After an unwelcome windstorm, several historic trees fell from the California State Capitol’s “Capitol Park’s Civil War Memorial Grove”. This grove was established in 1897 to commemorate those who fought in the Civil War. Among the fallen trees were a box elder from Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, and a tulip tree from Five Forks, Virginia. These came to California from the site of Southern battlefields as mere saplings.
(Capitol logs coming into Far West)
California assemblyman Ken Cooley did not want these precious trees that held so much history to just get thrown in a wood chipper stating that the trees are, “…a reminder that we had paid a great price to preserve our nation as one nation, not divided.” And with much effort, he orchestrated the historic trees rescue and found a way to preserve their history by getting them to us at Far West Forest Products to ensure they went to their best and highest use and can live on. These woods will be returned to the Capitol, perhaps as benches, or converted into wooden art objects for display.
(Far Wests Jim Evans with Assemblymen Cooley)
Additionally, Assemblyman James Gallagher will be welcoming this new USRW Certified Urban Wood store to the Yuba County area, and showing some amazing fiddle-back walnut that Far West was able to salvage from his family ranch in Rio Oso CA where he grew up. He’ll be speaking about the benefits of using our natural resource that is urban wood.
(Geanie Hollingsworth, facilities manager assembly committee describing to Jennifer Alger how she’d like the wood cut)
Did you know that most urban and community trees when they are removed now get burned, chipped, or go into the waste-stream? Turning these trees into lumber sequesters or stores the carbon in the wood helping our environment. Woodworkers and manufacturers using wood products will be able to find locally salvaged hardwoods from multiple small producers all in one location – and without the cost and carbon footprint associated with transporting these (woods from the East Coast or overseas. Utilizing these woods also increases local job opportunities, a win for the environment and a win for our community.
Come see a few of these CA State Capitol slabs and the Gallagher ranch slabs on display as Assemblymen Gallagher and Cooley tell more about their experience with urban wood salvage at the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the USRW Certified Urban Wood Store at 11am on April 23rd 2022 at 1334 Melody Rd. Olivehurst CA
Far West will still have the Wood Barn in Sheridan, but will also manage the USRW Certified Urban Wood Store for Urban Wood Network Member producers and and makers. You’ll still see the live edge slabs, artisan woods, and turning blanks, but there will be a wider selection due to the multiple producers. And you’ll start seeing a lot of finished products, bases, shelving, and dimensional material, and some hands on instructional classes. The Sheridan location will transition to appointment only sales and service over time.
Join us for a few words about our mission, food, shopping, sales, and a whole log of fun!
What: Grand Opening/ Ribbon Cutting
When: April 23, 2022
Time: 10:30 to 2pm
with a ribbon cutting and prizes at 11am
Where: 1334 Melody Rd, Olivehurst, CA 95961
