If your favorite tree must come down, why not make it into a family heirloom?

What if you could eat Christmas dinner with your family and friends on a handcrafted table made from the red oak that you climbed as a kid? Or what if the hardwood floors in your dining room were made from the cherry that grew in your front yard?

Over the years, a number of clients have asked us if we know where they can have their trees milled at the end of their lives. The question piqued our interest so we looked into it.

Growing Earth ISA-Certified Arborist Jim Martin made the decision to have a red oak we had taken down milled into flooring. His daughter and son-in-law were having a house built at the time so Jim gave them the flooring as a gift. The results were outstanding.

When the current owners of the house where Jim and I grew up called Growing Earth to take down a red oak on their property, another opportunity presented itself. The tree was taken down and we had it milled and crafted into matching dining room tables and picture frames. We celebrated last Christmas by eating dinner with our families on a beautiful table made from the same red oak we knew well as kids many years ago. We gave the picture frames to our siblings with old family pictures in them.

Now we’ve taken the idea one step further. Growing Earth recently invested in a state-of-the-art, computer-controlled wood mill. Now when it comes time to take down your favorite tree at the end of its life, we can mill it for you.

The possibilities for creating cherished family heirlooms are only limited by your imagination. There are many local craftsmen who specialize in creating everything from kitchen cabinets and shelving to furniture and all kinds of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items. Or maybe you know your way around a woodshop and have your own ideas.