Bend furniture maker uses downed trees to create 'functional art'
BEND, Ore. (AP) — When a storm knocks down a tree somewhere in the Northwest, Mike Ross gets to work.
Ross depends on the elements to supply his Bend company, Natural Edge Furniture. Natural Edge sells benches, dressers and other home furnishings, made from downed trees found across Oregon, Washington, parts of Idaho and Northern California.
Ross travels across the region, answering calls to pick up trees blown down in storms and haul them via truck back to his manufacturing shop. They are left to air dry, then cut into planks for furniture designs.
Where less artistic craftsmen may see damaging imperfections from knots or slits in a tree, Ross sees the chance to make a unique and charming piece of furniture.
"It's functional art," he said.
His downtown Bend showroom offers a glimpse of the finished products: a bench made out of a salvaged cedar tree from Alfalfa; benches and dressers made from maple and juniper. Ross operates like a contractor, taking orders and drawing up the designs. Some of the large tables and dressers sell for $1,000 or more, while smaller pieces have lower price tags.
A 30-year veteran of the wood products industry, Ross has worked in mills across the Northwest. But he came to Bend just a few years ago, starting Natural Edge in 2011 and opening the downtown showroom last year. The business has five employees.
"We see the business as extending the full life of these trees. The resources are there for us to make one-of-a-kind furniture," Ross said. "And we're able to maintain the character of each tree."
"I have a lot of experience in the furniture business, but just recently I recognized this would be a great opportunity to start my own thing," he said. "I'm all about being green. I didn't want this business leaving a carbon footprint. So I got the idea to get all of my material (from the Northwest). I think it has left a good impression with people."
Information from: The Bulletin
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
1000 for a table?   lmao. ive seen them at walmart for 14 bucks and they serve the exact same purpose.  think people! go to the forest to enjoy trees. too many kids are getting obese and totally missing out on the nature expoerience and will wind up as serial killers because of it. the sales manager is totally hot!
Wow- furniture maker uses wood -
Wow that's way cool!
IÂ really like the tree art on the wall.... very cool.
Perhaps the first time you and I have agreed on something
@pdxd Hopefully not the last :)
@pdxd @kramr Mr. kramr and I agree often.  Mostly we agree to disagree (since I'm always right), but we've established a decent working relationship here over the years.  And he's slowly learning that when it comes to election outcomes, I'm the person he should listen to.  That being said, he's a little slow on payment of his campaign bets...but then those conservatives are known for making promises they can't keep. <---Yeppers, I said that out loud! Â
For a long time after the environmental idiots ran the timber industry out of business, you weren't allowed to even cut up downed trees for firewood. Â Seems that the spotted owl needed every tree, dead or alive in order to survive. Â Apparently the rules have been relaxed, but not in time to keep thousands of people depending on the timber industry from going bankrupt or living in poverty after being lied to by the politicians. Â All for a worthless bird that isn't even fit to eat, although it was good target practice.
I cut the downed trees into lumber on site. I have a portable mill and love getting all the free wood.
Burls make some beautiful furniture! I just wonder how long until some greenies complain about him damaging the natural eco system or that he disturbed a billion dollar Federal research project of the mating rituals of the blue backed specled flea? sarc off!
@flyroy There's no one who lives over here who would fault him for hauling off juniper -- I'd guess at least 75% of us locals have horrendous allergies to it, and the season began about a week ago.  But you're right, he does nice work.
@Sundowner @flyroyÂ
I love juniper. Most of my vacation home is made from juniper. Very good solid and pretty wood.
@Sundowner
I understand that. I love the smell of it. Once it has seasoned the allergies go away, at least from what I have seen. I also have oiled it so the bare wood is not exposed.
@RalphCramden Aaacchhooooo!  Sniff, sniff.  =)
@Sundowner @flyroy That is the reason I made the sarcastic remark, I hate nothing more than protests or laws created by the majority in the cities like New York, or Washington Dc, that has the most adverse effects on the rural citizens in the US.