CitiLog Visits Anheuser-Busch

Last week, a few members of the CitiLog Team, visited Anheuser-Busch in Newark and had a successful meeting filled with positive collaboration opportunities. We met with Lindsey Aeillo, Anheuser-Busch's Environmental Manager, and learned they have many of the same green initiatives as us. Also present for the meeting were representatives from the Newark Habitat for Humanity. CitiLog is working to collaborate with both of these influential companies to provide material for the 2013 Habitat project. Newark businesses working for a greener tomorrow!

At Anheuser-Busch

At Anheuser-Busch

We even got a tour of the Anheuser-Busch plant!

A very sunny and productive Friday!

Friday was a great day at the sawmill. Everyone was busy, and the sun was out as an added bonus. We wish the warm weather lasted a few days longer. Here are some wonderful pictures we wanted to share!

Trucker off-loading more "Sandy Logs"

John working on the power unit

Glen preparing some tools for the day

John instructing one of our key men

Lloyd and Bruce laying out base for the conveyor 

Beautifully unique urban logs

Willem working on the metal detector system

Sawing large diameter logs on the Mighty Might

Survived Snow Storm Nemo!

We are very happy that snow storm Nemo has passed- even though we got hit with quite a bit of snow, this is considered nothing compared to folks further north who got over 2'! As you know, we love pictures of our logs covered in snow- they look so beautiful, so here is another one to check out! Some CitiLog workers put in a few hours on Saturday in order to clear the paths of snow so log trucks can still access our sawmill to drop off logs.

Good thing most of our machinery, such as the main saw, is protected by our hoop structure so we are still able to saw. This great picture was taken by Bryce, CitiLog Employee. An upcycled tree sawn into industrial board- fresh off of the saw!

CitiLog Article in The Hunterdon County Democrat

Thank you Rick Epstein and The Hunterdon County Democrat for a great article! It is great to have people sharing in our vision and helping spread the word.

Read it here

A Visit from Prudential

Today, we were lucky enough to have Cindy Hu from Prudential visit the Newark sawmill and see the saw running! This is a very exciting and pivotal event in CitiLog's journey of upcycling urban logs.

Cindy Hu, Manager of Social Investments for Prudential, entering the saw cab to watch the saw run!

Offloading the sawn logs

More logs loaded on the feed deck to be sawn

CitiLog on WCBS AM Radio

Maria and Stubby Warmbold were recently interview on WCBS Radio New York. Listen to their interview about the CitiLog Newark Sawmill here!

Beginnings of Power at Newark

The day began as a crane moved pieces of the unit off the truck and into place.

By the end of the day, phase one of the power station install is completed.

Yesterday marked phase one of CitiLog Newark's power station install. Our team worked throughout the day as components of the station were delivered on to the site. With the assistance of the crew, a large crane positioned the components into place.

Once the power unit is complete our site will be 100% self-sufficient; producing our own electricity, heating, and eventually cooling. Due to the unique characteristics of urban trees such as holes, rot, metal containment, etc., urban areas have a high rate of unusable and disposable wood. CitiLog uses this disposable wood to create green power.

CitiLog will have more updates following our power station install in the weeks to come!”    

CitiLog Ordinance in Secaucus, NJ

CitiLog team members met with Mayor Gonnelli of Secaucus, NJ for the signing of an ordinance that states all "good" wood in the city must go to CitiLog Newark's sawmill to be upcycled. The ordinance is part of Secaucus' Upcycling initiative. The vote for the ordinance was unanimous, and CitiLog is proud to be working with Mayor Gonnelli and the town of Secaucus!

Hoop Structure Install at CitiLog Newark!

Yesterday, fabric was installed over the new hoop structure at CitiLog Newark! The hoop structure will house all sawmill equipment, and will provide shelter for the workers during the hot summer months. CitiLog Newark is quickly approaching completion! Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of our site!

The start of CitiLog Newark's Hoop Structure

 Fabric on the Hoop Structure

 Fabric installed on the Hoop Structure

Inside the Hoop Structure 

CitiLog Newark Announcement

We are excited to announce CitiLog Newark’s ribbon cutting ceremony is set for July 31^st! The site is progressing quickly as new loads of material are being delivered daily.

Willem Separating New Truckloads 

Truckload Being Delivered at Our Newark Sawmill

Another Load Being Delivered!

CitiLog has also taken the first step in their community-based outreach program by hiring four new employees who are considered disadvantaged youth. These new CitiLog employees will receive training in OSHA work safety skills, as well as knowledge of all sawmill equipment, and operating skills.

CitiLog's Matt & Stubby Preparing For Interviews

Stay tuned for more updates on CitiLog Newark!

Update: The Brayton School Benches

Delivery of the Brayton School's benches

Installing the new benches on site at the Brayton School

These fallen trees now provide outdoor seating for students

The Brayton School's completed Garden Amphitheatre

CitiLog has completed the Brayton School (Summit, NJ) benches for the school’s outdoor Centennial Garden Amphitheatre. See story here!

