Primary and Secondary Forests: the differences to know.

Rainforest do exist in temperate climates!

They are rainforests in many countries and while popular belief is that they exist only in tropical climates, they also do temperate climates, including in the United States, Russia or Canada. Rainforests grow thick canopied thanks to the abundant rainfall, which create an amazing diversity of both vegetal and animal species, In temperate climates, there isn't however that characteristical humidity of tropical rainforests as they grow with different parameters such as latitude, altitude, flooding or types of soil. These forests come up with a mosaic of vegetation classes, a diversity found nowhere else and....that shall be protected at all costs. Sadly, the famous case of the Amazon forest whose size is shirking at a fast pace every year is happening in many other places such as Indonesia, where Kaltimber is located.

The "primary forest”, humanity's biodiversity's vault

Rainforests are also called "Primary Forests" thanks to their pristine untouched vegetation because unaffected by any human activity. Primary full ceiling canopy and multiple layers of understory are prevalent in primary rainforests. The ground floor is basically clear of heavy vegetation because the above canopy allows limited sunlight penetration, the lifeline of plants growth. Periodically, when trees fall, the canopy opens and allows the growth of plants. Primary forests are considered to be the most biologically diverse class of forests and to the surprise of many, they still exist in Europe.

Secondary Forest, a human-caused definition.

On the other hand, secondary forests are rainforests that have been disturbed by human activity in a way or another. Secondary forests often become so because of logging activity for agricultural purposes and are characterized by a minimal canopy structure, less diversity and smaller trees. As a result of a lighter canopy, more warmth and light will reach the floor which supports ground vegetation's growth.

Secondary Forest, Ecuador (Austin State University, 2016)

Based on studies, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, it was estimated that primary forest comprises about 1/3 of the total forest area. However, they are rapidly decreasing at a rate of 6 million hectares each year because of intensive logging, usually focusing on the harvesting of a couple of tree species in a particular area.

Botanists do not know how long it takes for the secondary forest to reach the levels and structures of biodiversity as primary forest. Studies have shown that trees in the Central Amazon forest, on the average, are several hundred years old, suggesting that primary forests take centuries to grow to the level we are witnessing them today.

Regardless of what class or type of forest we are talking about, what is important is to contribute to nature and buy wooden products bearing the label FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), an international non-profit promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.

Meet Kopral & Shelton!

It’s about time for us to introduce you to Kopral and Shelton, two orangutans that Kaltimber has adopted in May 2018. World NGO Day (27/02/19) coupled with World Wildlife Day (03/03/19) is indeed the perfect time to highlight the amazing work of Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, who is providing love and care to our “kids”.

Kaltimber is strongly committed in advocating against deforestation, be it for the purpose of logging precious wood species such as ironwood (ulin), or for massive clearing of forest to make space for palm plantations. Kaltimber only process timber reclaimed from old structures such as boats, pontoons or buildings into flooring and decking. Ironwood is one of very popular among timber exporters because of being one of the hardest and most durable timbers in the world. While Indonesia has a total prohibition on export, and cutting is restricted to certain dimension, there is a lot of  illegal logging.

Today, only half of Borneo forest is left and with a “current deforestation rate of 1.3 million hectares per year” (source: WWF), we fear for its future.

We have always looked with a mix of sadness and anger at what is happening to orangutans in Borneo, where  their available habitat to live peacefully and away from humans, has drastically shrinked, statistically increasing the potential for encounterings with humans whenever the primates are looking for food that use to be plentiful in the forest. Such meetings often result in dramatic consequences because the population feel like they have all rights compare to those who were living there way before them.

Kopral and Sheldon were victims of this situation but fortunately BOS Foundation was there to rescue them.  Kopral is a 13 years old male who was kept in a cage by his tormentors. One day, he managed to escape, but while looking for the safety of height and probably looking for a tree that was nowhere to be found, he climbed an electricity pylon that electrocuted him. His arms got burned so badly that the only way to save him was through their amputations.  

Thanks to BOS Forest School, he learned how to climb trees using his mouth and feet and nowadays, Kopral is a dominant man with tough character, but still have lots of friends!

