Redwood takes sustainability into communities

D eowooo HAs LoNG BEEN FAVoRED Illto. its unique color and natural durability. While redwood can hold its "like new" warm tones with a simple maintenance schedule, the fact that redwood can be virtually ignored and still age gracefully make it an ideal choice for outdoor projects that may be exposed to the elements over time.

Now, the locally-grown movement and emphasis on sustainability are giving consumers more reason to consider redwood. The redwood that reaches retail stores and consumer backyards comes from forests managed to the highest sustainability standards in the world. All commercially available redwood is California grown. Roughly 9OVo of redwood on the market is certified under the two largest independent sustainable forestry organizations in the world, the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

"Sustainability is about more than conserving forest resources," says Bob Mion, community relations director for the California Redwood Association. "Sustainability includes economic and social considerations, which is one reason you see redwood appearing in so many community outreach and support efforts. Redwood producers are active in their communities. Sustaining forests includes sustaining communities. Redwood is a natural for meeting certain needs in the community, like in community gardens and on school campuses."

Raised planting beds made of redwood for community gardens are one example. "Redwood provides natural resistance to rot and decay," says Mion. "It is an excellent choice for working in gardens. The chemicals in treated wood can make their way into soils and plants, whereas redwood gets its resilience from tannins that occur naturally in the wood. Redwood is as garden-friendly as it gets."

Architects embrace redwood for its strength as well as its aesthetic qualities. A bench project on the campus of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo highlight both characteristics and created a teaching opportunity, as well.

"My fourth-year architectural design students and I designed a 60foot bench structure built with donated redwood and attached to a concrete retaining wall," says Cal Poly professor Jonathan Reich. "Redwood was the perfect choice for us because of its strength, beauty, durability and weathering characteristics. This is the only wooden part of our otherwise concrete and steel building, and it has made this courtyard more comfortable. We have added much needed warmth, seating, and study space." lf you're looking for quality and value from your insurance provider, please contact us at 8OO.752.1895 or log onto

Redwood also fit with the school's desire to utilize locally sourced materials from an environmentally responsible partner. "We didn't want to use lower-quality pine or hemlock because we want the project to last," says Reich. "This effort had to look good and reflect our understanding of appropriate materials."

Identifying specific needs can help identify the right material for any project. When Plowshares. a community supported organization providing services to individuals and families in need in Ukiah, Ca., built a facility and kitchen to feed the hungry, it chose redwood for a fence to surround the structure.

Plowshares selected redwood to ensure long-lasting performance and maintain a positive appearance. Redwood fences provide a high degree of privacy and stand up to even the most harsh weather conditions. The grassroots organization, which relies heavily on donated time and effort, also appreciated that redwood is easy to work with.

"We rely on donations, and the fence was a wonderful finishing touch." says Plowshares execulive director Ana Mahoney. "Not only did the fence allow us to complete the good neighbor process, it helps protect the community garden.

"It is important that we help people understand redwood is a renewable, sustainable resource," says CRA president Charlie Jourdain. "Projects that help sustain communities provide more than gardens, benches or fences. They provide an educational opportunity, too."

At PLM, we understand that you need an insurance company with property and casualty insurance products and services that you can trust today and tomorrow.

For over 100 years, our experts have been providing quality claims and risk management services to the lumber, woodworking and building material industries. Remem ber, "you get what you pay for." We understand wood. We know your business... because it's our business too. Wood is all we do.

fohn K. Smith, CPCU President ond Chief Executive Officer

By fames Olsen