Bark House Wood Products - Locally Manufacturered, Cradle to Cradle Certified, & Stunning
As we’ve noted in the past, we always like to visit the manufacturers we are considering bringing into the CaraGreen line-up, to see the manufacturing process in person and to verify they really are doing everything they say they are. Recently, I visited Highland Craftsmen, manufacturer of Bark House brand poplar bark siding and many other interesting products. Located in Spruce Pine in the NC mountains, Highland Craftsmen are doing everything they say and more.
The owners, Marty and Chris McCurry, are passionate about what they do, and their passion is shared by everyone who works there. My guide, sales person Ryan Crawley, gave me a tour of the facility and I was impressed by how much they got done in a relatively small footprint. Operations take place in several buildings in downtown Spruce Pine, with the safety and comfort of their employees as the highest priority. In keeping with the principles of sustainability, they have occupied existing buildings in a compact area of town rather than building a brand new facility. Each building in the “campus” houses a different operation, from handling and storage of the bark siding shingles and wall panels, to the cutting and storage of giant slabs cut from trees that have fallen or have been cut down for safety purposes to the cutting and storage of funky stumps and stems that can be used for all sorts of purposes.
Highland Crafsmen also works to create as close to a zero waste facility as they can with scraps from their operation being given to the city for use as mulch and other purposes. No water is used to manufacture their products, and any energy they consume is offset with renewable energy credits. They have created beautiful green spaces in the Spruce Pine community that were initially for the use of their employees but are open to anyone who wants to enjoy them.
And let’s not forget the awesome materials they make at this place! Their mainstay is the Bark House brand poplar bark siding. Bark is obtained from sustainable foresters in the Appalachians harvesting Yellow Poplar for the plywood and furniture industries. HC obtains the bark that would otherwise be discarded or ground into low grade mulch and instead turns it into a unique and long-lasting siding material. The shingles can be used on the interior as well, and HC can also provide large Poplar panels in a variety of widths and heights. In addition to the Poplar products, HC also manufactures several bark laminate products made from White pine, white and yellow birch, and fire cherry. These materials are coming from sources that are clearing land for personal use and the owners don’t want to waste the material. There are many options available to provide just the special look you are looking for in cabinet doors, wall panels, etc.
In addition to all of this, HC also has a variety of other products such as large slabs for table tops and mantles, stumps and stems in all configurations, and an assortment of trim pieces such as handrails and moldings. They can work with you on custom projects as well – I saw a cool bunk bed made entirely of tree trunks and stems, complete with a spiral staircase to the bed and stool for the desk below!
Bark House’s sustainable commitment show in the Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification obtained for their Bark House brand poplar bark siding, they hold Chain of Custody Certification for the siding as well, and HC is a B Corporation, which means it is meeting very comprehensive standards for social and environmental performance. There are numerous other sustainable features that are further outlined in their website, and we invite you to check them out. The next time you are trying to bring a little of the outdoors inside in a very sustainable way, take a look at all of the great things they have to offer.
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