Colleges (like mine) are often graced with beautiful old trees.  But trees aren't forever - many reach maturity after 75 or 100 years, and then begin to slowly die.  What to do with these giant symbols of alma mater?  Typically they'd be cut down and disposed of, and new trees planted in their place.

Here's an interesting business model: when the old trees are ready to go, harvest the wood and build chairs from the trees.  I'd imagine there would be many a donor willing to pay $5,000 or $10,000 for a beautiful handcrafted chair made from one of the old oaks that lined the quad where he walked as a youth.

BACK to Thoughts for the day...