BCGR - Green Furniture

At Harden Furniture in central New York it's going green from the ground up. This family-owned business has been around since 1844.  Gregory Harden of Harden furniture says "we are the only company in the country, and maybe in the world, that owns timber properties, operates a saw mill and actually makes that product into furniture. "

Harden has been honored by the Sustainable Furniture Council. One reason harden was honored is because of what goes on here. For every tree cut another one's grown. The trees used for furniture are between 80 and a hundred years old. Once cut, they're sorted and sent to the sawmill.

"What happens in furniture is really critical because we use a lot of forest products. As you harvest, you open up holes in the canopy. It allows sunlight in and that encourages those young little saplings and young little shoots to grow into mature trees, explained Harden." "We want good quality lumber and we want to waste as little of it as we possible can. All of our scrap, all of our waste is used for one purpose or another."

The scrap wood is chipped and is used to heat the facility in the winter. The best pieces are crafted into fine furniture. The price isn't cheap but, think of it as an investment, both in your future, and in the environment. Cheap furniture winds up in landfills and has to be replaced. Quality pieces can last generations. In order to qualify for the award, harden had to participate in a rigorous application process. It had to do more than prove it's wood was sustainable. Harden also had to prove it's entire operation was green.

Related Links:

• Harden Furniture Website