Koval’s Post

Dive into the November issue of Hardwood Matters, where we break down the tech revolution reshaping the hardwood industry! Discover how innovation is propelling us into the future, learn about what's new with the White Oak Initiative, and much more: https://ow.ly/khFr50Qauaf #NHLAOfficial #RealAmericanHardwood #HardwoodMatters #IndustryTrends #Wood #Lumber

Sarah and Ben are changing the game. As stewards of the largest contiguous forest in the Willamette Valley, they have put a premium on habitat creation, diverse forest ecologies and sustainable forest practices. Together they run Zena Forest Products , just an hour south of PDXNext. Yesterday they were gracious enough to show us their forest, their mill, their wood sheds, and new flooring manufacturing facility. Oregon white oak is an amazing tree- climate resilient, hardy and super durable. But it has historically been “tossed in the canyon” by commercial logging operations that favor Douglas Fir and clearcut by farms and vineyards. Ben Deumling and his family saw an opportunity. What if a market was created for this and other hardwoods that typically get tossed on slash piles? Forest ecologies benefit when managed for tree diversity and these hardwoods help minimize forest fire intensities. And local timber communities, who’ve had a rough couple of decades, have a lot to offer in providing the skills and knowledge to transition to a more diverse timber economy. All of the new wood floor at PDXNext has been made by Zena Forest Products from oak trees on and near their ridge top. And all that wood was cut on an outdoor saw in a barn, planed by a 1946 wood planer that was brought back to life by Ben after decades at Oregon State University, stacked for a year to dry and then taken to their new parquet flooring shop to be made into tiles for the new terminal. This project allowed Zena to scale up and invest in North America’s only parquet flooring machine which - because it utilizes smaller ‘sticks’ - puts historically discarded wood species into play. We’re fortunate to have found each other and looking forward to the first deliveries next month. (And, because someone will ask, yes there will be #pdxcarpet … but you’re going to love this Oregon Oak!)

🏡 Upcoming Q&A videos! Have you got any questions about our strawbale office? 🎥 🌾 Leave a comment below. ✨ #strawbalebuilding #officespace #QandA #videoseries

One more thing to mow around. A few years ago, we built a greenhouse for my wife, Susan. Since then, we’ve added landscaping features like trees, sidewalks, planters, birdhouses, and a birdbath - lots of stuff, really. Now, anytime she asks my thought on adding something new, I reply: “That’s just one more thing for me to mow around.” If you don’t do much grass cutting, you may say, “Pshaw. What’s the big deal?” If you do cut grass, you know the aggrevation of going around obstacles. Same goes for your business. When renaming, reorganizing, shifting, or adding new experiences, do they add true value? Or are you really just creating a mental version of “one more thing to mow around”? Consider how you feel about changes like rearranged shelves or altered hours at a place where you regularly go. Bet you don’t like it, do you? Often, these kinda changes require subtle, extra effort from loyal customers as they adapt. Be careful not to add unnecessary effort when it comes to doing business with you. Make sure any new addition is a genuine improvement… Not just one more thing for your customers to mow around.

Wood products are the only major building products with a third-party certification system to verify their origination from sustainability-managed resources. Here's Step 2 in that process. #sustainability #renewableresource #greenbuilding #southernpine #forestproducts #lumber #southernyellowpine #wood #lumber

🏆 STAFF TOP SHED PICKS FOR 2023 From the top of the North to the very deep South, this year we’ve worked on a wide range of different, yet awesome projects nationwide, each unique and enjoyable. We asked the A-team to reflect on which projects stood out to them. Take a look at the impressive sheds in this article, discover why these projects were stand-outs, and perhaps even gain a little inspiration for your future shed project! 👇 https://hubs.li/Q02cC_9h0

In today’s competitive business world, the pursuit of profits often overshadows the importance of a mission-driven purpose. However, some leaders recognize the value of using their business to make a positive social impact. In a recent interview, Chad Silverstein spoke with Amelia Baxter, a distinct leader who prioritizes purpose before profit. Amelia Baxter, CEO of WholeTrees® Structures, shares her insights on the benefits of running a mission-driven business. She emphasizes that success is not solely defined by financial gain, but rather by the positive impact a business can have on society. To learn more about Amelia Baxter’s approach to running a socially impactful business, check out the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gkEv_kPs Forest Business Network LLC Shelby Snelson Melissa Sklenar Arnie Didier International Mass Timber Conference International Mass Timber Report #forestproud #masstimberreport #climatechange #carbonneutrality #carbondrawdown #sustainability #masstimber #crosslaminatedtimber #masstimberbuildings #sustainableforestry #offsiteconstruction #decarbonizingbuildings #modularconstruction #embodidedcarbon #circulareconomy #builtenviroment #masstimberconference #IMTC2024 #masstimberinstaller #biophilia #massply #massplypanels #VLT #veneerlaminatedtimber #thefutureiswood #laminatedveneerlumber #masstimberconference #dowelllaminated #sustainableforestry #engineeredwood #massply #parallellaminatedtimber 

Flower farming as a business? Absolutely. A concept that might seem quaint at first glance is actually an untapped reservoir of opportunities. This article I stumbled upon sheds light on the potential of commercial flower farming and how to dive into it. From detailed business planning to effective marketing strategies, it guides you through every step of the process. The key takeaway? Success in flower farming is all about knowledge, precision, and a well-thought-out strategy. As architects and engineers, it's fascinating to see how our buildings can incorporate living, breathing green spaces, not only for aesthetics but for commerce as well. Picture this: a high rise with its own flower farm, a housing complex with a community-managed flower garden. The possibilities are endless. The future of green buildings may just be in bloom. Check out the guide here: https://lnkd.in/eBy-rVRK

The countdown is on for this year's Lawn and Landscape Technology Conference. Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN & Greenius will be sharing his insights on the Pioneer Panel, Thursday, July 25 at 11:00am. Learn how tech can improve your operations, why it's important to invest in tech early on, and what the future holds for landscaping tech. You won't want to miss this session! cc: Mark Bradley, Lawn & Landscape magazine

It's REAL, not photoshopped! Imagine this conversation - "Let's plant 1,000 trees to make a smiley face, and in about 10 years we'll see if it worked!" In 2011, Hampton Lumber decided to use Larch trees to create a smiley face design while reforesting a massive open area in Oregon. It was a giant and innovative task, to say the least, as the company had to plant far more trees at a much closer density than normal. At the time, Hampton Lumber wasn’t sure if their effort would ever amount to anything. But more than a decade later, we’re reaping the joyful benefits of their leap of faith. The smiley face remains a viral sensation and a tourist attraction. WHY IT MATTERS This crazy, innovative idea will be giving back for generations to come over the next 30-50 years as each fall the orange leaves of the trees will flourish into a smile. There's a joyful anticipation each fall! What can we learn from this: 1) Paint a picture of a future that doesn't exist. Then, go for it! 2) Think outside the box to make someone smile 3) Have the patience for the long-term benefits, not just the short-term #creativity #innovation #smileyface #portland Hampton Lumber