Milling
Long-standing dead trees are harvested in the national forests of New Mexico. Earl and Kathleen Hills work together in this endeavor. Kathleen, as the scout, walks many miles searching for these precious trees. Though live trees are common, the dead-standing trees are rare because they are generally harvested for firewood.
Earl and Kathleen Hills
--Dead Standing Alligator Juniper
The next step is to cut the massive trees into individual slices enabling them to be carried out of the forest. Earl, as the chainsaw operator, requires a great deal of skill to insure that our slabs are straight and level and he is one of the best.
The trees they harvest are several hundred years old, some even dating back before Columbus. They have survived forest fires, drought, and many other natural occurrences. Because they have been dead up to 60 or more years, the wood has been naturally cured, making it a very stable wood.
You will not find this kind of furniture anywhere else in the world....each piece of our juniper furniture is unique because it is designed around the individual character of the wood.
The trees are several hundred years old, some having survived forest fires. The trees we use have been dead several years before we harvest them. This causes the lumber to be very dry and stable.
