150th anniversary of Arbor Day

On April 29th, 2022, the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day, we checked in with owner Paul Grothouse to find out why celebrating and supporting the growth of trees is so significant.

“I think a lot about the contributions of trees to mankind’s development and growth. Trees have been, and are still the greatest resource available to mankind. Few people realize that wood is the most used raw material in the world, more than stone, steel, plastics, or even oil. The average American uses the equivalent of a cube of wood 6-1/2” square every single day of their life. That’s 640lbs of wood every single year for every single person! As a country, we build an average of 1 million new single-family homes every year in the US and that’s been consistent for over 40 years. The most amazing part about all of this is that we are replacing every tree that is cut with 2.1 new trees! We have steadily increased our forest production density for over 70 years in this country- shout out to the U.S. Forest Service! This helps greatly with air quality and earth warming. Trees are also one of the best ways to capture carbon and contain it, and it’s 100% renewable.”

So how can you help? You can plant a tree, but if you really want to make a difference take a moment to make a conscious effort in your buying decisions; support wood products over mined and/or synthetic materials in your buying choices. Also, buy American species of wood and American-made and sourced products. Not all countries treat their forests with the same care as we do in the US.

Find out more about Grothouse’s commitment to sustainability.