ABOUT THE FURNITURE

One hundred years ago, man commercially planted coconut palms. Coconut became the provider of many products: oils, cosmetics, medicines, food and building materials. Any place on earth that was coastal and 25 degrees north or south of the equator was inundated with row, upon row, upon row of coconut palms.

That was yesterday!

Today, not only has the demand for coconut products fallen, but most of the older trees are senile. All over the world coconut palms must make way for other cash crops or new improved hybrid palms. "It is ecologically sound and sensible to recycle all senile palms. Use them as a valuable resource to replace indigenous forest timbers". This is the charter of our company - Jeff Mitchum Deigns.

"Using palmwood, instead of indigenous timbers, causes no hurt. It helps preserve nature for our children ...you don't have to cut another rainforest tree if you use the alternative; readily available PALMWOOD". Jeff Mitchum Deigns is the brainchild of Australian designer, Bruce Dowse. Bruce saw the devastation to our fragile environment caused by logging, and introduced his 'timber substitution theory' of palm technology. His objective is to save the indigenous forest by using PALMWOOD.

Today, 12 years on, his theories are successful ... we cut it, dry it, we use it. Out of the unwanted we produce world-standard furniture and building materials. There is no waste as by-products go to ultra-inexpensive heating, cooking and agricultural uses - all of which are particularly supportive of the local economy. The creation of a commercially viable palmwood industry has evolved... sustainable in a developing world environment. An industry that destroys nothing and uses the unwanted Now THAT is an industry!

The people of the South Pacific call it the Tree of Life, and in India the Tree of Heaven. Here, at the Coconut Timber Company, we like to think of the coconut palm as the Tree of Plenty. Every Part of the coconut palm has a useful purpose. It is the most utilized plant product harvested in the history of the world, nature knew what she was doing.

Coconut timber is environmentally friendly. Its growing popularity has the potential to alleviate pressure on the world's rain forests. This is because coconut timber comes from farmed plantations, not the wild. Once a coconut tree has reached maturity, it stops producing the coconuts farmers so desire for oil, soap, and culinary products. These older, barren palms have reached time for harvesting. Our mills assist farmers in clearing old trees from their plantations, leaving room for future crops.

Jeff Mitchum Deigns Tree of LifeThe people of the South Pacific call it the Tree of Life, and in India the Tree of Heaven. Here, at the Coconut Timber Company, we like to think of the coconut palm as the Tree of Plenty. Every Part of the coconut palm has a useful purpose. It is the most utilized plant product harvested in the history of the world, nature knew what she was doing.

The Company has established a unique processing system which enables it to produce high quality products from senile coconut palms. The Company has experienced considerable and growing demand worldwide for its product range.

The Company's success to date stems from combining its skills in treating palmwood and product design with expertise in international marketing and distribution.

Palmwood is an eco-sensitive alternative for tropical hardwoods and its use can help reduce the exploitation of the world's remaining natural rainforest.

Coconut palms are one of the world's largest plantation resources and the vast majority of palm plantations are senile and unwanted.

Jeff Mitchum Deigns converts this resource into value added quality merchandise that is successfully penetrating sophisticated western markets as well as offering the islands of the Pacific an alternative to ecological degradation.