Author: Christine McGowan
SAVU Sauna Experience Begins in Vermont Forest
By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Dave Nelson is on a mission to bring sauna culture to the United States. With his partner, Nicole Sweeney, Nelson founded SAVU in Cambridge, Vermont with the construction of a contemporary sauna nestled in the woods overlooking Smugglers’ Notch. “We are creating a modern sauna experience that celebrates … Read More
Humanity, Connection at Heart of ShackletonThomas
By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Charlie Shackleton has a pretty interesting story to tell. The renowned Vermont furniture maker does not, however, start his story with his connection to Sir Ernest Shackleton of Endurance fame, or with meeting his wife and business partner, Miranda Thomas, in art school. Rather, he begins in the … Read More
Jack Bell Takes a Long View on Vermont’s Forests
By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network With an integrated approach to forestry and logging, Bell prioritizes forest health, workforce. “Most of Vermont’s forested land is privately owned and fragmented into relatively small parcels,” said Jack Bell, co-founder of Long View Forest. “One of our goals is to provide continuity and professionalism over time so … Read More
Runamok Maple Adds Sparkle to Vermont’s Working Landscape
By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Journals of early explorers indicate that Native Americans had a process for making maple syrup as early as the 1600s. But surely, none of them made Sparkle Syrup. Tapping into a tradition as old as Vermont, Runamok Maple founders Laura and Eric Sorkin are bringing creativity and innovation … Read More
Making a Case for Community-Scale Forestry
With a mindset of staying small, a sawmill in Fletcher sees wood products as the next “go local” movement. By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Tucker Riggs, owner of Laughing Stock Farm (LSF) Forest Products in Fletcher, is busier than he’s ever been. As the pandemic and resulting supply chain issues more than doubled … Read More
Connecting People to Place, Middlebury Grads Return to VT to Start Woodworking Business
By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network When three friends at Middlebury College couldn’t find the perfect gift for their boss, they decided to make something special. Nathaniel Klein, Jacob Freedman, and Alex Gemme wanted to thank their supervisor at the Middlebury Snow Bowl for helping them establish a scholarship program. “We had such a … Read More
Third Branch Horse Logging Finds Niche for Low-Impact, Sustainable Horse Logging in Vermont
By Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Brad Johnson would like to see wood products valued for the stand that’s left behind in the forest, not just the dollar value of the wood removed. “The lumber industry is sort of where the food industry was in the seventies in terms of connecting the end product … Read More
COVID, Culverts, Climate Change and Vermont’s Future Forests
How Okemo State Forest is using one-time COVID-19 relief money to improve public access and forest resilience. By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund There is just one road up the backside of Mt. Holly in Okemo State Forest. Originally built in the 1980s for forest management, the road now … Read More
Vermont Tree Wardens: A Voice for the Forest
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Updates to Vermont’s 100-year old tree warden statutes provide clarity, opportunity for collaboration. According to Elise Schadler, a program manager with Vermont Urban and Community Forestry, a tree warden is a modern day local lorax—a community spokesperson for the trees. Appointed by local … Read More
A Vermonter’s Approach to Sustainable, Affordable Housing
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Ten years ago this summer, Hurricane Irene tore through Vermont, leaving massive destruction and flooding in its wake. Among the hardest hit were mobile home parks, where many residents lost everything they owned—including the roof over their head. So, when Steve Davis, a … Read More
Rugged Ridge Grows Sugarbush, Business in Pace with the Forest
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund It’s often said in business that “bigger is better,” but for Josh Seidman, steward of Rugged Ridge Forest, “better” is making the highest-quality maple syrup sustainably. A 2010 University of Vermont graduate, Seidman became interested in forestry after taking a small woodlot management … Read More
Combined Heat and Power at Allard Lumber Saves Money, Jobs, and Environment
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund When the water pump on Allard Lumber’s boiler went a few years back, Trevor Allard finally had the excuse he needed to begin building the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system that he had been considering for years. “I couldn’t justify throwing out … Read More