Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Forest Of Trees More Plentiful Than Thought

Take a deep breath.

Now thank an acre of trees for the oxygen.

The next time you enjoy ice cream, thank a tree. And if you eat too much

ice cream, thank wood for the antacid you'll need. Thank a tree for the make-up you use and the music you listen to - whether it's the driving rhythm produced by a piano for a rock tune or the more gentle classical sounds coming from violins.

Surprised?

Most people are when they discover the large role wood products play in their lives. As National Forest Products Week, October 19-25, is celebrated, let's pose a question: What would we do without wood? Not much. And to illustrate this, consider a day in your life without wood products.

The alarm rings and that wood frame bed you went to sleep in the night before isn't there. Chances are the bedroom won't be either since most homes are constructed from wood products.

After spending the night exposed to the elements, you would probably like to take a shower. That could be difficult without a house, but assuming you can find a bathroom someplace, the water might not be to your liking. Trees help maintain proper water quality to keep it clear and clean.

Brushing your teeth could be a challenge. The wood product cellulose is used to make your toothbrush, and it puts the "paste" in toothpaste.

Want to comb your hair? Forget it. No brushes or combs.

Your morning ritual would certainly be different without wood, and considerabley more unpleasant for you and others around you.

Now, about breakfast ... forget that cup of coffee, because coffee beans come from trees. No fruit either, or maple syrup, in case you were thinking of having some pancakes; these products come from trees, too.

Even if you managed to find something to eat, where are you planning to sit? If you have stools and breakfast table are made of wood, they won't be there. In fact, the kitchen floor won't be there if it is made of linoleum or a hardwood.

Time to get dressed. You will be picking your clothes up off the floor since the walnut dresser is gone. And your wardrobe is going to be considerably smaller. Everything made with rayon has dissappeared.

What is left of your wardrobe is drab and colorless. Dyes that color cloth are made from wood products. If you don't have zippers to secure all your clothes, things could get embarrassing. Most buttons are made from a wool product.

And those shoes with wooden heels ... gone, as are all your rubberized running shoes.

If you do manage to put together a passable outfit to wear, your next step is into the driveway to get yourself to work. That will be difficult to do in a car without tires and minus a steering wheel. Public transporation is also out, of course.

Thinking about walking? Remember, you probably don't have shoes.

You're inventive so you figure out a way to make it to your office, or where your office was located. It isn't there, because the building - like your home - was constructed primarily of wood products.

Naturally, you don't find the cherry wood desk you used, the large walnut book cabinet or the stacks of boods that lined your walls.

It's already been a long day and you only just arrived at work.

Setting aside all the personal inconveniences you've encountered, consider the economic consequences of life without wood products. Simply put, there would be a weakened economy, fewer jobs and a lesser community.

Fortunatley, you will be waking up tomorrow in a bed, in a house. You will be able to enjoy your shower, brush your teeth and comb your hair.

Coffee will be brewing in your kitchen with a floor, and if you want fruit-based jams and jellies with your food, you can have them.

Your clothes will be in their proper drawers in your cabinet and your wardrobe will be diverse and colorful.

You will have a way to get to work without walking in your bare feet and you will find an office and a desk to sit at when you arrive.

You will have paper to write on and a place to store your files. Also, you will have fresh air to breath.

Give all this some thought when your alarm goes off tomorrow morning and you pick up this newspaper. No doubt, National Forest Products Week will take on a whole new meaning.