C O V E R
Matthias
Berthold does
not operate his
LT15 that often
but now does
what had been
"difficult if not
impossible"
6
S T O R Y
but they enhance his operation's
reputation and bring long-term rewards.
Working with wood and the sawmill is
a fundamental part of the Bertholds'
lives.
As enthusiastic member s of
Greenpeace for the past 25 years, they
work with Greenpeace electricity and
are very much aware of the importance
of sustainability and of wasted energy.
Matthias Berthold admits:
"At first, people were amused by our
dedication to Greenpeace but after a
few years many came around to our
point of view and, furthermore, even
official politics seem to acknowledge
the organisation's values".
The family are not armchair
environmentalists.
Matthias Berthold converted his USarmy pick-up to run on LPG years ago
WOOD-MIZER TODAY SUMMER 2011
when it was a rare and expensive thing to
do, although it has now become common
practice. All scrap wood from the
workshop is shredded for the wood-fired
boiler which heats the house. He even
collects scrap wood from friends and
neighbours.
The wood chips not only keep his
workshop and home warm but also the
rooms of his brother's horticulture firm,
with its 15 employees, located in the
extensive grounds. Here too the LT15
sawmill is put to good use typified by a
contract where his brother had to remove
a couple of Douglas firs. Matthias cut
cants and boards from them and soon
they will be transformed to profiled
boards or floorboards for a terrace.
"If you work with wood, inevitably you
hold it in high regard", reasons Matthias
Berthold.