Shelton has nothing less of a sad story but with a similar happy ending thanks to his rescue by BOS. He was found with multiple shot wounds as he probably only looking for food and angered whoever it belonged to. Humans can be very cruel and forgetful of their own responsibility in having orangutans coming closer to their homes and shooting at him was their way to keep wildlife away from “their” property. All the gun pellets were removed, but Shelton’s right eye was too injured to be saved, causing him permanent blindness.

Maybe it is the shared trauma and permanent injuries, but it appeared that Shelton and Kopral are great friends and, while not living in the same quarters anymore, they spend time together during Forest School hours, where all orangutans get the self confidence they need to, when possible, be released back into the forest. This will unfortunately not be the case for our two friends, whom disabilities would put them in danger back in the wild, so their care will require lots of funding.

We would be grateful if you would join us in fostering Kopral & Shelton, but there are many other orangutans you can adopt through BOS. We cannot highlight the amazing feeling we have when receiving news about our orangutans: the progress they make in all aspects of their life, from new friendships to self confidence, really does something to your soul.

Adopt here

Ways to try and identify fake antiques

Fakes have been rampant and have blended with real antiques. If an individual can make money on something, he is often led in to trying to make more by tweaking a little. So what does that mean for all? We need to be cautious and sharp when looking for our old antiques. But the more important question is, how can we tell if what we have is a fake item? There are some parameters for cautious pickers that might help…sometimes.

The first thing that you have to do especially if one is wooden furniture is to spend time with genuine furniture. The more you are familiar with the furniture, its artistry and detail as well as the stroke and grains of wood, there is a slim chance that you will be fooled. Wooden chest furniture from China was mass produced and cheaply made and you can basically see the workmanship is totally different on the real pieces.You will see “straw marks” where the molds were wearing out. Newer wooden furniture will not have those identity marks. Watch out for pieces that appear thicker, a lot grainy that what you would expect. In other words, be careful with pieces that are almost perfect and too good to be true.

School desk with ink

Wooden furniture with metal or bronze inlays is often embedded irregularly because of time. Some metals are usually made of cast iron with bronze plate. Magnets tend to stick easily with these items. If it sticks, it is definitely not bronze; your wooden furniture might not be an antique.

The next thing that you have to look for is the type of joinery. Antique joinery are very detailed especially in wood furniture. The workmanship is proven to be most of manual work. That is why artistic innovations are very prevalent in these items. If you come across a near perfect joinery, chances are it is not antique. There is also a probability that the process is not manual but machine manufactured. Nowadays, mass produced furniture are machine manufactured.

Another trick is to look the way the piece was made. Again, the joinery should be consistent with its purported place of origin and age. You also have to regard the tool marks and hardware. Patinas are also prevalent on antique wooden furniture. Wear should also be prevalent where it should be. As compared to fake wears that is machine manufactured.

Fakers nowadays are extremely good at what they are doing; they often utilize cheap materials or put other elements that make their craft look real. Sometimes, they make a fusion of other elements to make a whole new item. Sometimes, if one is not too keen on inspecting an item, chances are, they might not be able to recognize a fake item. If the item is too expensive, that does not readily mean that it is a real antique. Sometimes, jacking up prices for an item to look real is a scam that a lot of fakers do.

 Just a final word: some fakes were made several years ago. That, in itself makes them antique in their own regard, so be very careful.

STAY TUNED! We will soon publish an article about real and fake reclaim Ulin.

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Is Eco Friendly Wallet Friendly?

Climate change is a topic we are increasingly familiar with, but too many are still paying more attention to industrialization creating lucrative changes than to the betterment of society. 

The rapid growth of technology as a way to generate more benefits at the expense of our environment is slowly but surely evolving for a better balance between industrialization and environment protection: it's what we call "sustainable development".

That being said, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't embrace technological advancements, but only to try our best in keeping everything it would impact and find ways to mitigate the negative parts. It sounds very cliché to say it, but we only have one planet.  

Still, a time will come that mother earth will have its day of reminding us of the harm it is suffering, and nobody will want to think "what if I had done something".  

