What Happened to the Golden Spruce?

It's a brand new series, this time making famous and notable trees out of wood from their species! To get us started it's Kiidk'yaas: the Golden Spruce!

Primary sources for this video included:

Watch while I cut out a spruce tree pattern I sketched up myself to assemble a wooden Kiidk'yaas all while telling you all about this magnificent tree, what made it so unique, and how it met its tragic end.

Thanks as always for watching! Hope you enjoy this new series!

#trees #woodworking #nature

[Yookusagra]

This was fascinating. I love how you take pains to respect and incorporate indigenous culture in your videos, and this one is no exception, of course. I hope you will carry on with this series.

[SpicyDolphin]

I love this series! So rad how humans all over the world have picked favourite/interesting trees to ponder at since forever.
The King Jarrah Tree is one of my favourite ‘famous’ trees.

[hallieissetfree]

It's so tragic to hear that such a beautiful and revered tree had to get caught up in human conflict, especially by someone who was motivated by his own love of trees. Despite the tragedy, it is nice to see humans learning and creating from the story. I love your art piece in this one, and I'm excited to see this become a series!

[freeformboozler]

As a native american the respect for indigenous cultures in your content is really touching to me

[BeeBait]

This is amazing! I know it's alot to ask, but could you include japanese trees? There is A LOT of mythology that honors many trees in japanese history and it would be really nice to see you delve into it!

Thank you for your steadfast work. I've watched you for a long time now and have even started my first black walnut mini coffee scooper myself! Also working on a miniature japanese lamp out of the same material and a dagger out of gaboon ebony and a tanto out of black bamboo! Wow... a lot of projects your work has encouraged me to start! Thank you!

[spacebar_key]

really happy to hear that more golden spruces are being made, and hopefully the haida people are doing okay, feel really bad for them.

[coolwatyr]

Justin, thank you for sharing this story!

I had never heard this one before. It’s tragic that the tree was cut down. I hope that they will one day be able to plant an offspring.

Blessings ♥️

[darkflamethedragondame]

I'm from BC, I remember being taught about Kiidk'yaas in school by a visitor from the Haida people. There is illustrated children's book that tells the legend of it, I can't remember the name of the book but I remember that it's depiction of Kiidk'yaas was beautiful

[HuffGLaDTem]

the parallels between the story of the boy being turned into kiddk’yass because the people took from the land and this man being outraged from the logging practices and attacking a sacred tree feel very similar. if you ask me the same spirits got revenge on him and that’s why he never was seen again.

[JojoYVR]

Beautiful piece of art and an informative episode. I’m from B.C. and I didn’t know the story of the golden spruce. I’m really looking forward to this series…I’ll be surprised if you don’t discuss the Bodhi tree and its descendants!

[AlexandriaZubia]

I'M NOT CRYING OVER A TREE, YOU'RE CRYING OVER A TREE! I love your long form content! i would've liked some more detail into what you were doing and making, and your process into designing this piece.

[Duckrabbit_Forging]

Imma be straight with you
I cried
A lot
Incredible storytelling and talent man
Keep up the good work

[janach]

I read the book about this tree many years ago. It is theorized that this particular golden spruce was able to grow so much taller than any of the others with this mutation because it was situated by the water in such a way that it received sunlight not only from above, but also reflected sunlight from below, thereby compensating for its lesser allotment of chlorophyll.

[Finn-mppk]

I’d love to see more of this series. Very cool to learn about Kiidk’Yaas. All of your videos are amazing.

[RampagingPixie]

HUGE fan of this new series concept! The piece came out so lovely as well.

[tjtay]

Absolutely loved the new series! Hope it takes off so you can do many episodes 😁

[bookgirl]

Love the new series (will definitely check out the book)! I’d love to hear more about the good ol’ bristlecone pine, Methuselah. First learned about it in a botany unit in elementary and it’s a big part of the reason why I fell in love with plants.

[johannaverplank]

Great video! That story was fascinating. Such a sad tale. The project turned out wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

[nicolasbeverati]

The series and this piece of art are both amazing and so creative! This account will always be a favorite of mine for all the care and creativity that go into it! Keep up the wonderful work and Methuselah has always been the first famous tree that comes to mind.

[jonahharris]

You should do one on Old Tijikko in Sweden, which is the one of the oldest organisms on earth at 9, 500 years old!