The living room of what is likely to be the worlds largest log home is getting a special addition from the West Coast in the form of a four-meter wide red cedar � including the roots.

Businessman Jim Moore of Oklahoma took a trip to the West Coast in January with a representative from Pioneer Log Homes, of Williams Lake. The company is contracted to build Moore's four-story, $6.2 million dollar home, which will be 114,000 sq. ft.

Moore chose the tree just off West Main in Interfor's TFL. On January 29, crews worked to carefully remove the tree with out damaging its roots. "I've never been asked to do anything like this before," said Dave Summers, general manager for Alliford Bay Logging Ltd. and site manager for the project. Summers said he began by preparing a bed on which to lay the tree, "fluffing up the ground like you would for a farmers field."

What would have been a difficult and time consuming job - climbing the tree in order to band it � was made easier when Summers noticed Davey Tree Services in the area and asked if they would make a tree up the site.

"What normally would have taken eight to ten hours with my climbing gear, took about an hour with the bucket," Summers said.

The roots had to be dug out after which the tree was pushed over and the roots washed off. The tree was cut to a length of 68 feet, not including the roots.

The entire process involved many other companies and individuals, including Island Pile and Bridge (who built the road into the tree), faller Joe Corlazzoli of Ulcluelet, Clayoquot Forest Services (who rented the crew a fire truck and pump to clean off the roots), and Alliford Bay Transportation (whop trucked the tree to Williams Lake on Jan 30).

Summers said Pioneer ended up taking a total of five trees, three of which still had the roots attached. "Those five trees employed a lot of people," Summers said.

We feel priveleged to be a part of this project and work with the fine folks at Pioneer Log Homes of B.C.