Why take a natural material (Wood) and inject it with poisons (like CCA) to keep it in an unatural state of existence? Just to keep it from rotting?

Aren't there other alternatives? Couldn't we look for different kinds of local woods to use, and let them stay in their healthy, natural form? YES!

Our Beliefs

Planet Earth Playscapes is committed to an individual community focus, to the health of the environment, and to the well-being of children. We have found that these ideals are best supported by building our playscapes of natural, locally occurring materials.

While the majority of our playscapes are made from earth, grass, sculpture and plants, when we decide to add wooden elements, we believe that using naturally rot resistant wood of trees found in your region, and milling it at a local sawmill provides the best quality, is most environmentally sound, and produces a safe and non-toxic play surface at the best cost.

Our Plan

To help us arrange for "good wood" for your playscape, the first step is to provide us with two or three names of sawyers in your area. How? While larger mills may advertise in the phone book, the best way to locate a sawmill is to contact a contractor who builds barns. Farmers, foresters, firewood cutters, hardware stores and other carpenters may be helpful as well. Even if you don't think there is a sawmill in your area, you may be surprised! Wherever there are woods, there is usually a part-time sawyer with a little mill to turn them into lumber.

When you provide us with the names and phone numbers of the sawmills, we will then talk to the sawyers and make the necessary inquiries and customize the lumber list for your project to the tree species and sawmill that are available. From there you will easily be able to order the lumber with the list that we send you.

We believe it makes much more sense to build with your local, native woods than have CCA -treated pine shipped across the country to your community. For example, if you live in Vermont why not use White Cedar? If you live in Virginia how about using Black Locust or White Oak? By working with a local mill you are also helping to support a local business right in your own community! It really can be a win-win situation.

Here's an example of an organization that uses Black Locust for building projects: Black Locust Initiative.

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