Native American Tribe Creates Sustainable Firewood Business to Keep Elders Warm Through Winter
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📰 The quick summary: The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California has created a sustainable firewood business that provides free heating fuel to tribal elders while improving forest health through strategic timber removal.
📈 One key stat: About one-third of Washoe Tribe members rely exclusively on firewood for home heating, making the program’s delivery of three cords per elder each winter (worth about $900) essential for community resilience.
💬 One key quote: “To me, it’s a good feeling that I think we’re doing something good for our communities and for our people,” Cruz says.
1️⃣ The big picture: The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California has developed an innovative solution to help their elders stay warm during winter while practicing sustainable forestry. Through their Wood for Elders program, similar to a food bank but for firewood, they deliver free heating fuel to approximately 110 tribal elders. This initiative evolved from an inconsistent volunteer effort into a year-round operation with paid staff after receiving a $1 million grant from the US Forest Service in 2023. The program now produces about 1,000 cords of firewood annually, with some sold commercially to support the free distribution to elders.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The program addresses multiple challenges simultaneously by providing essential heating resources to vulnerable community members while improving forest health. By strategically removing timber from overgrown forests and fire-damaged areas, the tribe reduces wildfire risk while honoring traditional forest stewardship practices. The commercial aspect creates a sustainable funding model where each cord sold helps provide free firewood to elders, ensuring long-term viability. This initiative also creates year-round employment for tribal members and strengthens partnerships with federal agencies that now recognize the value of Indigenous knowledge in environmental management.
3️⃣ What’s next: The Washoe Tribe plans to continue selling surplus firewood to local businesses and campgrounds to fund their elder support program. They’re also prepared to sell firewood to other tribes across the region if those communities face shortages of this critical resource. As climate change leads to more severe winter storms and unpredictable weather patterns, this program provides essential energy security for tribal communities.
Read the full story here: Grist – How the Washoe Tribe built a business to sustain a firewood bank that helps elders heat their homes
