I attended my usual NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Asso.) meeting last evening to find out some interesting facts about cork. I thought it maybe a great thing to highlight on for our blog.
Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork tree when the tree obtains the age of 25 years old. Then it renews itself again after 9 years to be harvested again. A cork tree typically lives to be 100 years old. However, by harvesting the cork it increased the longevity of the three to an average of 200 years. Twice its original life. What a great renewable resource.
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The biggest use of cork is to top off that wine bottle. So the next time you open a bottle to enjoy, think of how renewable and sustainable that cap is. It’s also very durable. Mostly due to the honeycomb shape cell formation. So in our Green living society today it’s used for flooring. It’s been used for years in flooring, however it’s now being manufactured in more economical ways. If you ever get down to Wildwood on Central Ave in Toledo, and tour the Estate there you will see a cork floor in the kitchen. At least it was there several years ago when I toured. So when you decide on a floor for your home you may just want to consider cork. It’s resilient, warm, and comfortable to foot traffic.
Monroe County Master Gardener Association 
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