Cut into the opposing side of the coconut palm tree, equal distances apart and wooded over, the wedges almost look natural. But they aren’t natural. They are footholds carved into the tree, allowing harvesters to more easily climb the tree and harvest the coconuts.

“If you’re looking for lumber, you hate to see steps chopped into the tree trunk. It make the wood less valuable, but you have to understand that the primary mission of these trees is to produce coconuts,” Said Angus Stocks, president of Smith & Fong Plyboo, a San Francisco Company that makes flooring and plywood out of over-aged coconut palms.

Although the focus of the center is the mammals who live offshore, the Marine Mammal Center also cares about preserving the onshore environment, one of the reasons that they selected Plyboo edge grain amber plywood for the counters and shelves in their gift shop.  Not only are the countertops attractive - which always helps to sell merchandise - but also they are made with Forest Stewardship Council certified bamboo, one of the greenest materials available.

Here at Plyboo headquarters sometimes our work is play, especially when we test our PlybooSport basketball floors.  Pete, who works in the warehouse and played a little junior high b-ball, likes to dribble on the Plyboo court.

And yoga loves Plyboo, too.   And why not.  A good yoga pose can be tough.  But on the surface it looks beutiful and serence.  So, it is with our tough, yet beautiful floors. 

Okay maybe that was a metaphorical stretch.  But it's true that our floors are perfect for the yoga studio.