From Alabama Fallen Trees to Sustainable Urban Timber Furniture: Inside Alabama Sawyer

Описание: Step inside the world of Alabama Sawyer, where fallen city trees are transformed into heirloom furniture with soul 🌳
In this episode of Afield, host Christiana Roussel sits down with Leigh and Cliff Spencer, the husband-and-wife team behind Alabama Sawyer, at their Birmingham-based workshop. From urban timber and salvaged wood to custom furniture, guitars, and even a Turkey Credenza (yes, really 🦃), this conversation is a deep dive into craftsmanship, sustainability, and design rooted in place.
Cliff—the wood whisperer, and Birmingham native, shares his journey from theater sets in New York and film work in Los Angeles to founding a nationally recognized furniture company built on urban timber. Lee brings the 30,000-foot view, talking strategy, community, and how Birmingham’s creative scene (Make Birmingham!) helped shape their business.

Along the way, we explore:
What urban timber really means—and why it matters for sustainability
How fallen Alabama trees avoid landfills and become furniture, flooring, and art
The full tree-to-table process, from log to kiln to finished furniture
Alabama Sawyer’s most popular furniture designs, including the Winston Table
Why overlooked “junk trees” like hackberry and sweet gum deserve a second look
Limited-run guitars made from salvaged Alabama ash


Designing with intention, honoring the life of the tree, and creating work that lasts

Featured in Garden & Gun, Southern Living, Food & Wine, and Architectural Digest, Alabama Sawyer has earned national recognition for sustainable Southern design. Alabama Sawyer’s work blends organic modern design with Southern roots, proving sustainability and beauty can go hand in hand.

Whether you love design, woodworking, conservation, architecture, or Southern stories, this episode is for you.
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