feet in 50 plus years. Clearly, this is a resource that takes a significant amount of time to grow!

This note is a passionate plea to replenish a resource that helps us provide for our families. And then there is that other little benefit about trees providing oxygen, and absorbing CO 2 for our planet.

In my home town, the City of Toronto will plant a tree in your front yard at no cost to the homeowner. There are also many community-based programs that we can support, or we can simply purchase and plant a seedling or sapling in an approved location. So whether you’re a woodworker or an appreciative customer, help us grow this effort!

Share these links, and other local resources you may know of. And if all you can do right now is to hug a tree, then that’s a good start.

Many thanks!
Derrick