Groundbreaking: A Tree Leans On Greenspiration.
Last Thursday, as I was preparing to meet with the Bella Designs (interior design consultants for Greenspiration) and Megan Cohan (Signature Homes) to investigate green tile options, my phone rang. It was Don Cohan, Megan’s other half.
I knew Don was at the lot – which had just been cleared the day before. These days I can account for the whereabouts of Don and Megan about as well as I can account for my own children. They can say the same of me.
“Trish, we’ve got a maple tree here that is leaning toward just about where your garage is going to be. We need to know what you want to do.”
I’ve probably had to answer about 2000 questions just like this one since beginning this process and we’ve yet to lay the first brick. My answer usually begins with, “Well, Don, what do you think?” That rarely works, but I try it anyway.
“Well, while the crew is here, we could have them top it, but it’s gonna look funny for a couple of years.”
Emergency sirens went off on the publicist’s side of my brain. The last thing I wanted was for my “Greenspiration Home” to look goofy in photographs in the publications that have already expressed interest in featuring the home. At the same time, it pained me to cut down a large, hardwood tree. There weren’t that many on the lot to begin with, but we had managed to salvage just a few.
I took a deep breath. “Take it out,” I said.
****
“The last thing I wanted was for my Greenspiration Home
to look goofy in photographs….”
Building a home is an invigorating but emotional experience. Building a “green” home adds to both sides of that equation.
This tree issue, which came of the heels of our long awaited groundbreaking, is a perfect example. Every homeowner wants to save hardwoods on their lot for aesthetic reasons. But if a tree has to go to protect the structural integrity of a home anyway, it’s cheaper to have it done while the lot clearers are there. If I waited and had a tree expert come to look at the tree, I would pay extra and possibly be told that the tree had to go anyway. If I topped it, it would look funny, and still might have to be cut down. Donald Trump would have approved of my decision, but driving to the tile shop, my stomach started to knot, as did my conscience. My internal dialogue went something like this:
“Okay, so you’re building and publicizing a green house and you’re going to cut down a tree so it won’t look bad in pictures????? Puh--leeeze!”
So I called Don just before the ax was about to drop. “Don’t do it,” I said. “We’ll get someone to take a look at it first.”
Later that day, as I took pictures of my newly cleared lot, I tried to stage a “photo-op” of my 9-year old daughter hugging one of the remaining hardwood trees. I thought it would be great on the website. She refused, of course, on the grounds that it was “stupid.”
“You’ve got a thing or two to learn about PR, Missy,” I grumbled, putting the camera away.
For the second time that day, I had to sacrifice sound PR for what I knew was right. Sure, my daughter was being stubborn simply for the sake of asserting her will over me, but I couldn’t force her to pose for the picture, as much as I wanted to.
So, for the time being at least, a tree leans on Greenspiration. Alas, with no one to hug it. It is a mixed blessing (and lesson) I suppose for a mom, homeowner, and PR consultant.
Previous Entries
Ode to the Great Seamstresses of World - Journal Entry - 02/28/09
Sleuthing the Noise in Our Ventilation - Journal Entry - 02/27/09
My Greenspiration Valentine - Journal Entry - 02/19/09
"SEAMED" Like a Good Idea at the Time: - Journal Entry - 01/20/09
Floors to "DYE" For. - Journal Entry - 01/15/09
A Funny Story about Our Kitchen Lighting…. - Journal Entry - 01/05/09
Happy New Year Greenspiration Voyeurs! - Journal Entry - 01/01/09
I.O.U. Journal Entries! - Journal Entry - 12/18/08
If Walls Could Talk, These Would Say, “I look MAVALOUS!”- Journal Entry - 11/27/08
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda- Journal Entry - 11/22/08
Name that Geothermal Unit!- Journal Entry - 10/24/08
This part of the construction process goes fast. - Journal Entry - 10/19/08
Okay, so we’re finally registered for LEED-H - Journal Entry - 10/08/08
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." - Jounal Entry - 09/16/08
It’s been a tense couple of weeks for Greenspiration. - Journal Entry - 08/11/08
A lot can happen in a couple of weeks. - Journal Entry - 07/04/08
Groundbreaking: A Tree Leans On Greenspiration - Journal Entry - 05/31/08
"How's the house coming, Trish?" - Journal Entry - 03/31/08
