This project near Tenino, Washington involved the reconstruction of a historic, dovetail, hand-hewn, timber package, relocated from another site approximately 40 miles away.  Although in generally good condition, many of the dovetail ends had broken away or had suffered significant rot damage and required replacement.  Replaced ends were mortised-in to the existing logs to increase their strength.  The complete set of the package took approximately three weeks, including repairs.  (Scroll down for picture gallery)

Our Juniper fence posts and landscape timbers are both beautiful and environmentally safe.  Naturally preserved with organic juniper oils, and extremely dense, the posts exceed the life expectancy of both cedar (it's closely related sub-species) and chemically treated landscape timbers and fence posts.^{1, 2}

The natural garden will also benefit from the beauty of Juniper landscape timbers.  The color within the wood varies from milky white to deep red-brown.  The contorted bands of heartwood and sapwood create dramatic swirls of red and white.  The natural colors of the wood can be preserved with UV filtering oils or the posts and timbers can be allowed to weather to a delicate silver-grey.Perfect for the organic garden or farm, juniper is highly durable without the environmental risk of chemically treated woods.  Even though the posts and timbers are chemical-free, they are highly durable. A long-term study of fence post service-life, conducted by Oregon State University, concludes that Juniper posts will last over 30 years in the ground.  A study begun in 1928 still has Juniper posts standing today!  Imagine an untreated fence post that will stand for 80 years! ²

The USDA Forest Products Laboratory has concluded that: 1) For woods that have a natural durability, such as juniper, preservative treatment is not necessary.  2) Wood blends with the countryside, giving unity and harmony with nature. 3) Wood posts stay in the ground better (than steel posts) because more surface area is in contact with the surrounding soil.³

Reference:
1)  Natural Durability of Wood:  A Worldwide Checklist of Species, Research Contribution 22, Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Scheffer, Morrell, 1998.
2) Service Life of Treated and Untreated Fence Posts: 1996 Post Farm Report,  Research Contribution 26, Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Morrell, Miller, Scheider  P.F. 1999.
3) Wood Fence Posts.  USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, S&PF Technology Marketing Unit, 2001