The benches were completed at CitLog’s Newark Sawmill, and put into place outside of The Brayton School just in time for the school’s garden dedication ceremony. The new amphitheater is in close proximity to the town’s Memorial Field, allowing adults and children alike to enjoy the garden. The new CitiLog benches were upcycled from trees taken from the school’s site.

The new benches act as an educational model on the importance of upcycling and proper sustainable practices.

Arbor Day at CitiLog Newark

CitiLog's Stubby Warmbold & John Sowell Being Filmed By Our Documentary Makers

CitiLog Team Members!

Logs at the Newark Facility

Arbor Day, April 27th is a special day for CitiLog Newark! Originating in Nebraska City, Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton. Arbor Day is a holiday in which people are encouraged to plant and care for trees. At CitiLog we are doing our part by “giving new life” to trees that are no longer wanted due to removal for new construction, or have proven dangerous because of the overgrown size and neglect. We are blessed to be able to take these trees and upcycle them. Upcycling is taking something that is considered waste and turning it into something of greater use or value. CitiLog takes these trees and manufactures them into finished wooden products. Whether it be industrial such as trailer decking or pallet components, or finished wooden log benches; CitiLog can meet any of your individual needs. For CitiLog, it is important to show good stewardship to the land as it is a sin to waste this natural resource. After all, if it wasn’t for Mother Nature, we wouldn’t be here today! Our site has been open for nearly 9 months. Here some photos of our current progress.

Citilog on Heritage Radio

Listen to Citilog being interviewed on the Heritage Radio Network, click here!

This week on Burning Down the House, Curtis is joined by Stubby Warmbold and Andrew Tomlinson of CitiLogs. CitiLogs is the leader in upcycled and repurposed wood and building products. Tune in to hear more about how their company turns unwanted or unused urban trees into building products through a sustainable and responsible process. Find out how they plan on reintroducing the black locust into the market learn about urban sawmills. This episode was sponsored by S. Wallace Edwards & Sons.

Carbon Sequestration

Take a moment and take a deep breath. The quality of the very oxygen we breathe is dependent on the environments that surround us no matter where you are in the world. When it is in danger or threatened by an outside factor we must respond and make a change. This is all we hear environmentalists speak of today. Our governments have even decided to take action on the issue Reuters Article-Where Should the Feds Draw the Line on Green Marketing Claims?. The dreaded word- CARBON. Whether you believe we created the rise in carbon or not- we must take responsibility for our actions. What if we as a responsible society, instead of cowering at the threat of carbon take initiative to capture it, put it to use, educate one another with it and even enjoy it? Our trees can offer this.

Did you know trees are composed of nearly 50% carbon? Through the process of photosynthesis the trees that surround us remove carbon and use it as food. When the trees are diseased, dead and dying or our growth intersects their paths the trees fate can ultimately contribute to carbon emissions. As mentioned in our introductory article, instead of burning or chipping these trees up into small pieces for mulch or waste and releasing carbon into the atmosphere we can literally lock up the carbon. An alternative option for throwing the logs into already overflowing landfills we look to detain the carbon by turning this "waste" into tactile product. Citilog is sequestering the carbon in a progressive way.

Lets say a tree lives and provides oxygen for 100 years. When the tree nears the end of its life the wood is still good. Citilog takes the wood and upcycles it locking the carbon into tables, chairs, flooring, siding, timber frames, benches or bowls for hundreds of years. The tree can be returned to its original site, or taken to new site for use, education and enjoyment for all.

The Avalon Barn: a perfect illustration of carbon sequestration by Citilog. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is an insect that feeds on the Hemlocks in the Northern Atlantic region. It took the life of a handful of Hemlocks on the property Avalon Parks & Preserve. Without turning the trees into waste the park upcycled the dead and dying trees for multiple uses in the same project. The Hemlock provided the heavy timber framing which will last for 200 years or more as is. Once the timber frames serve their purpose they can be re-sawn into floor boards, furniture, etc. obtaining hundreds years more of use. If you really want to contribute to full circle recycling the products could then be ground up into mulch or saw dust depending on size and returned to the soil to begin the cycle all over again. This cycle is what William McDonough refers to in his catch phrase and book "Cradle to Cradle". Aside from heavy timber, the hemlock also supplied gorgeous flooring and siding for the project.

Trees are a critical resource that we must recognize as an opportunity. These trees can not only survive one life cycle, but in fact sustain multiple efforts in repurposing. The trees are in your hands, choose wisely.

Trees: Detriment or Value?

Trees provide shade, oxygen, and are aesthetically appealing. It is a shame when our need for expansion aligns head on with the trees on our property, or when trees disrupt our built environments. We cannot stop our growth, so the trees must go. Instead of ripping out the trees and grinding them up into mulch, or throwing them into the already over-flowing landfills there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What if Citilog took these trees from our sites and upcycled them into beautiful finished wood products? Trees can be transformed into useful casework, flooring, furniture, fencing and outdoor structures for years to come. We have the opportunity to memorialize the trees we love and enjoy, but need to remove. Why not repurpose them, giving them value that can educate and be appreciated by generations to come? And at the same time sequestering the carbon in a local environment... imagine that.