About UsAnimal-power combined with restorative forestry provides truly sustainable wood and forest products.
Draftwood standards of harvesting are based on "worst first" single tree selection using the guidelines described in the document "Nature's Tree Marking Paint" The use of modern animal-powered technology is intended to be the "ultimate low-impact overland log extraction method." Animal-powered harvesting has many environmental advantages over conventional mechanized harvesting. The most important advantage is that the overall method allows careful harvesting of timber, while recognizing that it is what one leaves in the forest that is more important than what is taken. We think of what we do as "tree gardening" as opposed to the tree farming practiced conventionally. |
A message from Draftwood founder, Jason Rutledge. |
Soil disturbance is minimal when animal-powered extraction of logs is utilized. The spot soil compaction of hooves is significantly less than the continuous tracking compaction of wheeled or tracked implements. The modern feature of a log arch provides front-end suspension of the log length segments harvests, which aslo lessens the impact on the forest soil, residual tree roots and the watershed quality.
Draftwood forest products result from a "whole forest management system." This approach considers the overall value of the entire forest ecology, not just the extracted components. The inclusion of "Special Forest Products" harvesting insures that the forest remains an intact, functioning eco-system. These special products will not grow if the forest ecology is damaged beyond a natural condition that supports the lesser members of the ecological community, such as edible gourmet mushrooms, herbals, and other under-story plants.
The quality of the water filtered by the forest is also influenced by the forest's health. It has been said that the most valuable product to come out of any forest is the water, not the wood. your purchase of Draftwood products helps protect the watershed.
The average consumer is not mindful of the source of most of the retail goods they purchase. Our goal with Draftwood is to connect with consumers who want to promote environmentally sensitive efforts with their purchase decisions and power.
When you purchase a certified Draftwood product, you are supporting our best efforts at preserving and restoring the forest. You are also rewarding the people who actually do this difficult, skilled physical labor of working in the woods. your purchase will support a community-based approached to address human needs for forest products.
Draftwood forest products result from a "whole forest management system." This approach considers the overall value of the entire forest ecology, not just the extracted components. The inclusion of "Special Forest Products" harvesting insures that the forest remains an intact, functioning eco-system. These special products will not grow if the forest ecology is damaged beyond a natural condition that supports the lesser members of the ecological community, such as edible gourmet mushrooms, herbals, and other under-story plants.
The quality of the water filtered by the forest is also influenced by the forest's health. It has been said that the most valuable product to come out of any forest is the water, not the wood. your purchase of Draftwood products helps protect the watershed.
The average consumer is not mindful of the source of most of the retail goods they purchase. Our goal with Draftwood is to connect with consumers who want to promote environmentally sensitive efforts with their purchase decisions and power.
When you purchase a certified Draftwood product, you are supporting our best efforts at preserving and restoring the forest. You are also rewarding the people who actually do this difficult, skilled physical labor of working in the woods. your purchase will support a community-based approached to address human needs for forest products.
