The green machine

From raw timber out in the woods to the finished pieces of furniture displayed in showrooms, Amish furniture is built one step at a time—all with eco-friendliness in mind. While most people don’t realize it, there is more timber in the United States now than there was at the turn of the 19th century. In Ohio, timber is currently growing about two-and-a-half times faster than businesses are logging it, which is why the state has more wooded acres now than it did in 1912.

When used properly, wooded lots can be harvested every 10 to 15 years. Meanwhile, they can only be harvested about once every 50 years when subject to irresponsible practices. That is why proper harvesting, education and careful management are all part of the core components of Amish furniture builders’ business practices.

Education starts with knowing how trees thrive and survive.

Woods can only sustain a limited number of large trees since their large canopies block light from nurturing smaller trees. Tree crowns dictate how fast trees can grow, as does soil moisture and the direction in which trees face. By removing one large tree, harvesters can encourage thousands of seedlings to sprout, leaving behind a well-managed, renewable resource.

Some companies take whatever will make them the most money in the present, without looking ahead to the impact they are making on the future. Too often they pick trees that are genetically superior, leaving behind second-rate trees. By cultivating strong relationships with responsible landowners and looking beyond immediate profit margins, Amish sawmills know they can harvest trees more frequently, while promoting a strong environment and providing high-quality, aesthetically pleasing products.

Harvesting trees without disturbing the environment’s natural habitat is a strong part of the Amish business culture. Wild animals need healthy timber to survive, and many gravitate toward younger trees. By ensuring a mix of ages are left behind after harvesting, Amish businesses take into account animals’ needs and sustain the woodlots that aid in keeping their businesses strong.

They also strive to remove trees without damaging those left behind. While it takes caution and precision to extract lumber without scraping the bark off of surrounding trees, this detail-oriented approach is essential to sustainability.

Erosion is also a significant problem that surfaces after irresponsible harvesting, and by building ditches to prevent excessive amounts of water from flowing down manmade harvesting trails, Amish businesses are able to get the resources they need without creating a long-lasting, negative environmental footprint. Some businesses even construct and install steel bridges to get over streams, therefore ensuring additional environmental sustainability. These steps entail extra work, but Amish harvesters look ahead and realize the importance of taking precautions to sustain healthy woodlots.

Once timber arrives at sawmills, another thing that sets Amish businesses apart from many others in the industry is that they use every bit of the resources they collect. Bark is often ground into mulch, while slabs that are taken off to square logs are used for firewood or chipped for paper mills. Sawdust is used to produce items such as animal bedding and potting soil, while the middle of logs are used for hardwood flooring, truck bed floors and three-ply mats for the oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, the center of hardwood is often used to produce items like shipping pallets.

North American hardwoods are sought worldwide, and instead of shipping small partial loads, Amish businesspeople aim to pack loads according to legal weight limits—whether logs are coming in or lumber is going out. This reduces their carbon footprint, in addition to saving wholesalers money on shipping fees.

Instead of using diesel, many sawmills use natural gas for power, which also results in a much smaller carbon footprint. Amish hardwood manufacturers primarily source resources from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan and New York. Their products are made to last. Unlike pressed wood and particle board furniture that ends up cluttering landfills after just a few short years of use, Amish furniture spans from generation to generation.

The reality is that mankind will always be running out of land, but trees can continue to be plentiful if harvested properly. When harvesters and buyers join together to support sustainable business practices, they help to ensure that more timber will grow than people will ever use. Moreover, they can look down the road for many years to come knowing they engaged in responsible business practices.