50 Trees Planted — for Each Average-Sized Pergola Kit!

One of the greatest actions there is to positively influence the environment is to plant a tree. Trees are hard assets that make the land fertile; which is why we are growing a legacy of tree plantations!

For Every Single Average-Sized Western Timber Frame™ Pergola Kit We Have 50 Trees Planted!

(On our larger than average sized ShadeScape® shelters there are even MORE trees planted.)

Trees; they are essential builders of habitats and a restorer of ecosystems. And, not only in surrounding environments — every activity, function and homeostasis of the human body survives with the help of these oxygen producing timber giants.

But trees do more than give us the life-giving air we breathe. Trees get rid of pollutants, clean up and filter contaminants, and improve air quality.

The daily benefits received from trees can not be numbered. But I will number a few of them here and why we are so adamant about planting an excess of trees for every timber arbor, cabana, gazebo, pavilion, trellis or pergola shade shelter we build.

As previously mentioned, trees provide us with an environment rich in oxygen. Timber is also a human friendly natural temperature regulator which is why it is the perfect shade shelter material. Shade also helps prevent dehydration.

Trees Help Prevent Dehydration

When people feel chilly it is less desirable to drink water and this can contribute to dehydration in the indoors in cold season. Dehydration can Be sneaky and dangerous, leading to dryness, confusion, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat, shock and even death.

Heat pumped into the home keeps you warm, but indoor air is very dry. Dry air can causes a loss of fluids wherein a person can quickly become dehydrated. This is why people tend to get cracked skin and need moisturizers more in the winter time. Bundling up in layers can add to dehydration from body sweat. When temperatures drop, spending time in the outdoors is extremely good for your mind and body and keeping hydrated.

Dehydration is a major issue in any climate-controlled environment. Traveling by plane is a prime example.

The relative humidity inside of an airplane can be as low as ten to fifteen percent; which is 3× as dry as the Sahara desert!

Water delivers vital oxygen and nutrients to the cells; 60% to 70% of an adult’s weight is body fluid; and 80% of a newborn’s weight. It’s estimated that an airline passenger can lose up to 8% of vital bodily water on a 10 hour flight. The Aerospace Medical Association recommends drinking at least eight ounces of water for every hour traveling on an airplane.

Trees & Timber Act as a Natural Air Conditioner

Trees have an intricate root system acting as a filter to remove pollutants and slow down the absorption of water into the soil. This process reduces the risk of prevents over-saturation, erosion and flooding. And they even clean our water!

Roots can be problematic if you want to plant a tree close to a residence or septic system; which is why a timber frame shade shelter (made from trees) can give comforting shade where a tree isn’t an option. And yes, it has a bonus benefit: you’ll never need to water it.

Trees Remove Odors

Trees combat odors and pollutant gases filtering particulates out of the air. If you enjoy the idea of a real outdoor fireplace or fire pit, trees are a wonderful way to help whisk away any lingering smoky scent.

Trees Conserve Water & Give Nutrients

• Shade slows water evaporation from thirsty lawns and plants.
• Trees make a wonderful windbreak.
• Exhausted soil is replenished with rich, new nutrients from trees.
• Millions of products we enjoy everyday are produced from trees.
• Trees provide shelter for humans and wildlife.
• For centuries, trees have been a source of fuel.

Trees Make You Happier

Probably the most well-researched benefits of nature has been conducted with tree environments. Exposure to trees helps to decrease rumination and anxiety.

Anything with a biophilic design; which connects occupants to natural materials such as air, plants, sunlight, water, and wood makes physical health better. Trees are a combination of all that and are the largest plants on earth.

Trees Are A Living Document

Trees are a living document that contain a trove of data concerning natural climate variability, ecosystems, colossal events and civilizations. Archeologists use dendrochronology; which studies the cross-section of concentric pattern of rings of timbers to reveal facts about history.

Each ring marks a complete cycle of seasons. The underlying patterns of rings vary in width and record a year-to-year fluctuation that contains a weather history, wet or dry years, and the age of the tree.

These gigantic recording devices are a fingerprint to history. They have estimated things like the construction dates of cliff dwellings, the age of some of the world’s oldest buildings, the age of a burial chamber, dated portraits by a picture frame, etc.

Anciently people built in wood but only in recent years have scientists begun to recognize the larger potential of wood from sustainable managed forests over steel. Many people don’t realize that timber can with fire better than steel.

The truth is: Building with wood is sustainable with a lighter carbon footprint than steel or concrete. Wood is natural and renewable. Trees and wood products absorb and store carbon. The dry weight of wood is approximately 50% carbon.

Trees have also proven to be very intelligent. A European study revealed that when trees were besieged by caterpillars they sent out a chemical signal alerting caterpillar-eating birds.

Trees exchange nutrients and cooperate together. For example, Birch trees will shade Douglas fir seedlings and send them photosynthetic sugars, and also inhibit the growth of fungus all through their network below ground. The Douglas fir trees then reciprocate giving photosynthetic sugars back to the Birch trees in the fall and springtime, when the Birch trees have lost their leaves.

Doesn’t that inspire admiration?

We improve life and relationships by creating inspiring environments.