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Fostering a Local Forest Economy: Small Forest Based Businesses as a Conservation Strategy for the Region’s Woodlands

Sanderson Academy, Ashfield MA

November 6, 2004

On Saturday, November 6, 2004, approximately 100 people gathered in Ashfield, Massachusetts for a day-long conference to discuss the public benefits and economic advantages of using sustainable forestry practices in the forests of western Massachusetts. Participants were primarily forest owners, but there were also people present from municipal boards, land trusts, conservation organizations, and the forestry profession.

Since the majority of forested land in Massachusetts is owned by private landowners, the conference focused on the many ways that small forest ownerships contribute to the local economy in creative and ecologically sustainable ways. Through panel discussions and break-out sessions, the conference:

highlighted small forest-based entrepreneurs from western MA;
discussed community resource economics and forest sustainability;
advanced the knowledge and development of small, entrepreneurial businesses;
strengthened support for small forest-based businesses; and
recognized their contributions to conservation and the regional economy.

Jay Healy, the former MA Commissioner of Agriculture and architect of the state’s nationally recognized Farm Viability Program, opened the meeting with remarks on the importance of working landscapes to conservation efforts. Well-managed forests and a strong, local forest economy are essential to preventing the conversion of forests to building lots and other development projects.

The centerpiece of the morning was a panel discussion titled Stories of Success: Small Forest-Based Enterprises in Western Massachusetts, featuring 6 panelists from a range of local forest-based businesses. The majority of the panelists are featured in a book by Susan Campbell, Profiles form Working Woodlands: Exploring Forest Based Businesses in Western Massachusetts. The book was distributed to all conference participants. A PDF of this publication is available here. Members of this panel were Bill and Norma Coli of Blue Heron Farm, Charlemont, MA; Chris Marano, Clearpath Herbals, Wendell, MA; Peter Jensen, Openspace Management, Great Barrington, MA; Michael Humphries, Michael Humphries Woodworking, Warwick, MA; Paul Legrèze , New England Wild Edibles, Colrain, MA; and Lloyd Crawford, Stump Sprouts Guest Lodge and Cross Country Ski Center. The panelists responded to a moderator’s questions in turn, covering topics such as programs and organizations useful to small businesses starting out, the biggest challenges facing their businesses today, and advice to others just starting out with a forest-based business idea. The dialogue was punctuated with audience questions and impromptu stories from the panelists. This lively, interactive session received an overwhelmingly positive response on the conference evaluation collected at the end of the day.

The remainder of the morning was dedicated to two sessions:

Resource Economics for a Local Forest Economy , presented by David Damery from the UMASS Department of Natural Resource Conservation, Building Materials Program. Damery discussed the forest economy in western Massachusetts and why marketing to small niche consumers may be more appropriate here than larger commodity-based marketing. Click here to view the entire power point presentation.

Working Woodlands and Community Health , presented by Paul Catanzaro, Forestry Extension Specialist, UMASS Extension. Catanzaro discussed how private landowners are the key to healthy forests, healthy communities and realizing conservation goals in Massachusetts. Click here to view the entire power point presentation.

In the afternoon, the conference participants chose one of three break-out sessions, depending upon their area of interest:

Realizing Your Small Woodland Dream —for start-up projects and small enterprises

Paul Catanzaro, UMass Dept. of Natural Resource Conservation, Forestry Extension Specialist
Kate Hayes, Pioneer Valley Enterprise Program, UMass Donahue Institute

The session was designed to provide information to landowners interested in developing an idea for a small forest-based business on their land. Of the approximately 45 participants, 85% identified themselves as landowners. The vast majority of landowners owned property larger in size than the regional average. 15% came to the session with a specific enterprise in mind.

An outline of the discussion is available here.

The Forest as a Business - Strengthening Local Forest Enterprises — for existing small businesses

Annie Cheatham, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture
Lloyd Crawford, Stump Sprouts Guest Lodge & Cross Country Ski Center
John Payne, Foxbard Farm
Michael Humphries, Michael Humphries Woodworking, Inc.

The purpose of this session was to hear from established forest-based business people on topics such as attracting and keeping customers, etc

An outline of the discussion is available here.

State and Local Strategies for Supporting Forest-based Businesses— for those participating in the policy arena

Bill Labich, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Senior Land Use Planner
Bob O’Connor, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Joe Smith, Director, Forest & Wood Products Institute, Mt. Wachusett Community College
Jay Healy, Executive Director, MA Woodlands Cooperative & Former MA Commissioner of Agriculture

The discussion was designed for participants interested in supporting forest-based businesses on a state and local level. The panelists shared information about progress happening in these arenas.

An outline of the discussion is available here.

The day concluded with all participants coming back together while facilitators from each of the afternoon sessions reported on their discussions. Review of conference evaluations confirmed that the content of the day struck a chord with the people who attended, and discussions on how to foster this work ensued. Per the request of participants, a conference participant list was circulated to facilitate networking after the conference. Participants will be notified when the Institute’s website, www.masswoodlandsinstitute.org, is up early in 2005. There they will find links to publications, organizations, and current information on programs offered by the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute.

