Welcoming Back Monarch Butterflies to Vermont

April 28, 2022August 4, 2022 Katrina Moore

Last updated on August 4th, 2022 at 04:36 pm

Salesperson Alex with a butterfly taking cover from the rain, last summer

Each spring, Monarch Butterflies return to North America from their winter habitat. You may know about our tree-planting partnership with Forest for Monarchs in Michoacan, Mexico, but Monarchs need our support here in Vermont, too.

Milkweed is the host plant of the Monarch Butterfly. Mature Monarchs lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves of the plant, and larval caterpillars rely on the plant for the entirety of their diet at this stage of life.

Founder and CEO Peggy Farabaugh harvesting milkweed seed pods in the fall for spring sowing

Every year, we start milkweed seeds indoors, and also direct-sow them outdoors, in order to support the Monarchs. This year, we are also starting milkweed plants in small cells we have made out of rolled newspaper for ease of distributing them to the community. If these plants are to make a comeback in southern Vermont, they will need to be planted more broadly than just our 109 acres.

Salesperson Sean Henry separating milkweed plant starts from a tray of seedlings

Many in our small town of Vernon, Vermont have said that the milkweed plants which return every year will be the lasting legacy of founder and CEO Peggy Farabaugh. We are so proud of her!

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Stonehurst Showroom’s Edible Landscape – Spring Has Sprung!

April 20, 2022April 22, 2022 Katrina Moore

Last updated on April 22nd, 2022 at 04:19 pm

This year, we received a truckload of compost from a local rancher (the father of our fantastic intern Whitney—if you received a package of wood samples last year, she may have sent them to you). Tractor load by tractor load we are moving the compost to sunny spots on the property. Placing compost directly onto the grass eliminates the need for labor-intensive tilling.

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Making a Difference

April 14, 2022April 14, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh

We thought you’d like to know how your purchase at VWS is making a difference in this world. Here are a just few of the things our small but mighty team does to put your furniture investment to work in making the world a better place.

We’re Planting Trees

We plant at least 10 trees every time you place an order at Vermont Woods Studios. So far we’ve planted over 140,000 trees! At VWS we do our work for the forest, from the forest. Everything we do is for the good of the woods. Here’s why forest conservation and sustainability are important to us. Read More

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FSC Certified Furniture: What Does It Mean & Where to Buy?

April 11, 2022December 31, 2022 Riley Farabaugh

Last updated on December 31st, 2022 at 12:11 pm

Vermont made furniture

Over the past several years, as consumers have become more conscious of the impact their purchases can have on the world, third party certifications like Fair Trade and B Corporations have sprung up to help audit the supply chain and business practices of companies around the world. In the global wood furniture and flooring industry, the most well-known third party certification for eco friendly furniture is managed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Many people stumble upon the FSC certification while looking for sustainable wood furniture. In this article, we explain what it means to be FSC Certified, why it’s not the gold standard it’s perceived to be, and what to look for instead.

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6 Tips for Buying Copeland Furniture Online

April 2, 2022April 4, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh

Last updated on April 4th, 2022 at 03:35 pm

Copeland Furniture | Astrid Bedroom Set | American Made in Vermont — Copeland’s Astrid Bed embodies natural modernism. Each bed is handcrafted and displays the subtle characteristics of real wood that bring out the luxurious feel of this authentic design. Where’s the best place to buy it? Read on.

You Love it. Now Learn How to Buy Copeland Furniture Online.

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Sustainable Furniture Buying Tips: 5 Questions You Should Be Asking

March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Being a sustainable company may be trendy now, but how do you know if what you’re buying is truly sustainable?

Our company was founded with the mission to save the rainforest. We are a wood furniture company that uses only sustainably harvested wood from North America. It’s been 17 years and we still guarantee that. Now it seems big name brands and celebrities are making claims of sustainability when they put their names on home goods. With so many products and brands now claiming sustainable practices, it may be hard to tell if the products you’re using really are eco-friendly.

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Everyone Can Help Ukraine

March 9, 2022March 11, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh

Last updated on March 11th, 2022 at 10:15 am

What Can One Person (or One Small State or One Small Business) Do?

Like you, our team at VWS is watching in horror as events unfold during Russia’s war on Ukraine. We are compelled to try to do something to help. In the face of such an existential threat it’s hard to imagine what we can do that would make a difference. But if everyone does something, no matter how small, it will add up. Read More

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Forging a Future for Our Forests

February 24, 2022February 24, 2022 Riley Farabaugh

From the beginning, we wanted to make Vermont Woods Studios part of the solution to climate change and deforestation. Since 2005, we have been encouraging consumers to understand where their furniture comes from and offering a more sustainable option.

Throughout our company’s history, we’ve always supported environmental nonprofits, but we wanted to develop a partnership where we could more clearly see how our dollars were being spent and maximize the impact of our donations.

Over the last several years, we’ve developed a strong partnership with La Cruz Habitat Protection Program (LCHPP, aka “Forests for Monarchs”), a small organization started by Jose Luis Alvarez in Michoacán, Mexico. Since their start in 1997, they’ve planted over 10 million trees.

Many non-profits offer to plant 1 tree for every dollar donated, but through our direct partnership with Forests for Monarchs, we’re able to plant two trees for every dollar. That’s twice as many trees!

Learn more about our commitment to sustainability. If you’d like, join us and experience our forest and wildlife habitat restoration activities in person. Here’s how: Plant Trees with Us.

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Vermont Magazine Features VWS

February 16, 2022February 16, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh

Vermont Magazine Article about Vermont Woods Studios — Vermont Magazine’s article features our furniture store & Stonehurst showroom in Vernon, VT. Come see us. Bring your snowshoes.

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Sustainable Furniture: Facts for Wildlife Lovers

February 3, 2022February 3, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh

Wood Furniture’s Journey to Your Home Starts in a Forest

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Peggy Farabaugh	Kelsey Eaton
Riley Farabaugh	Megan Fulton
Marina McCoy	Alexandra Thompson
Dennis Shanoff	Loryn Dion
Katrina Moore	Michelle Rooks
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