Aah, this is how it should be. A beautiful sunny June day, with a group of mates, cutting a few boards. This is what happened when 28 people attended the 4th Annual Forestry Field Day for the Northwoods Forestry Cooperative. Founded in 2001 and based in Aitkin, Minnesota, USA, the NFC’s mission is to “promote sound woodland management and to assist members in wood products marketing” to its 25 members who control a combined 3,000 acres of forested land.
The co-op works with a number of partners, including environmental learning centers, public land managers, non-profit organizations, educators, and many others in their wide network of resources. Through this the co-op is able to:
- Assist individual landowners/members with development of forest management plans
- Provide a forum for forestry education
- Assist members in finding markets and a fair price return on wood and related wood products
- Assist members with harvesting, transporting, milling, drying and planning operations
- Provide members with an opportunity to make new friendships, exchange ideas, and/or arrange projects that require mutually supported manpower.
In 2003, a group of members formed a partnership and purchased a Peterson Portable Sawmill, to mill their own logs to lumber, and offer the mill to other NFC members for a service fee. A custodian and assistant custodian were designated to oversee the day-to-day operations and give training to the various operators of the mill and the co-op now has six fully qualified mill operators trained and certified in all operations of the mill.
If you would like more information on the NFC, contact the president Gary Bradford via email,or call 218-927-4599.
Are you doing something special with your Peterson?Submit your own photo now.
|
