Confessions of a Tree Grower
"My friends say I am a tree farmer in my heart and a musician in my Soul" - Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell turns forestry heads big time with his one-man promotion of forestry and especially through his "confessions" of a forest owner. These insightful confessions are collected and recorded in an exceptionally good book called Forever Green - The History and Hope of the American Forest. I'll get to the book in a minute.

Chuck and his wife, Rose Lane, have taken her family forest and through much labor and love, turned it into a Middle Georgia showplace called Charlane Plantation. This plantation and American Tree Farm System's 1999 National Outstanding Tree Farm also serves as a hunting preserve and conservation educational facility.
What spices all this up is Mr.
Chuck Leavell is one of the most respected keyboardists in popular music. His career came to bud and sprout as keyboard player with the Allman Brothers Band from 1972 to1976. He has played with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, the Black Crowes, the Indigo Girls and many others. He recently finished touring and recording with the legendary Rolling Stones for whom he has worked off and on for two decades.
Rolling Stone's Mick Jagger is quoted as saying, "Chuck is always talking about trees on tour...sometimes it drives me crazy!" But Jagger acknowleges Chuck's interest by admitting that "his passion for forestry is undeniable, and he's made some strong contributions to the environment through that passion." That "forestry" passion has changed Chuck Leavell's life.
FOREVER GREEN: The History and Hope of the American Forest
Leavell is fast earning a second national reputation as a conservationist having been named both the Outstanding Tree Farmer for Georgia and the National Outstanding Tree Farmer. He has also been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation and is spokesman for several forestry organizations.
Chuck Leavell has written Forever Green a book that thousands of forest owners can identify with. I highly recommend it to both tree growers and people interested in trees. It truly is two books in one.
A Book for Timber Owners
Timber owners and forest managers quickly identify with Chuck Leavell. He writes about facing real forestry issues and the "painful realities" of managing a forest. Leavell has been there, done that - his experience is what packs this book with value-added information.
Chuck and Rose Lane faced all the questions many forest owners face. "What do we do with a high-graded piece of property?" "How do we maintain a cash flow and how can we keep the farm?" "What different land-use options should we consider?"
After pondering the options of cattle farming, pecan and peach production and Christmas trees, forestry came out as their land-use option of choice. They have never regretted that decision.
But enter the tax man...
Chuck writes how estate taxes nearly stopped them before they ever started. "We even had to sell some of (the) land in order to make the first payment to the IRS. It took us 15 years to pay off the entire tax bill, but we did it...we had to." Thousands of private owners of forest can tell similar stories - good news is, Chuck writes about them.
A book for tree lovers In collaboration with Mary Welch, Chuck has researched and compiled a simple but concise primer on forestry. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves tree and/or may be thinking of going into the tree farming business.
The book does a fine job explaining trees and forests based on what I consider to be credible sources recognized by most foresters. He takes tough issues, including the rainforest and threatened and endangered species, head on. He also promotes the non-timber aspects of managing a tree farm.
In his own words, "While (the book) is not a textbook, I do believe it's essential to explore some of the workings of trees and forests in order to best understand what our trees and forests are. I don't intend to be too technical, but rather to give a general understanding of trees and forests, an overall view of the history of our forests and the importance of the resource of wood. It is an attempt to present the Big Picture." I think he achieves that and more.
Forever Green starts with the very basics of tree biology. You are then taken on a brief informative walk through North American forest history, well documented with archival photographs (the entire book is loaded with supporting graphics). Leavell explains and defends many management techniques used in his, and many foresters, silvicultural toolbox. The book concludes with a look at modern forestry, its newest technological advances and how most tree growers now benefit. He tells all this from the perspective of one who has walked the walk and can now talk the talk.
Any man that owns a portable sawmill, cuts his own lumber from salvaged trees and builds a 40-foot by 74-foot horse barn has to be a forester's (and my) hero.

The Stones on Tour

2005: Chuck is preparing to join the rest of the Rolling Stones band for rehearsals in Toronto, Canada and the highly anticipated launch of the On Stage 2005/2006 tour which debuts August 21 in Boston. The as-yet untitled new CD from the Stones - which features Chuck on most tracks and marks the first full album of new material from the band in nearly eight years - is being released in the next few weeks.