SACRAMENTO — After every winter storm that passes through Sacramento, the process of gathering all the trees that have fallen over due to the strong winds and damp ground begins.
The Urban Wood Rescue program is managed by Colin Fagan of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, and winter is the time of year when they are the busiest.
He stated, “We really want to emphasize the idea that these should not simply be thrown away.”
Every year, dozens of enormous redwoods, sycamores, oaks, and elms arrive to their storage lot in Depot Park, which is an acre in size.
Fagan stated, “Urban Wood Rescue has been involved in making sure that those big historic trees have the right end to their legacy.”
The trees that have fallen are turned into boards and lumber, which are then sold to the public.
Fagan remarked, “Even at the end of a tree’s life, it is still valuable to the community.”
So, what happens to all of the wood from metropolitan areas?
The countertops and sign of Oaxaca, a new Mexican restaurant in Oak Park, were made from walnut wood.
Mars Hernandez, who works at the Oaxaca restaurant, stated, “I think the counters give something really unique to the restaurant.” “I believe it shows that Sacramento wants to have a very close-knit community.”
At The Sofia’s B Street Theater and Matsui Park, which are located along the Sacramento River, other trees have been transformed into a series of benches. The wood grain of the benches gives each one a unique appearance.
Fagan stated, “What we’re really excited about is working on projects where these can be in very public spaces.”
The Urban Wood Rescue program receives all of the trees as donations, which means that the lumber is priced similarly to what you would get at a hardware store.
The Sacramento Tree Foundation believes that the wood will someday be turned into something that will leave a lasting impact long after the living tree is gone.
Fagan stated, “When trees come down, they’re still with us.”
Fagan stated that the foundation also produces its own trees on site to replace the ones that have fallen down, and it offers them to the public at no cost.
