ForestHer: Women Landowners Together in Forest Stewardship

Bark House advocates ForestHer
ForestHer continues to bring women landowners in Western North Carolina together in forest stewardship. Women now make up 60% of almost 14 million acres of NC forest land-owners, either owning the land jointly or individually.  They have a resource in the ForestHer Program that supports forest stewardship. The WNC Chapter of ForestHer is led by Aimme Tomcho, a Burnsville-based conservation … Continued
Posted on By in Products of Nature

REGENERATE – A Post Pandemic Theme Part 2

From the desk of Carol Sanford on Regenerative Living   “Life has never felt less certain, in a global sense, than it does right now. Whether you believe that uncertainty is being created by or simply revealed by current circumstances, learning how to navigate it is a top priority for everyone from business leaders and … Continued
Posted on By in Regenerative Business

REGENERATE – A Post Pandemic Theme Part 1

From Travel to Products – Your Purchases Decide What Businesses Stay and Go   Regenerative work designs are growing.   This recent article in the NY Times introduces us to the idea of Regenerative Tourism.  We can substitute the industry segment “tourism” with “regenerative business” and our goals would be similar.  From the article: “We’ve managed to shift the thinking from having … Continued
Posted on By in Regenerative Business

Highlands Reserve Featured in Our State Magazine

At the pinnacle of 4,500 ft in Southern Appalachia, you will find an “island in the sky” with diverse plant communities, rare species, and a bark lodge from which every journey in this magical land begins.  The stewards of this incredible property are Robert and Betty Balentine.  They have expanded this reserve to 120-acres with … Continued
Posted on By in Projects and Designers

When Mission Matters

See The Benefits Of Restorative Growing, Sourcing, and Harvesting Work at Bark House began in 1990 with a focus on the well-being of Appalachian forests and the people working and living in them. In 1990, we embarked on a new manufacturing company framework to honor the strategy of trees and forests through cleanly manufactured products … Continued
Posted on By in Products of Nature

Good Luck Summer Interns

NC State University Poole College of Management interned at Bark House
With the leadership of Dr. Leigh Shamblin, Director of Leadership and Professor of Practice North Carolina State University (NCSU), MBA candidates Joshua Miller PhD and Valaree Reese just completed a Summer project with Bark House’s Chris McCurry.  Their plan of action is valued.  Their commitment and enthusiasm over the Summer term were uplifting in this … Continued
Posted on By in Regenerative Business

Virginia Tech University Invites Nature Inside with Wood Wall Paneling Design

Bark House Live Edge wood slabs create wall in Turner Place dining facility
When Virginia Tech University constructed Lavery Hall, a giant stone‑and‑glass building that houses the campus’s world‑class dining facility, the project managers searched diligently for natural building materials that would help them achieve a LEED Silver green building certification. In Pursuit of Sustainable Wood Wall Paneling  David Chinn, Capital Project Manager at VT, decided on a … Continued
Posted on By in Projects and Designers

4 Extraordinary Ways to Use Trees in Architecture

4 Extraordinary Ways to Use Trees in Architecture
Though architecture inspired by nature is nothing new, modern architects constantly seek new and exciting iterations of biophilic design. Now more than ever, bridging the gap between the great outdoors and indoors includes regenerative, or even living, natural building materials. Striking feats of biophilic architecture connect people to nature through one of the Earth’s most enduring displays of life: … Continued
Posted on By in Projects and Designers