Responsibly Sourcing
Much of my work is made from domestic lumber. Of this, the majority is purchased from Logs To Lumber, my Hastings, MN based sawyer. Brian Lorenzen, the owner of Logs To Lumber, is a master at cutting and drying lumber. Much of his lumber is sourced from Minnesota and Iowa. In particular he has relationships with local tree service companies. He purchases logs from them that were cut down for non lumbering purposes (e.g storm damage, disease, road or building construction).
When purchasing other lumber, in particular tropical lumber, I try to use FSC approved wood. FSC refers to timber or wood-based products that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international non-profit organization. When you see the FSC "check-tree" logo, it means the wood was harvested from forests managed to strict environmental, social, and economic standards.
Sustainability
To help ensure the continued health and growth of our forests, WoodZest donates a portion of all commission fees to the National Forest Foundation through their Sapling Program (small business partnership program). These donations help restore and revitalize our 193-million-acre National Forest System.
Social Philanthropy
There are two great social cause organizations near my shop, Wildflyer Coffee and All Square Restaurant. Wildflyer’s mission is to create employment opportunities for youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability through the cultivation of life skills and personal empowerment. All Square is a nonprofit social enterprise that invests in people impacted by mass incarceration. Their mission is to heal the harms created by the criminal legal system by changing the way criminal records are used and viewed.
I’ve built and donated tables, countertops and other fixtures for both organizations. I also support them via financial donations. Starting in 2025 I’m donating a dining room table commission to Wildflyer’s annual fundraiser gala