On October 4th, Sustainable Northwest partnered with Northwest Natural Resource Group to host a full-day tour of local sustainable forest management and wood products manufacturing.  Onboard the bus tour was 45 architects, engineers, interior designers, and leaders in the Portland-area green building movement.  HFHC’s Director, Ryan Temple, engaged the group in discussion around utilizing locally-grown and manufactured wood products.

The first stop on the bus tour was at Hyla Woods, a family forest certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.  Peter Hayes led a discussion at various stops in the forest regarding ecologically-based forest management.  The group also had an opportunity to see Hyla Woods’ solar-kiln and a sawmill demonstration by Kevin Kaster of Kaster’s Kustom Cutting.  Participants enjoyed their box lunch while onsite of a new residential construction home vying for LEED certification.  Stephen Aiguier of Green Hammer Construction detailed the locally-supplied, FSC-certified wood products used throughout the project.  Back on the bus, the tour continued to the Columbia Vista mill, an FSC Chain of Custody certificate holder, and then on to The Joinery, a local craftsman of heirloom-quality furniture committed to utilizing sustainable wood products.  An evening reception was hosted at the Bridgeport Brewery where over 100 members of Portland-area green building movement came together for a social networking event.

The tour provided opportunities for local media to share the sustainable wood products story, including an article in the Daily Journal of Commerce, an article in the Sustainable Life section of the Portland Tribune, and a 2-minute video clip featured by KGW.