About Conservation Forestry - Greenleaf Style

Nestled in the Wet Mountain Valley of the Colorado Rockies, you’ll discover Greenleaf Forestry & Wood Products. Since 1994, we have been providing distinctive forestry services and wood products.  Our mission is integrated: 

A. Forest Care . . . 
Greenleaf was founded by Len Lankford, a pioneering private forester in Colorado. Beginning in 1975, he created Lankford Foresters, Inc., and built a forest conservation management network of private landowners.  Greenleaf Forestry and Wood Products continues this work and focuses on a larger community goal – sustainable jobs linked to sustainable forest care. Greenleaf’s seasoned crews of foresters, harvesters, millers, designers, carpenters and artisans and associated contractors bring unique talents and innovation to the operation.  Their skill and experience enable us to offer you a level of quality that is unmatched in the industry.  What sets us apart is how we understand, manage, and utilize forest resources -- and how we work with you.

Carefully thinning overgrown forests, we greatly reduce the risks of fire and disease and restore natural conditions.  We emphasize thoughtful and artistic tree removals, taking out the worst first. This balanced, environmentally sound approach often provides us with a wonderful array of natural wood. In a forest treatment, we may remove hearty red Douglas-fir, soft blue streaked Ponderosa pine, white patina Aspen, or aromatic gnarled Pinon.  The sizes and shapes of these woods are intriguing.  Our goal is to best utilize these excess renewable materials to help improve forestry economics. Greenleaf pays for removed wood at market value or allows credits to help offset service costs. Our forestry expertise is tailored to each operation and can greatly enhance and protect your landscape.  
 

To learn more about our forestry services, call us for a free property inspection and evaluation.
 

. . . and, B.  Wonderful Woods!

So what becomes of all the wood we thin?  It’s simple: nothing goes to waste. Whether it is used to create something as grand as a cabin or as simple as a knotty pine mantle or table, every piece of timber has a purpose.  Most of the wood is sorted to create fine rustic-style products for your enjoyment but there is always an ample supply of scrap and short logs for firewood. Whether you need small bundles, entire cords, or high-quality pre-cut lumber for siding, beams, or flooring, we have it.  Select from a variety of stockpiles or we will custom cut for you.
 

At the root of Greenleaf’s timber operation is our pride and joy – an antique hand-set sawmill.  Its robust 52” circle blade produces a rough-hewn cut that is both attractive and precise.  Once we determine the best use for the wood, we feed it through the saw, crafting select “first cuts” and developing the log’s character.  This all depends on you, our customer.  You may have a home siding or

paneling project and prefer the natural look of bark and knots.  No problem.  We leave the tree in its natural state.  Some customers prefer a more polished look, especially for interior applications.  We can plane or custom ‘peel’ the wood, using an antique pole peeler machine.  This method is ideal for classic pole fencing and railings. In other instances (such as siding, posts and rails), we may ‘peel’ or remove the bark by hand, using simple, old-fashioned tools. The end result is a stunning, carved appearance.

Once the timber has been milled to its desired size and style, the possibilities are endless.  We offer everything from raw timber for do-it-yourself projects to fully customized rustic cabins and furnishings that are ready to ship. If you have an idea for a wood project and simply want help creating it, we can do that too!  For a free quote on a finished product, a cabin or a customized materials package, please drop by or call.