In Del Mar, California, where I grew up, Torrey Pine trees are illegal to cut down. A permit is required but they’re hard to get.

Basically, the tree has to fall on its own to remove it, and only then, it must be completely impossible to save.

Some family friends spent years cabling their Torrey Pine to keep it from falling. However, one night of a big storm it finally came down in pieces, and on their roof.

So, we were all invited over to take what we wanted for woodworking projects. One slab became a bench on our patio and the other a resin-coated kitchen island.

When we sold our home to move to Idaho, the buyers—newlyweds and first time homeowners—asked if we’d be willing to part with it.

We happily gifted it to them.

It felt right to leave it where it came from and to a young couple just starting out who appreciated it as much as we did.

Now we’ve found a new property in Spirit Lake with plenty of beautiful trees to work with on a project or two in the future.