A lot of people still think that protecting the environment is solely limited to practising recycling because climate change education isn't always the best, including in what we call developed countries. Recycling is just a small part of as there is much more to being eco-friendly in sustainable development than separating waste. 

When talking about eco-friendly solutions, the first issue we hear is related to their prices: It is true that, for now, a lot of them are too expensive, but it is also true that some of them bring long-term savings (such as solar panels or insulation). We could debate if the question "Is it wallet-friendly?"  is ethical or even logical when talking about our own survival. but we need to accept such thinking and find the best compromise between sustainability and affordability. 

Another common argumentation is that it is the role of the government to take action, but who is the most powerful force driving their decisions? Us, the citizens, and there is nothing better than starting with our home. What can be recycled? What energy savings can I make? Should I buy a new and more fuel efficient car? Do I really need these new things?  The bottom line is that some improvements are cheaper than others, and others can bring long term benefits for both your wallet and nature.

From the recycling of jars and cans to composting your leftover food and planting your own vegetable at home, I possibilities are endless, cheap, and can even save a substantial amount of money!

Then with a bit more of commitment, redesigning or remodelling your home is a great way to be more eco-friendly and make long-term savings.

The most important in sustainability is to understand the big picture, what lies beyond the business bottom line or the weight of your wallet (let's picture how heavy a bank account looks here). Just look around you and you will find your way to positively contribute to the global improvement of our earth's environment.

Ultimately, protecting our ecosystem is a win-win situation and no amount of money should be put in front of any contribution to perpetuating life on Earth and sustain tomorrow's generations but also today's safety. "Wallet-friendly" or not, at the end of the day, even if we are 100% selfish, what is our life worth? 

Planting Your Own Herbs for Healthy Cooking and Sustainable Development

Planting your own herbs in your garden is a convenient and healthy way to flavour your home-cooked meals  

Herbs gardening is not hard at all and usually takes very little space so it is common for people living in apartments to have a couple of herb pots on their balcony. Price is not really the concern as herbs are usually cheap enough if you may compare the price of a few sprigs of sage, basil, or thyme, but you cannot beat the freshness of home-grown seasonings. 

Planting your own herbs simply means that you will be able to get the full flavour, and when appropriate, the optimum medicinal features of the herbs. Indeed, the healing herbs contain substances and volatile oils that would weaken fast as soon as harvested. Same goes with the flavour of seasoning herbs actually. 

Now, talking about convenience, imagine yourself selecting a few fresh herbs from a spot near your kitchen anytime you need it! You also have the liberty of planting your most favourite herb, have a constant fresh stock at hand. Compare this to the effort of going to the grocery store and buying them without any idea of how fresh it is is a very different story. Not to forget how little you know about the potential chemical used to keep them fresh as long as possible.

A small space is enough to grow a lot of different herbs

To ensure convenience, it is best recommended if you reserve a spot in your garden, a few walks from your kitchen door. If you do not possess sufficient space, you can plant the herbs in different sizes of tubs, pots, containers and suitable boxes. A lot of herbs need light, plenty of sunshine, and well-drained soil. For instance, horseradish requires a rich deep soil, while on the other hand, mint likes damp soil, and because of its expansive nature, mint needs more space compared to other herbs. Thus, these herbs are most practical to be planted in a separate location. An old pail with its bottom removed will be an excellent container to isolate them.

Many deco/trendy items are available to get your little herbs farm indoor. We even have reclaimed Ulin pot covers that gives an extra classy touch to your small indoor garden.

GROWING HERBS IN CONTAINERS  
In cases where it is inevitable to use containers or pots, the required depth for most herbs is somewhere around 10-12 inches. Smaller herbs will basically fit in containers with a depth of at least 6-8 inches. Some bigger herbs like sage, rosemary, or bay tree will do excellent in much bigger containers.

Right in your kitchen, ready to use!

For effective container growing, efficient drainage is essential and drainage exits should be covered with a lot of fine wire net or broken pot shards. Containers should be disregarded to be put directly on the ground. It should be raised on stones or on tiles. It will help in making sure that your herbs have appropriate drainage, especially during winter when there is a risk of water accumulation. It will also help in preventing frost damages during the cold months.

