ABOUT US

Created in 2003, Goods from the Woods® (GFTW) is a Minnesota-grown initiative that combines educational workshops, an 'Up North' specialty forest products marketplace and a community festival to celebrate northern forests and promote a vibrant forest-based economy. Goals of the initiative are to:

- Create an annual signature event of regional significance to attract visitors to the area;
- Improve the economic viability of nontraditional wood product businesses;
- Increase the utilization of our forest resources through improved harvest coordination;
- Promote sustainable harvesting practices.

GFTW creates and promotes unique opportunities to celebrate Minnesota's forests and forest culture through introduction to and interaction with native forest-related traditions and talents, and opportunities to learn about historic ties to forest-based life styles. GFTW also develops and cobrands workshops, conferences, public lectures, and other learning opportunities.

OUR FOCUS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GFTW strengthens the economic vitality of the Itasca region by celebrating the area's unique forest-based identity, attracting new visitors to the region, and promoting local producers and artisans working with forest products.

EDUCATION
GFTW develops and cobrands workshops, conferences, public lectures, and other learning opportunities in two subject tracts: natural resource management and forest product-based business development and support.

CULTURE
GFTW creates and promotes unique opportunities for citizens to celebrate Minnesota's local forests and forest culture through introduction to and interaction with native forest-related traditions and talents, and opportunities to learn about historic ties to forest-based life styles.

Goods from the Woods® receives support from local and regional organizations. These fine organizations contribute to the initiative's overwhelming success by providing the in-kind staff and technical assistance for programs and events.

Working together, our partners contribute in the areas of planning, designing, committee participation, project management, task responsibilities, public relations, communications, and other functional areas. Thank you to all of them for their priceless contributions!

OUR PARTNERS

Blandin Foundation
Forest History Center
Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Itasca County Woodlands Committee
Visit Grand Rapids
Kiwanis Club
Woodtick Run
Itasca Community College Forestry Program
Nuch's in the Corner
KAXE Radio
MacRostie Art Center
Minnesota Wood Campaign
MN DNR - Division of Forestry
Reif Arts Council
U of M Extension
US Forest Service

If you want to join our vibrant volunteer group call Jennifer Lien, General Manager at 888.649.8705 or email woods@uslink.net.