Andrew Abello, local tree farming expert, handcrafted furniture maker and owner of Wind Ridge Farm, was keen to draw a connection for Garden Club members between trees and flower gardens when he addressed the Boothbay Region Garden Club on Wednesday, April 13. So he opened his presentation with the statement that trees are also beautiful flowering plants.

But that is not the most significant point of connection between Abello's lifelong vocation and the goals of the BRGC.

The National Garden Club (NGC) Conservation Pledge, made by every member present at each monthly meeting of the BRGC, begins with a vow to protect and conserve our natural resources and ends with a "promise to promote education so we may be caretakers of our air, water, forests, land and wildlife."

Abello and his wife, Amanda Russell, actually live out this pledge everyday as they practice good forestry stewardship and management of their more than 100 acre Edgecomb woodlot which in turn provides them a livelihood and a most satisfying close-to-nature lifestyle. Abello said the woodlot "has been our recreation" and although they employ the expertise of a licensed forester, it is clear that 40 years in the forest have made them experts in their own right.

Abello gave the group a quick plant biology lesson when he explained that a tulip stays upright from the water pressure in its stem but the physiology of trees is quite different. What makes trees grow big and tall is the presence of lignin, a complex polymer found in cell walls that provides rigidity and strength. This becomes important to know when handcrafting a continuous arm Windsor chair, which is one of Abello's specialties. He explained that to make the curved portion of the chair he uses a steam box to soften the lignin in a stiff piece of wood so it will bend. He works quickly to wedge the softened wood into a form that will harden once it has cooled, never to be straightened again.

Three different species of wood go into the crafting of a Windsor chair, explained Abello, which is why they are always painted. Oak is better for bending so it is used for the arms and spindles. The seat is usually made of a thick piece of pine and the legs are made from maple as it turns well.

Many species of wood, including red spruce, oak, maple, pine, cherry and hemlock, can be found on Abello's farm and through conscientious management trees are thinned and harvested in a way that benefits both the forest and its wildlife habitats while providing wood that can be used for Abello's furniture crafting business, home heating needs and as lumber to be sold for timber framing. Abello spoke with reverence about the time he spends among his trees and described how studying the growth rings of a cut tree provides insight into its life cycle -- its good years and bad years.

Wind Ridge Farm provides the Boothbay region and surrounding communities a wildlife refuge, protected wetlands, a living classroom and many outdoor recreational opportunities like birding, hunting, skiing and snowshoeing. Through their skillful management and stewardship, Abello and Russell have ensured that this portion of the Maine forest will remain a healthy eco system for many generations to come.

To learn more about this very special local treasure and its successful stewards, Google Maine Tree Farms and Andrew Abello.