In order to grow at their optimum condition, herbs would love some compost, especially those which are planted in containers. There are tons of available ready-made compost that you can select from. However, in support of sustainable development, you can basically do your own compost from your food scraps. We invite you to read the 2 parts Kaltimber articles about making your own compost:

http://www.kaltimber.com/blog/2018/10/22/five-easy-steps-in-making-your-own-compost-part-12

http://www.kaltimber.com/blog/2018/10/29/five-easy-steps-in-making-your-own-compost-part-22

Baskets and containers require regular feeding and watering. A complete renewal of compost should also be scheduled every four to five years while transferring them into larger containers. Shallow window-boxes and minimal pots should be changed on a yearly basis. You have to ensure to consider the proper height for each plant to avoid fall over and instability.

Many tutorials are available online to teach you and help you to start this fun in-house farming.

Woodworking and Tools are Inseparable!

There has never been a better time to initialize woodworking hobby. Information and how-to is anywhere, magazines and books everywhere. Add the realm of internet in to all of these and you have tons of choices to gain knowledge from.

One thing that excites individual starting in the woodworking idea is simply the tools and woodworking itself. Newbies does not have any idea what they need. Some people go overboard and purchase everything in sight while other people simply make do with what is in the garage.

 It doesn’t really matter what your pioneer project will be as there are some needed materials that you cannot live without. You don’t need the state-of-the –art power tools when you are a beginner. It is very impractical to go out and purchase a two-grand worth of power equipments just to build a pot case. Listed below are the most needed tools for each and every project you can think of as a beginner:

Processing reclaim hardwood - Kaltimber

 A dependable and sturdy workbench. While a workbench cannot be regarded as a  woodworking tool, it is a bit of a complex to get things done without it. It does not really matter whether you are doing it yourself or purchase a ready-made; the requirements are basically just the same. Your workbench requires being heavy and stable so you can hit it hard on doing your project. Some benches come with a built-in tool tray or vise. These are efficient but you can do away without them.

A pair of saw. No matter what classification of woodworking are you doing, there is a great chance that you will have to cut wood to the proper size. Do not skimp when you buy these tools. A high quality handsaw will simply do it for you especially when you are a newbie. There are a lot of different saws out there. You just simply have to choose the ones with a comfortable handle bar and a good blade. Begin with a back saw for fine cutting and a rip saw for over all cutting.

Antique handsaw

Drill. The ability to drill holes in items you are working on is very important. This woodworking tool will do excellent work as electric screw driver or even a sander, if needed. A cordless drill is an easy tool. You can be able to take it without obstructing your workplace. This is a must-needed device.

 Measuring Tools. You cannot construct a lot without having to measure the sizes of the pieces of wood you are working on. This is the most essential tool you can have, you can saw all you want but if the pieces are not the proper size and shape, you will surely have a problem. Purchase a high quality measuring ruler and your project will surely benefit everyone.

Safety Devices. We all know that as a beginner, woodworking tools can also be dangerous. Always use the safety measures like wearing safety goggles. However, the most essential safety device you will possess is common sense.

There are a lot of general woodworking tools out there that you will surely need as your woodworking odyssey continues, but these should initialize your journey. If you feel the need, just add as you go and try not to purchase tools that will not get you the right project that you need.

Aspects That May Affect the Strength of Wood

Aside from the normal variability of strength within and among species, a lot of other aspects may affect the strength of wood. These aspects may be widely divided in to irregularities and natural defects, aspects in relation to the environment as well as the effects of biological agents.     

When the direction of the grain is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of a wooden element, it is regarded and recognized to be cross-grained or more commonly known as short-grained. Cross grain may manifest from spiral grain in the tree or by the method of which the timber is cut and sawn. In linear parts of furniture like spindles and legs, whose performance depends on longitudinal features like bending resistance, cross grain may result in tremendous loss of strength.  A lose of grain in one out of five may result in about 2/3 reduction in the modulus of rupture. Wooden knots are another crucial weakening defect.

