5 Reasons Why Local Urban Wood is Better for Your Next Project

We love our Boise trees! We plant them. We celebrate them. We play in them. We lean up against them. We advocate for them. We also cut them down. Think about how you felt the last time you saw a big, beautiful tree removed from a front yard, a city park, or along a sidewalk. Were you a little sad? Did you wonder why it was being cut down? Maybe it got damaged in a storm, outgrew its space, or just wasn’t safe to keep standing. Maybe you're sad because you know that normally, that wood ends up chipped or dumped. But what if it could live on as a table, shelves, or custom piece of furniture? Would you be a little less sad?

Reusing local urban lumber isn’t the go-to practice (it should be) but it is a great local resource and option that will make you feel a little better. Here’s why:

1. It’s better for the planet.

Urban lumber takes wood that’s already coming down and gives it a second life. No clear-cutting, no long-haul shipping, no waste. Just beautiful, repurposed material that helps reduce your carbon footprint. It’s the ultimate recycling.

Black Walnut Side Table - Wood from Boise’s North End

2. You're supporting your neighbors—not a big supply chain.

When you buy local wood, you’re helping small businesses. From the tree services take the tree down. The millworkers and kiln operators preps the wood so that it starts with a strong foundation. Finally, the woodworkers work their magic. These services all exist in Boise. Your money stays here, every step of the way. It’s a win-win for the local economy and for the makers who care where their materials come from.

3. The character is unmatched.

Urban lumber is full of surprises. We’re talking swirling grain patterns, spalting, live edges, knots with stories. Don’t forget about nails or chainlink fencing. You never know what you are going to find once the tree is cut. No two slabs are ever alike. Every piece brings its own story and texture to a project in a way that off-the-shelf wood just can’t.

4. There’s a story behind every board.

Speaking of stories, that slab you’re eyeing? It might’ve once shaded a neighborhood playground or stood tall in someone’s backyard for decades. Like the mulberry we have in our shop that was a tree house and zip line that turned into a fire hazard. Or the honey locust with amazing burls from Ann Morrison Park. With urban lumber, you can often trace exactly where a tree came from, which adds meaningful connection and history to your piece that you can’t get elsewhere.

Our mulberry tree

5. You’re helping protect wild forests.

Choosing salvaged urban lumber helps take the pressure off commercial logging operations, especially in sensitive or old-growth areas. Every time you opt for local wood, you’re making a small but powerful choice to support smarter, more sustainable forestry.

Final Cut

Local urban lumber is a great choice that provides your project with connection and history, while supporting your local economy.  If you’d like more information about urban lumber in the Treasure Valley, you can check out our local Urban Wood Network.

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