The Forest Foundation, Inc.

Though Forests of the World continued it’s presence in the gift and apparel markets, it’s sales remained slow and steady, highlighted by the new recycled juice box line and the Brushkins, both from the Philippines. We provided assistance to several producer groups around the world, offering ideas and review of products and opportunities to display their crafts at US Trade shows.

TFF exhibited in Oct. at the State Fair for the 14th year, along with NCCONET and their drought awareness campaign, and assisted in the biodiesel demonstration project of Wake Tech. TFF also exhibited at the NC Science Teachers annual conference, while simultaneously tabling at the NAAEE Conference in Virginia Beach—how did we do it? Good job to Marc and MK and all those who helped out. Both booths were well supported, highlighting fair trade, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and TFF and CBL’s new curriculum on biodiesel. TFF also exhibited at the Green Festival, and we heard Bill McKibben’s rousing speech, “before screwing in a new CFL, screw in a new legislator!”

EENC’s Conference at Lutheridge near Asheville was a great break from our daily grind during the height of leaf change. Marc presented the biodiesel curriculum to 12 teachers and we stopped at Warren-Wilson College on the way home for a tour by Stan Cross of the new LEED building (hand made by students and faculty), the organic garden and horse-logged forest. Warren Wilson received the number 3 ranking by Sierra Mag. for green campuses. We were all impressed by the dedication to balance in students’ lives and education, creating graduates that understand the value of community and living sustainably. Marc has stepped down from the EENC Board to give more time to TFF’s Green Oil Campus and it’s fundraising needs.

TFF exhibited, again, at both the Nicholas and Divinity Schools’ holiday fairs, at the Judea Reform Temple and at the Resurrection United Methodist Church, and participated in a micro-lending fair at the Bryan Center at Duke. We also attended the Duke Divinity School’s Conference on Land, People and Food and heard Wendell Berry and Wes Jackson speak. TFF also started working with the Interfaith Power and Light project of the NC Council of Churches in its outreach on climate change and sustainable livelihoods. This collaboration will fit well with TFF’s Spring Ecopalms’ project.

Greenway Transit has taken off like a rocket, though pedicab sales have been slow (participating in Watts-Hillandale arts tour and the Christmas parade) and a challenge to manage, bus and limo transport has been non-stop. Greenway organized 2 buses for Duke and UNC students to go to DC for the Powershift Conference and protest on climate change. It has signed a deal with the DEL (Duke Environmental Leadership) Program to run transportation between RDU, hotels and the campus for one week each month. Greenway also did its first Bat Mitzvah, making RDU, hotel and dinner runs for 5 days. All guests for the Bat Mitzvah were extremely happy with our service. Greenway was banned from Duke campus sports games for no apparent reason and is now lobbying to provide this important service to handicapped and elderly patrons.

In September, we held the grand opening party of the Green Oil Campus and it’s new, card swipe biodiesel pump (the only one on the east coast), hosting over 100 people, with Rich Kregar’s diesel mechanics workshop with 20 students from Durham Tech. attending. Between downpours (the first rain in three months), we ran tours of the site. In other Green Oil Campus news, TFF was able, with the help of Dr. Sandy Smith-Nonini from UNC’s Anthropology Dept., to submit a grant proposal for an environmental educator to GSK’s Ribbon of Hope.

Carolina Biodiesel, LLC’s sales more than tripled over 2007, adding the Vietnam Vets. program and is in negotiations with Duke University to operate the biodiesel fueling for its service and shuttle vehicles. CBL’s year has had more challenges than the other organizations, however. Though sales grew dramatically, the margins on sales have been thin, particularly as the cold weather taught us that high petrol diesel blends were required and continued filter clogging reduced sales. CBL’s partner, Reclamation Station received its major “special use permit” to operate a trap grease dewatering operation. Frustratingly, we are sitting on one of the best sites for alternative fuel, yet we remain undercapitalized. We hope in 2008 this will change.

Goals for 2008:

to be processing 2K per week of waste veggie oil on site,

begin outreach to community and to have a curriculum and weekend training program for Green Collar jobs,

to have our Phase II finished on the site and be on our way to purchasing the facility, and use the land and buildings to provide collateral and capitalize operations,

get the tanks, pumps and loading arms operational,

beautify the site.