Basically, loss in strength is the results from the distorted cross grain of wood around the knot and the abnormal grain and tissue direction of the knot itself. Compression wood, on the other hand, is a reaction wood formed in conifers as a result of leaning or crooked stems.

In hardwoods, tension wood is weak in compression parallel to the grain.

On the other hand, strength of wood is also affected by temperature. When the temperature is low, the strength of wood is high, and when the temperature is high, the strength is low. But, if exposed to higher as compared to natural temperatures, or with long period of time, it might end up in permanent loss of strength. Effects of heat in lessening the strength are least in dry air but prevalent in moist air.

Strength of wood is also comparable to duration of loading. Time-related creep in wood lessens the strength over long period of loading. A good example is a beam that might carry a short term load three times as heavy as it could carry for long term.

Insects and wood inhabiting entities such as termites, beetles and ants need also close attention as it affects greatly the wood’s strength. Chances are, the strength of wood weakens over time because of the presence of these little monsters. Another major cause of deterioration on wood is fungi. Wood-staining fungi use the residues of stored materials in sapwood cells.

Be always on the look out for these factors to avoid deterioration and to avail of the wood’s optimum strength in use.

In Kaltimber we offer long lasting A1 rated ironwood. It s natural constitution makes of it an anti decay and anti termite wood perfect for all outdoor use!

Recreate an Eco-Friendly Home

This is not a drill!

Going eco-friendly is not just a trend, but a lifestyle here to stay. The call back to nature is affecting many people these days, and whenever possible, they move back to the countryside but sometimes the move is difficult and it is necessary to bring nature to us. Homeowners have learned about indoor pollution, climate change and other deforestation topics, and they increasingly express their love for nature within their homes. 

Indeed, if you have been contemplating of going green, and decide to have an environment-friendly home, the need to redesign both exterior and interior using eco-friendly materials is the way to go. One way to do it is to modernize them to become more environmentally-friendly. Sometimes, metal and plastic appliances are being replaced by wood and other eco-friendly materials whenever available.

Painted walls? Yes but..

Another important aspect is the type of paint used. It is unfortunately common for old walls to be painted with paint that includes Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), solvents being release solvents in the air as the paint dries. These solvents could be a health hazard and create headaches or dizziness. Aside from paint, other materials such as adhesives, cleaning supplies, and varnish, could include VOC solvents. Therefore, the first step when purchasing the paint you want for your eco-friendly walls is to look carefully into their compositions.

Redo the flooring

Since the objective here is a major transformation toward an eco-friendly home, consider revamping your flooring using environmentally friendly materials. Of course, Kaltimber would recommend first and foremost using reclaimed wood, but there are numerous other eco-friendly flooring materials that you may use: modular carpet tiles, bamboo, or "real" linoleum Real linoleum—as distinct from synthetic versions or vinyl—which is made from all-natural materials, including wood flour, rosins, ground limestone, powdered cork, pigments, jute and linseed oil.. These materials are not only good for nature, they are affordable and easy to install.

Reclaim hardwood flooring - Kaltimber project

 Go for natural lighting

Now, this can bring so much impact on your home and your health: getting proper and, yet affordable and eco-friendly lighting. Where else to get this than straight from the sun? The initial cost is high but no need to explain to you about the long-term benefits, including financials. If you want to make the most of your eco-friendly home, try switching your expensive fossil-based energy supply to natural one thanks to solar energy. Solar panels are a great investment since they will last years and are affordable to maintain.

Alternatively, you can start by installing large windows to get as much natural light as possible. Big windows can give enough light for you not to use the electricity for a longer period of time. It is not easy to do a U-Turn from being too modernized toward becoming environmentally friendly, but it is possible, step by step.

You may start by researching all good ideas on how you can slowly change your home into an eco-friendly home. You might be hesitant at first, but as soon as you will have decided to make a stand for your home and nature, you will get the benefits in no time. Investing in more reliable and eco-friendly materials it will cost you at first, but this might turn into your biggest investment having the best return in the future on your finances and, more importantly, your health.

