Early last spring, I was approached by Alyx Perry with the Southern Forest Network who suggested that I apply for a grant with the U.S. Forest Service in support of local forest-based businesses. I had never written a grant before, not to mention put much thought into my business’ overall role in the local forest products niche.

Early last spring, I was approached by Alyx Perry with the Southern Forest Network who suggested that I apply for a grant with the U.S. Forest Service in support of local forest-based businesses. I had never written a grant before, not to mention put much thought into my business’ overall role in the local forest products niche. I realized an opportunity to support local loggers and harvesters in creating a concentration yard for under utilized forest materials. What are those you are wondering? Well, really anything that is currently cut that is burned or chipped because it has no value. To us, they are smaller diameter logs and twigs that can be used for log railing and log furniture components. Our plan was to organize this yard and build a sterilization kiln (more on that later). We also wanted to be better stewards of the materials that we buy and improve our knowledge of their origin.

So I wrote it and, lo and behold, I got it!