Ken and Peggy Farabaugh, co-owners of Vermont Woods Studios in Vernon, VT. Photo credit: Erica Housekeeper.Thank You, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund VSJF
We have three important people to thank today:
- Christine McGowan (Forest Products Program Director at VSJF)
- Erica Houskeeper (author of Happy Vermont travel blog) and
- Emily Bradbury (owner of Emily Bradbury Communications)
They're the journalists & tree-huggers who collaborated to write Fighting Climate Change One Rocking Chair at a Time: Vermont Woods Studios Makes a Case for Buying Local. VSJF is a nonprofit that partners with state government, private sector businesses, and nonprofits to create a vibrant future for Vermont. We are grateful to them for recognizing the work we do to promote and sell Vermont's sustainable furniture.
Our showroom is located on 109 acres of Vermont woodlands, managed by professional forester, Lynn Levine. Customers can hike the property to see the type of thriving forest their sustainable furniture originates in.Addressing Climate Change in Vermont
VSJF is a key player in our state's Climate Economy Initiative. They support initiatives like distributed/renewable energy, green building and recycling. VSJF also supports other sectors of our economy that influence climate change, including the furniture industry.
All of our furniture is handcrafted in Vermont using sustainably harvested hardwood. The floors & the bench I'm sitting on was made with local maple wood. The fireplace mantle behind me was crafted using local cherry.Global Furniture Industry & Climate Change
Wooden furniture is made from trees. Trees are being clear cut from the world's rainforests at a frightening rate of 1.5 acres/second. The process is responsible for 20% of global warming. Furthermore, the timber produced goes into a market largely controlled by organized crime. It is shipped to China and other developing countries where it's made into cheap furniture for America's online & big box stores. The furniture often ends up in a landfill within 5 years.
Sustainable Furniture from Vermont is Different
At Vermont Woods Studios, we offer an alternative. Our furniture is made from 100% North American hardwoods and guaranteed for a lifetime. Our wood is usually grown in Vermont or within a 500 mile radius. Because Vermont's forest growth to removal ratio is 2:1, we are growing twice as much wood as is annually harvested.
Jake Checani is our land steward and facilities manager. He's standing in front of a shed filled with 20 cords of oak, ash, birch and beech firewood that he personally cut, split and stacked on our property at Vermont Woods Studios. Photo credit: Erica HouskeeperEach of us has more power than we think to fight against climate change. Each time we make a purchase we can consider where that product came from and how it affects our world. LN Smith said, "Every dollar you spend . . . or don't spend . . . is a vote you cast for the world you want."
