Dear Readers:

Last week I mentioned that at presstime of the newsletter, I and some others from the Community Forestry Business Alliance were touring Sustainable Northwest's wood distribution center in Portland, Oregon. Our goal was to get a better feel for the distribution facility and to see if Sustainable Northwest's distribution model can work in other parts of the country. Their model is to open up markets for local mills and their Forest Stewardship Council-certified, sustainable wood (or its equivalent), and they do so by serving as a wholesaler to lumber yards and green building contractors based around the Portland and Seattle areas. We found it encouraging that the facility, even despite dismal economic times, has turned a profit a full year ahead of schedule. Although this model will likely be easier to implement in larger, green-minded metropolitan areas, it's a strong template for benefiting both producers and sustainably conscious consumers, and one we'll be following closely.

Best wishes,

Craig Rawlings