Healing Tree

Western red cedar has been revered for thousands of years. Its versatility made the tree essential to Native people, prompting them to place it as a central part of their lives. The cedar tree represented the visible and invisible forces of life. They recognized the tree fed with the help of fungi from the nutrients in the soil. The trees drank water from underground streams that once were oceans – which were clouds. They understood the leaves feed on sunlight. They recognized the freshness of the forest air breathed out as oxygen and water-vapor. They watched quietly as birds, wind and rain spread the tree’s seeds; as insects and the wind pollinated the tree’s flowers; and, creatures broke down the fallen leaves into topsoil.

The great cedar tree became the metaphor for great wisdom. The cedar’s giving spirit provided people with food, shelter and medicine literally from the wooden cradle to the wooden coffin. Working with tools made of stone, bone or shell, craftsman carved canoes, totem poles, storage boxes and ceremonial masks from the generous wood. Mats, baskets and water-repellent clothing were shaped and woven from the inner bark.

Perhaps most importantly, western red cedar was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes. Principally, they utilized two fundamental techniques for extracting the cedar’s elixirs. The some extracts were gotten by boiling the parts in water and straining the liquor, or parts were steeped as tea for infusion. It was these elixirs from powdered leaves that were used externally to treat various internal pains, including rheumatism. The leaf buds have been chewed in the treatment of toothaches, while an elixir of the buds has been used as a gargle.

A weak infusion has been drunk in the treatment of painful joints caused by rheumatism or arthritis and a poultice of the crushed bough tips and oil has been applied to the back and chest in the treatment of bronchitis, rheumatism and stomach pains. The boiled concoction of the boughs has been used as an antidandruff shampoo. A poultice of the inner bark has been used as a counter-irritant for the skin and poultice of the inner bark has been applied to carbuncles. Even the bark when pounded until it is as soft as cotton can be used to rub the face and has been used to bind wounds and as cover for wound dressings. Shredded bark can be used to cauterize sores.

Martin Luther said it best almost 500 years ago when asked what he would do on the last day of his life. He simply stated, "I would plant a tree."

Cedar Vs Redwood Sign Boards

There has been a lot of talk about how California Redwood makes the better wood sign board. Some sign people even suggest they only use "Clear All Heart” Redwood, most of which is old growth. Well, I’m sorry, I don’t care how well managed or thoughtful - old growth Redwood forests are NOT a sustainable resource. These same folks will often suggest that Redwood takes and holds paint better than Cedar - that Western Red Cedar doesn't even come close. I’m afraid these folks have it all backwards!

First of all it is important to say that Western Red Cedar and California Redwood are really from the same genus (an organism's taxonomic hierarchy e.g. species, genus, family, order, class etc.) and have a lot of similarities. The biggest difference is that Western Red Cedar has much greater structural integrity for two fundamental reasons. Firstly, Western Red Cedar has far greater flexural strength (the ability to flex without shattering or splintering) than California Redwood. Hydro-electric poles are often made of Western Red Cedar rather than California Redwood because vibrations in the environment around the dam would cause California Redwood to crack. Secondly, California Redwood has greater density than Western Red Cedar and it also contains more oils. For these reasons; Redwood is more difficult to glue, does not retain stains and paints well, and splits when screws fasten Redwood together.

Speaking of oils, Western Red Cedar also contains natural oils. Cedar's unique aroma comes from naturally occurring thujaplicins in its heartwood. These compounds resist moisture and are toxic to decay-causing fungi and insects and preserve the wood against decay to give it long lasting appeal. Properly finished with natural water-repellent preservative and refreshed, Western Red Cedar will deliver decades of trouble-free service. The hallmark characteristic of Western Red Cedar, its profound natural durability, has preserved examples of native cultures for more than 200 years.

Western Red Cedar's lower density enhances its insulation value and makes it an easy wood to transport and handle. It’s also more stable dimensionally. Western Red Cedar is hygroscopic so it absorbs or releases moisture and maintains equilibrium with the atmosphere. It shrinks very little and is superior to all other coniferous woods in its resistance to warping, twisting, and checking. It is Western Red Cedar's exceptional dimensional stability that makes it so well for use in high moisture areas.

Western Red Cedar is light-weight, achieves fine joinery, accepts finishes with ease and possesses outstanding dimensional stability and legendary durability. Western Red Cedar is the superior wood for nearly all purposes where attractive appearance and resistance to weather is important. Cedar Rocks!

Western Red Cedar Finishing

Western Red Cedar is one of the few wood species that are just naturally at home outdoors. When properly finished, Western Red Cedar will gracefully weather for decades, even in harshest of environments. Its natural resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage make it the ideal choice for a surface that is exposed to sun, rain, heat and cold all year round. Along British Columbia’s Pacific coast, aboriginal people have used cedar bark to make rope, clothing and baskets for thousands of years. The logs were used for canoes, totem poles, masks and long houses. The hallmark characteristic of Western Red Cedar, its natural durability, has preserved examples of native culture for more than 100 years.

For centuries builders and artisans have valued Western Red Cedar for its natural beauty and durability. Cedar's unique aroma comes from naturally occurring thujaplicins in its heartwood. As many homeowners are too well aware, readying their deck for summer is all about tending to their "thujaplicins." These aren't exotic plants or an endangered species. They are the fragrant natural compounds that give western red its pleasant aroma and protect the wood from deterioration. These compounds resist moisture and are toxic to decay-causing fungi and insects and preserve the wood to give it long lasting appeal. Unfinished cedar has richly textured grain with colors ranging from mellow ambers, reddish cinnamons and rich sienna browns. Its warm coloring is complimented by a uniform, fine-grained texture with a satin-like luster. Because cedar is virtually pitch and resin free, the wood easily accepts a range of finishes, from oils and stains, to solid coatings and paint.

The choice of an exterior wood finish for cedar depends upon the desired appearance and the degree of protection required. Conversely, the amount of protection provided to the wood depends on the type of finish selected. Regardless, they perform best when the coating is applied to all surfaces: face, back, edges and ends.

Even though cedar weathers over time to an attractive silver-gray patina that has a certain architectural appeal, research chemists and wood scientists strongly recommend that some form of protective finish be applied to prevent surface degradation. Weathered surfaces provide a poor substrate for finishes. Even a few weeks of exposure will decrease cedar’s ability to hold a finish. Once the finish-wood interface fails, the coating will debond, blister, crack, flake or peel. The longer the period of weathering, the more rapidly the finish may fail.

Transparent, non-flexible, film-forming finishes such as lacquer, shellac, polyurethane, and varnish are not recommended for exterior use on cedar. Ultraviolet radiation will penetrate the transparent film and degrade the wood. Regardless of the number of coats, the finish will eventually become brittle, develop severe cracks and then fail.

The natural coloration of newly milled cedar can most appropriately be retained by applying finishes that contain ultraviolet-blockers. Finishes containing both an effective mildewcide and ultraviolet protection are recommended. Since these finishes contain a low percentage of solids, they tend to be high maintenance. Penetrating oil-based stains or light-pigmented natural tones can also be applied to provide uniform color and protect the wood.

I love western red cedar and have been using it for construction and art for over 40 years. I love its taste, smell, feel, sound and its colors. I would venture to say I have forgotten more about WRC than most folks know!