Cedar of Lebanon Project
The Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a tree with an ancient history, revered and considered sacred by Christians, Jews and Muslims for millenia. Those who are familiar with the Judeo-Christian traditions will know that this tree is mentioned numerous times in scriptures, referring to its strength, beauty and religious significance. King Solomon built his temple from this wood, and the Phoenicians their boats. The trees were renowned throughout the Old World, venerated and celebrated as spiritual monuments.
Once, these majestic trees covered the mountains of Lebanon and surrounding regions. Because of their great value for a multitude of purposes they were deforested over millennia, until now only a few groves remain.
Floracopeia is very pleased to announce The Cedar of Lebanon Project. This project is a unique and rare opportunity to replant this spectacular species, with the specific intention of donating trees to religious organizations as a symbol of their shared common spiritual ancestry.
In the spring of ‘08 we received a letter from a gentleman who is an expert in the history, plants and musical instruments of the Bible. He informed us that about one hundred years ago a Cedrus libani had been planted on an estate in North Carolina, that it had recently blown down in a storm, and that a small amount of the wood remained for sale by a rare wood collector. We immediately purchased this wood with the intention of distilling its precious oil, a fragrance from a bygone age.
Two-hundred and twenty pounds of heartwood was shipped to our distiller in Crestone, Colorado, where it was custom-distilled for Floracopeia. The distillation produced one liter of essential oil and ten gallons of hydrosol.
The olfactory characteristics of the oil are those of a fine cedar wood: softly woody and balsamic, subtly complex with a tinge of sweetness. But it is not the aroma itself that makes this oil marvelous, but its rarity and connection to another time and place. It is the fragrance of a past age, the scent of ancient cultures and histories and a link to a deeply spiritual chapter of human life. It is possible that this liter of oil is the only Cedar of Lebanon essential oil available in the world.
The distillation of this rare wood offers a unique opportunity to replant the Cedars of Lebanon, funded by the sale of the oil and hydrosol.
We are offering this oil as a rare collector’s item, at the cost of $250 per dram. The oil comes with a four-ounce bottle of the hydrosol and a sapling of a Cedrus libani tree. The funds from the sale of this oil will be used to start and operate a pro
ject devoted to the propagation and reforestation of this tree in North America.
Our project is based at the Mago Ranch in Sedona, Arizona, which is owned and operated by Walker Marchal. Walker is actively involved in the ongoing community garden network and farmers market in Sedona and has a large herb garden and labyrinth on her land. She is the primary person responsible for the germination and caretaking of the trees.
This project will be done in three phases. The first phase started in January of ‘09, with the germination of several thousand Cedrus libani seeds. Our hope is to have at least a 60% germination rate, and a crop of at least 1,000 saplings. The second phase will be nurturing the saplings until they are large enough to ship to their new owners. The third phase will be donating the trees to those who would like to plant them. To reach these goals Marchal has organized a team of volunteers from the community to assist in the project.
Cedrus libani will grow well in most parts of the US except for the far northern central states. It grows especially well along the east coast.
Those who purchase one of the Cedar of Lebanon packages will receive their oil and hydrosol at the time of their order; they will receive the sapling when it is ready to ship, with complete details on its care. The remainder of the trees will be given away to any individual or group who wishes to have one or more. We are particularly interested in donating these trees as a symbol of peace to churches, synagogues and mosques around the country.
CLICK HERE to listen to David Crow speak about the Cedar of Lebanon Project