GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (June 2, 2004) - Goods from the Woods launches its second season in June with a series of 25 broad-based learning opportunities including workshops, hands-on classes and forest tours and lectures.

"The summer series is designed for forest professionals, entrepreneurs and people interested in learning about Minnesota's forests, non-traditional wood products and managing our forests," said Julie Miedtke, Extension Educator. "The series starts June 8 with traditional Scandinavian Wooden spoon carving and concludes August 21 with a workshop on Doing Business Better Using the Internet."

"We will have top-notch instructors from the region and elsewhere who know their subjects and can bring them to life for learners of every age and level of know-how," Miedtke said.

According to Goods from the Woods Steering Committee member John Zasada (US Forest Service, retired), over 40 percent of Minnesota's forested land is privately owned and helps to support a forest products industry that is the 5th largest manufacturing sector in the state, employing over 9 percent of the states workforce, with an annual payroll of $2.2 billion. "How we manage our forests is important." Zasada said. "The Good Wood Appreciation Series will help all of us do a better job of integrating specialty forest product values (bark, boughs, sap, cones, etc.) with the other values we enjoy from our forests."

Called the 2004 'Good Woods' Appreciation Series, the programs are organized according to five tracts:

-- Your Back 40 - a program series for private forest landowners includes Forest Cooperatives; Forest Certification; Growing and Tending Your Forest; Family Forests and Finances; and The World of Special Forest Products.

-- Harvest, Gather, Forage - a program series for people who work with forests includes Barking Up the Tree: Harvesting Birch Bark the Right Way; Going Nuts? Collecting Native Seeds and Cones for Profit; Wild Berry Jam, Jelly & Syrups: Safe Steps to Sweet Success; and Managing Native Shrubs for Fruit Production.

-- Grow Your Business - a program series for people who produce goods from the woods includes Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Preparing for the Marketplace: First Impressions! How to Deliver Your Message through Product Displays; Creating a Product Image; Staying Legal: Minnesota Sales Tax Made Easy; and Doing Better Using the Internet.

-- Forest Family Fun - a program series of forest and wildlife learning at the Forest History Center for the entire family. The series includes: Our Feathered Friends: Birds of the Northern Forest; A Tree is a Tree...Right?? Tree Identification for Beginners; BEAR! Discover the Secrets of Minnesota Black Bears; The White Pine: Minnesota's Legacy Tree; and Oh DEER! You Are What You Eat!

-- Making Art from the Forest - a hands-on series at the MacRostie Art Center for beginners working with artists and their materials. The series includes Wooden Spoon Carving; Intro to Birch Bark Weaving; Hooked on Steaming; The Art of Splintering and Frame it the Willow Way.

Registration is required and register early, Miedtke said, because class sizes are limited. Register at 888.649.8705 or at woods@uslink.net. For details see our website at www.specialforestproducts.com.

June classes

Wooden Spoon Carving

Instructor Jon Strom

1:00 to 4:00 pm Tuesday June 8

A beginner's class to learn traditional Scandinavian carving using simple hand tools.

Growing and Tending Your Forest

6:30-8:00 p.m. Monday, June 14

Instructor: Eli Sagor, University of Minnesota Extension Educator

Learn about the natural forces shaping your forest and how to work with these processes to leave your best legacy on the land. This workshop includes both field and classroom opportunities.

A toolkit for the Private Forest Landowner

6:30-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 15

Instructor: Mel Baughman, University of Minnesota Extension Educator

How you manage your woodland will affect the trees, wildlife, recreation opportunities, soil, and water resources on your land for years to come. Learn about resources to achieve your personal land ownership goals.

Our Feathered Friends: Birds of the Northern Forest

7:00 -9:00 a.m. Thursday, June 17

Instructor: Harry Hutchins, Itasca Community College

Discover the joys of birding! Learn about bird behavior and basic bird identification skills.

Getting your Ducks in a Row: Preparing for the Marketplace

6:30-8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 17

Instructor: Mike Andrews, Business Development Specialist,

Itasca Development Corp.

Get specific tips on developing a successful strategy for selling your product at the Goods from the Woods marketplace or other tradeshows.

Intro to Birch Bark Weaving

Instructor: John Zasada, US Forest Service (Retired)

1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 22

Learn to make ornaments, simple baskets, knife sheaths and wall baskets from birch bark in the traditional Scandinavian and Russian fashion.

Barking up the Tree: Harvesting Birch Bark the Right Way

6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 23

Instructor: John Zasada, US Forest Service (Retired)

For everything there is a season, and June is the right time to harvest birch bark. Learn how to properly harvest, handle and store your bark.

A Tree is a Tree.....Right?? - Tree Identification for Beginners

1:00-2:30 pm Thursday June 24

Instructor: Julie Miedtke Extension Educator

Just like people, NOT all trees look alike! Learn to identify Minnesota's native trees using a simple dichotomous key.

First Impressions! How to Deliver Your Message Through Product Displays

6:30 -8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 24

Instructor: Allison Rajala Ahcan, Minnesota Wood Campaign

This hands-on workshop will cover customer engagement, message auditing, and exhibit design. Bring along a sample of your product.

Goods from the Woods is a community-based initiative designed to celebrate Minnesota's northern forests and promote a vibrant forest-based economy. Initiative goals are to:

Attract additional tourists to the region with the signature GFTW marketplace.

Improve the economic viability of local specialty forest product businesses.

Increase the utilization of our forest resources through improved harvest coordination.

Promote sustainable harvesting practices.

For Information:

George Hornik

218-327-8705

grhornik@blandinfoundation.org

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