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December - Prairie’s Edge Sustainable Woods Cooperative
2007-11-04
Healthy profits from healthy forests: “We can have both,” according to northeast Iowa landowners who have formed the Prairie’s Edge Sustainable Woods Cooperative. It is an old concept with a new twist. Individuals pool their ideas and assets to pursue a group venture that might overwhelm one person.
Several tree farmers launched the cooperative idea in 2001, after becoming frustrated with the complexities of marketing timber from small tracks of land. They also hoped to promote woodland protection and restoration.
In two years, the coop has grown to 77 members with more than 8,000 acres of woodlands. The enthusiasm for the coop, even with a $100 membership fee, shows the strong commitment of many landowners to sustainable forestry.
