Eco-Friendly Wood Floors & Ceilings

We’re currently building a 900 square foot cottage in the woods for our family and small business.

We want to be responsible stewards of the environment and use reclaimed and recycled resources whenever possible — from hand-me-down furnishings (and plants!) courtesy of our neighbors, to reimagined building materials. 

As such, for truly eco-friendly and healthy wood floors and ceilings from our region, Adam and I looked to The Goodwin Company. Not only are their products created with responsibly soured wood, but their entire business — from the log recovery process to their sawmill grounds — is fascinating.

Goodwin works with state-permitted divers who recover, by hand, sunken logs of precious Heart Pine and Heart Cypress that were lost during river transport a century ago. 

When Goodwin’s dive partners recover these logs from rivers, they do so in a way that preserves the underwater habitat. Goodwin actually spearheaded the responsible legal and industry standards for this practice, and their River Recovered wood comes from rivers close to the sawmill. 

The logs are stored safely and naturally on-site. Over 600 are in their pond, which is filled with wildlife:

Goodwin also uses old-growth trees toppled by storms, and wood rescued from demolition, breathing new life into beautiful antique wood that would have otherwise been destroyed or sold to mills not practicing sustainable manufacturing. 

Goodwin even reuses the sawdust from their mill, providing it to select blueberry producers to help crops grow. 

 Stay tuned for the reveal of this special wood in our little cottage.  And, in the meantime, you can read all about Goodwin’s environmental mission here, and learn more about their process on-site via their Instagram channel.