Our History

The PSW Exploratory Committee began meeting in 2006. The Committee envisioned establishing a sustainable woods operation in Central Virginia, largely modeled after Appalachian Sustainable Development’s Sustainable Woods program. Appalachian Sustainable Development operates a Sustainable Woods Program in Abingdon, Virginia, and has developed a market in the Charlottesville area. To be true to their mission of enabling local communities to meet their own needs, ASD is working to further develop markets within 100 miles of their location. ASD has been very generous with their time and expertise in support of establishing a similar operation in the Central Virginia Area. Members of the PSW Exploratory Committee made a field trip to ASD in August 2006 to learn more about their operation. A presentation on the trip is located here.

The Exploratory Committee has developed initial concepts for the location and operation of a saw mill and kiln. At this juncture, PSW is working toward the development of a Business and Operations Plan and a Marketing Plan to establish the capital and operational costs and the marketing strategy needed to make this project a local success story. Funding has been secured from a private foundation to begin Phase I, consisting of a feasibility study to examine market demand, production capability needed for short- and long-term, costs and benefits of certification levels, sources of lumber from sustainable harvesting and reclamation, and organizational structure for the sawmill/kiln operation. Additional funding is being sought for the Phase II of the plan to develop a detailed Business and Marketing Plan, including a Technical Operations Plan to select the site, specify the equipment, and develop an operating budget and marketing plan.

photo1 photo2 photo3 photo4