Sponsors of this conference include:


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	Events Fostering a Local Forest Economy: Small Forest Based Businesses as a Conservation Strategy for the Region’s Woodlands Sanderson Academy, Ashfield MA November 6, 2004 On Saturday, November 6, 2004, approximately 100 people gathered in Ashfield, Massachusetts for a day-long conference to discuss the public benefits and economic advantages of using sustainable forestry practices in the forests of western Massachusetts. Participants were primarily forest owners, but there were also people present from municipal boards, land trusts, conservation organizations, and the forestry profession. Since the majority of forested land in Massachusetts is owned by private landowners, the conference focused on the many ways that small forest ownerships contribute to the local economy in creative and ecologically sustainable ways. Through panel discussions and break-out sessions, the conference: highlighted small forest-based entrepreneurs from western MA; discussed community resource economics and forest sustainability; advanced the knowledge and development of small, entrepreneurial businesses; strengthened support for small forest-based businesses; and recognized their contributions to conservation and the regional economy. Jay Healy, the former MA Commissioner of Agriculture and architect of the state’s nationally recognized Farm Viability Program, opened the meeting with remarks on the importance of working landscapes to conservation efforts. Well-managed forests and a strong, local forest economy are essential to preventing the conversion of forests to building lots and other development projects. The centerpiece of the morning was a panel discussion titled Stories of Success: Small Forest-Based Enterprises in Western Massachusetts, featuring 6 panelists from a range of local forest-based businesses. The majority of the panelists are featured in a book by Susan Campbell, Profiles form Working Woodlands: Exploring Forest Based Businesses in Western Massachusetts. The book was distributed to all conference participants. A PDF of this publication is available here. Members of this panel were Bill and Norma Coli of Blue Heron Farm, Charlemont, MA; Chris Marano, Clearpath Herbals, Wendell, MA; Peter Jensen, Openspace Management, Great Barrington, MA; Michael Humphries, Michael Humphries Woodworking, Warwick, MA; Paul Legrèze , New England Wild Edibles, Colrain, MA; and Lloyd Crawford, Stump Sprouts Guest Lodge and Cross Country Ski Center. The panelists responded to a moderator’s questions in turn, covering topics such as programs and organizations useful to small businesses starting out, the biggest challenges facing their businesses today, and advice to others just starting out with a forest-based business idea. The dialogue was punctuated with audience questions and impromptu stories from the panelists. This lively, interactive session received an overwhelmingly positive response on the conference evaluation collected at the end of the day. The remainder of the morning was dedicated to two sessions: Resource Economics for a Local Forest Economy , presented by David Damery from the UMASS Department of Natural Resource Conservation, Building Materials Program. Damery discussed the forest economy in western Massachusetts and why marketing to small niche consumers may be more appropriate here than larger commodity-based marketing. Click here to view the entire power point presentation. Working Woodlands and Community Health , presented by Paul Catanzaro, Forestry Extension Specialist, UMASS Extension. Catanzaro discussed how private landowners are the key to healthy forests, healthy communities and realizing conservation goals in Massachusetts. Click here to view the entire power point presentation. In the afternoon, the conference participants chose one of three break-out sessions, depending upon their area of interest: Realizing Your Small Woodland Dream —for start-up projects and small enterprises Paul Catanzaro, UMass Dept. of Natural Resource Conservation, Forestry Extension Specialist Kate Hayes, Pioneer Valley Enterprise Program, UMass Donahue Institute The session was designed to provide information to landowners interested in developing an idea for a small forest-based business on their land. Of the approximately 45 participants, 85% identified themselves as landowners. The vast majority of landowners owned property larger in size than the regional average. 15% came to the session with a specific enterprise in mind. An outline of the discussion is available here. The Forest as a Business - Strengthening Local Forest Enterprises — for existing small businesses Annie Cheatham, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture Lloyd Crawford, Stump Sprouts Guest Lodge & Cross Country Ski Center John Payne, Foxbard Farm Michael Humphries, Michael Humphries Woodworking, Inc. The purpose of this session was to hear from established forest-based business people on topics such as attracting and keeping customers, etc An outline of the discussion is available here. State and Local Strategies for Supporting Forest-based Businesses— for those participating in the policy arena Bill Labich, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Senior Land Use Planner Bob O’Connor, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Joe Smith, Director, Forest & Wood Products Institute, Mt. Wachusett Community College Jay Healy, Executive Director, MA Woodlands Cooperative & Former MA Commissioner of Agriculture The discussion was designed for participants interested in supporting forest-based businesses on a state and local level. The panelists shared information about progress happening in these arenas. An outline of the discussion is available here. The day concluded with all participants coming back together while facilitators from each of the afternoon sessions reported on their discussions. Review of conference evaluations confirmed that the content of the day struck a chord with the people who attended, and discussions on how to foster this work ensued. Per the request of participants, a conference participant list was circulated to facilitate networking after the conference. Participants will be notified when the Institute’s website, www.masswoodlandsinstitute.org, is up early in 2005. There they will find links to publications, organizations, and current information on programs offered by the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute. Sponsors of this conference include: Highland Communities Initiative UMass Department of Natural Resources Conservation Franklin Regional Council of Governments Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture U. S. Forest Service—Northeast Area State & Private Forestry Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative, LLC
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