Green Lumber

In a world of extreme economic and environmental ups and downs, Jackel Enterprises, Inc.—a specialty lumber yard located in Watsonville, CA—caters to “green” and non-green builders nationwide and stands out as a beacon of light in the efforts to help maintain the earth’s balance.

Founded in 1991, Jackel Enterprises sells woods that are “meant to be seen”—high-grade softwoods from California and the northwest, and exotic hardwoods from all over the world. The company provides custom millwork to discerning craftsmen, builders and homeowners throughout the country, and has been doing so for almost two decades. “We deal with end users, but primarily, we deal with the fabricator,” says company president Steve Jackel. “We want the reader to find interest in our materials, and refer us to their designer or contractor.”

Although many of Jackel’s clients don’t necessarily build “green,” the company prides itself on working with urban, suburban and rural salvage woods. “We find trees out in the woods,” says Jackel. The company is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and has also been acknowledged by the SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance as a chain-of-custody company, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly lumber companies in California.
 
Additionally, Jackel Enterprises has recently developed its own green certification program and created its own logo to show consumers which Jackel products are recycled and sustainably produced. “I’ve been doing urban, suburban and rural salvage since 1973,” says Jackel. “It was all about walking softly on the earth, which is my thing—leaving a soft carbon imprint so that there’s something left for future generations.”

As part of its green efforts, Jackel Enterprises emphasizes its unique Box Beams—three-sided faux timber beams milled primarily using Douglas fir or other wood species. The beams are usually used to clad steel members or to visually enhance a room’s particular style. “Box Beams are made mainly out of FSC-certified materials,” explains Jackel. “They’re economical, you’re using less wood mass to achieve an effect that would be akin to using more mass. And they’re especially great for a Spanish- or Mediterranean-style home where the work simulates antique timbers.”  

Jackel Enterprises first got into the Box Beam business over five years ago when Steve was doing solid timberwork using recycled wood for various projects. A client came in one day with a problem covering up a steel beam and asked what could be done. Jackel’s mill shop brainstormed and came up with the Box Beam. Then another client came in asking for the same thing, but with a faux hand-hewn finish on it. “We retrofitted his whole house, and soon discovered there was a market for this,” says Jackel.

Jackel takes his woods very seriously. He began his woodworking career making musical instruments but realized his strengths lay in the buying and selling and working with woods. “I am a merchant with leanings towards alchemy,” he says. “The fact is, I love wood. I love the incredible uniqueness of each stick, the inescapable variation of grains, colors, textures and odor. When I view a completed work, I am always amazed, taken by the beauty of the piece and by the pride of the craftsman.”

As a craftsman, Jackel believes that it is his duty to create a beautiful product, and to do so in a way that does not harm the planet. “That’s what ‘green’ means,” he says. “The alchemist is concerned with transformations. He takes raw materials and transforms them to a higher state. That’s what we do when we go into someone’s home. We’re always involved in increasing the intrinsic value of what we’re working on. When we say added value, we mean it.”

For more information, contact Jackel Enterprises, Inc. at (800) 711-9663 or visit www.jackelenterprises.com.