Natural light, air flow, reclaim hardwood flooring…eco-friendly 101!

Oriented Strand Board Flooring, Your Sustainable Solution

Nowadays, homeowners are passionate about joining the “sustainability movement”.

As a result, the whole building industry is changing its practices to meet this demand, so designers, contractors, and many more are paying closer attention to factors such as lower energy consumption. To achieve that, they embrace new materials such as "Oriented Strand Board" or more commonly known as OSB sub-flooring.

As briefly touched-based in the previous article, flooring holds great potential in reducing energy usage and OSB emerging as one of the most efficient product choices to get significant energy savings. Indeed, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) proved itself as one of the important material in the construction industry when it comes to flooring, roof sheathing and wall sheathing. Additionally, the “OSB Panel” is environmentally friendly as it is made from fast-growing trees of minimal diameter, and is utilizing minimal levels of formaldehyde when compared with products of the same category. With competitive OSB prices and energy savings, you will save a significant amount of money. Additionally, OSB panels have double the life expectancy than regular subfloors such as plywood.  

This ground-breaking oriented strand board panels are long-lasting, durable, consistent and reliable from one specific classification to the next, and are provide building contractors with the choice of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified wood. These certifications imply that the wood is harvested from well-managed forests with the core focus of avoiding deforestation. This is a commitment that is close to Kaltimber's heart as we reclaim wood for our product and aim to apply for the FSC certification. 

An important thing to keep in mind, however, is that OSB should be well protected from humidity, be flat installed, beneath or inside covers and shielded from the elements before installing it, making sure that it is waterproof.

These types of pioneering materials are increasingly being used because of their durability and their eco-friendly aspects. True enough, Oriented Standard Boards are the material of the future in coherence with sustainable development and eco-friendly housing. 

We recommend our Indonesian readers to contact our partners EcoSmartHUB for more advice on BSB availability!

OSB flooring and structure

Energy Efficiency: Your home can be an Eco-Friendly Environment

As electrical appliances keep piling up, and associated power bills skyrocketing, many homeowners are looking for ways to make their homes more energy efficient. Aside from money savings, improving your energy savings can also play a crucial role in preserving the environment by decreasing your carbon footprint.

Some of the eco-friendly methods to turn into a more eco-friendly are simple but can lead to important savings. While they can vary in terms of initial investments, the long-term savings for your bank account and the planet are worth the additional cost:

Conduct an energy audit

Auditing your house  will help you to assess where you use the most energy, hence where you should focus your attention to make improvements. We are talking here about potential obsolete appliances, air leaks, or defective cooling and heating systems, and more importantly, the efficiency of your overall electrical system. Thanks to such audit, you will be able get a better idea of how energy is being utilized in your home on a daily basis and where savings can be made.

Assured Insulation Solutions, LLC

Manage the Airflow

Not many people realize this but significant amount of their home energy is lost to drafts within windows and doors as hot air is leaking while cold air is going the other way, either from outside or colder portions of the home such as the basement. Airflow problems usually come from gaps improperly sealed windows and door and filling gaps is not a big deal, especially considering the savings you can generate.

Consider Insulated Windows

Far too common in older buildings, energy often escape from the windows themselves, and if you are conscious of energy spendings, then you should try shifting towards using efficiently sealed and insulated windows. Such double or triple pane window can significantly reduce the power requirements of the home by preventing heat loss during the cold season and keeping cool air in during the hot season. If your budget is limited, you can decide to focus your investment on selected portions of your home where energy drainage is likely to occur. An information that the energy audit would have helped you to identify.

Wood flooring and ceiling

Aside from anything wood-based giving warmer feeling than slob flooring, wood flooring is also great for energy savings, especially when coupled a floor heating system because it has a higher thermal mass. Wood and other solid materials significantly reduce your home’s temperature fluctuation because they absorb and store heat.

Wood flooring is great and if your budget is significant, consider getting some wooden ceiling to get the perfect combo!  

Kaltimber flooring

We recommend our Indonesian readers to contact our partners EcoSmart Hub for Bali area and Toucan Ecofloors for project in Jakarta!