The irony is inescapable — technology, that which was at the heart of the demise of the primordial forests of the world, is coming to their rescue. Gen-Go-Life, a state of the industry tree cloning company is hard at work saving our natural heritage — one tree at a time.

Recently, Woodworker’s Journal sat down with Mary Annette Woodin, GGLs primary spokesperson, to get the no strings attached story of this green corporate megaliths altruistic goals.

WWJ: So Mary, tell us what is at the heart of this technological enterprise. Why is this important?

M.A. Woodin: “Think of the famous trees of history. There is the cherry tree that George Washington chopped down, the Wishing Tree and there is, are — many, many other old famous dead trees as well. Some dead, some alive — others, well it is hard for us to tell, but anyway. And that’s just it. Our goal is to clone those trees, some long dead, and to bring them back. In fact, using our technology, we could create whole forests of “Washington” cherry trees for example, harvest them for lumber and then sell that lumber for a pretty penny!”

WWJ: Okay, so I am a little confused, is this an effort to help the environment or is it a money making scheme?

M.A. Woodin: “Oh gee, a corporation out to make money, don’t be silly. We’re a green company, with green goals and if you were to ask any employee, they would say the same thing! It all about being green for us …”

WWJ: That is so great, it really is about improving the environment!

M.A Woodin: “Well, yes — absolutely! We have teams of volunteer high school students wandering around the mountains of Northern California right now, collecting the genetic material from thousands of mighty Redwood trees. With that genetic material, the future of the Sequoia species is secure.”

WWJ: So you can modify that material so that the trees will grow more quickly … so the harvest will be sustainable?

W.A. Woodin: “Um, no. We can’t do anything like that. They will still take just as long to grow as they always did.”

WWJ: Just as long?

M.A. Woodin: “Yup.”

WWJ: Thousands of years?

M.A. Woodin: “Yes, that’s right.”

WWJ: As long as if you were to … say, plant sequoia seeds?

M.A. Woodin: “Ah, that would technically be correct …”

WWJ: Okay. So, Ms Woodin, what other “environmentally friendly” programs does Gen-Go-Life have in its bag of tricks?

M.A. Woodin: “Well, in truth, that about sums up our goals. As I said we are green, green, green!”

WWJ: Well, thank you for the interview. Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share with the eZine readers?

M.A. Woodin: “Nope, I think that about says it all. Did I mention that we are a green company?”

WWJ: Yes, yes you did. You do know that the Wishing Tree is a made up tree from a children’s book don’t you?

M.A. Woodin: “Huh?”

WWJ: Never Mind!