Working Wood With Conservation

Woodworking is still a popular pastime for hobbyists and a very lucrative business for professionals as well. Over the last several years, with the emphasis on green, natural products, working with wood may never lose its popularity. But there are a few things to keep in mind. As long as conservation and common sense are incorporated with our hobbies and business, we will not have anything to worry about.

Kudos to the handyman, who is a naturalist at heart, preferring to build a shed in his backyard with wood. He knows that his preference of working with wood enhances his satisfaction and the quality of the finished project is much better than building a shed made from pre-formed factory plastic. Conservatively and strategically built, it is a strong, great-looking structure.

Hats off to the furniture maker, with his passion for quality, natural woods…cutting, honing, sanding and polishing the fine products we purchase and put in our homes. Remember to take notice of the fine woodworking the next time you visit a furniture store.

And the home builder, framing homes and buildings for business, large and small and taking pride in working wood to its greatest capacity. He not only builds frames to support homes and buildings, but makes our lives more comfortable.

Let’s not forget the lumberjacks and foresters. They provide the wood in its most natural state, harvesting trees out of the forests in a conservative manner. They cut trees to be shipped to the lumber mills and still preserve nature, allowing for future growth of one of our greatest products.

Woodworking will never lose its popularity, but we have to remember that one of our most natural resources must be preserved and cared for. Working wood will always be with the craftsmen, hobbyists and professionals with the proper conservation practices and common sense.

Common sense? Yes…for instance, be aware of your campfire the next time you are camping in our great outdoors. Forest fires are lethal…and real. It only takes one small mistake, a spark or match or uncontrolled fire to destroy a part of one of our greatest resources.

When pursuing your next woodworking project, be conservative and aware of the materials you use and the cuts of lumber you are working with. If you don’t purchase and use more wood than you have to, it will leave some for the next person to start his woodworking project.