. . . but until it dries, nary a board to build with.

It’s bittersweet to part with a fine, big, hardwood tree you’ve grown to appreciate for its shade and beauty, BUT. . .

. . . when you can have it milled into gorgeous lumber it takes the sting right out of the situation.

The hard part is waiting for the lumber to dry so you can use it.

Just look at these boards:

Beautiful now–imagine them sanded and polished.  Stunning black walnut.

As if that wasn’t enough, check out the cherry on the right:

So pretty.

How did this happen?

Portable sawmill.

No need to get a flatbed to haul your trunks to the sawmill–this one came to my yard.

I’ve had other trees cut down and converted into firewood, but since these trees were particularly special, it was great to have the option to turn them into useable lumber.  I was so glad I found a portable sawmill service in my area.

It’s an excellent way to make the most of something that took decades to grow and, to coin a phrase, to “build local,” using extremely local trees and a local service.  And you don’t have to live on a hundred acres of timber.  It’s doable even in suburban or urban areas.

I found one through the local Craigslist.