Written by: August Hoppe, Certified Arborist WI-0477A
My brother Fred and I were recent guests on WTMJ-4's Morning Blend. Our message was our company's mission: Taking care of people and their trees. That mission was formed nearly 50 years ago, but it's still relevant, perhaps even more so in today's modern world.
Here's how I think about our mission today:
Sustainability - Trees as a natural resource grow more scarce when insects like Emerald Ash Borer level millions of them. We're in the midst of the EAB crisis here in Wisconsin, and our customers are in danger of losing precious trees. While planting new trees to fill the void is important, maintaining the health of our existing mature trees provides even more value. There are quite a few strategies we use to keep our customers' trees growing healthy and strong.
We can't always save a tree, though. Rather than let those trees go to waste or be used as firewood, our Urban Wood Lab recycles them into dimensional lumber and live-edge slabs, keeping the value of that wood alive. In many cases, the trees have particular significance to our customers, and the Urban Wood Lab helps them maintain that emotional connection. The Fox family in Waukesha is keeping their father's memory alive in this way - read their story.
Our own health - Exciting new research in public health shows that the value of trees to human health runs deeper than first known. The trees in our living spaces contribute directly to reduced stress, lower levels of illness and improved mental health.
So in many ways, even as we are taking care of our trees, they are also taking care of us. As arborists, we are personally invested in enabling that relationship to continue with every tree that comes under our care.
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