ALPINE — More than 30 Peutz Valley neighbors, and several volunteers from the Alpine Revitalization effort, gathered on Nov. 19 at Joe and Rita Sterling’s property for the first ever “Peutz Valley Log Jam.”
     The Log Jam had three goals: To turn a pile of oak logs into as many useful items as possible; do it in a safe and fun way; build community relationships while building rustic amenities for Peutz Valley and greater Alpine.
     If producing something more creative than a mountain of firewood was a win, then these volunteers won big.
     The group attacked the log pile with seven chainsaws, a bobcat, backhoe, and various other tools. In six noisy hours of saw buzzing, more than 15 pieces of rustic outdoor furniture, and the beginnings of a rough hewn log sign for the entrance to Peutz Valley were produced. In spite of all that, a great deal of wood remains for the next Log Jam.
     Some very creative designs using curved and Y-shaped logs emerged as the day went along.
     “Look, my bench has a cup holder,” said valley resident Janine Passenheim.
     Some design inspiration was taken from the book “Patterns from the Golden Age of Rustic Design — Park & Recreation Structures from the 1930s,” by Albert H. Good. The book shows examples of wonderfully durable amenities built in state and national parks by Americans employed during the Great Depression in the Work Project Administration (WPA).
     Safety monitors at the Log Jam helped make sure that everyone stayed clear of the bobcat and backhoe, and that chainsaws only cut wood. Not a single band-aid was needed all day.
     After sunset, an exhausted and satisfied group retired to the Sterling’s barn for a potluck dinner. A showing of the James Stewart holiday classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” projected onto a big screen was the perfect end to a great day of constructive community work.
     Some of the rustic log benches produced during the day are being donated by Friends of Peutz Valley for placement along Alpine Boulevard.
     Installing benches along Alpine Boulevard where Alpine Creek runs parallel to it is part of the Revitalization initiative to beautify the Alpine town center and make it more pedestrian friendly.
     The log pile was formed when the county cut down scores of dead oak trees all along Peutz Valley Road in October.
     “We are grateful to the County Department of Public Works for their flexibility and willingness to stockpile the logs in the valley,” said Joe Sterling. “It will take 50-100 years before oaks of this size regrow in our valley. We wanted to be sure that these massive logs wouldn’t be turned to firewood and hauled away when they could be made into so many beautiful and useful items.”
     “Even though these 100 year old trees won’t provide shade anymore, their timber can continue to bring beauty, utility and comfort for another 50 years in the form of durable outdoor amenities,” Sterling added.
     Thanks very much to all the “Log Jammers” for volunteering their time and creative energies. Special thanks to tireless Peutz Valley residents Terry Ulmer and Mike Courson for bringing their heavy equipment to help move logs.
     For more information about future Log Jams or to volunteer, contact Joe Sterling at 659-1234 or e-mail Joe@SterlingInsights.com.


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