Local, sustainable wood is more than a material choice. It’s a connection to land, community, and story.

In this episode, Land Language hosts Brit Sastrawidjaya and Bethany Rydmark sit down with Lynn Morgan, Director of Community Engagement at Sustainable Northwest Wood, to explore how regenerative forestry, ethical material sourcing, and cultural stewardship can transform the landscaping and building industries.

We dive into the mission that sets Sustainable Northwest Wood apart: a business founded in 2008 to sell only responsibly harvested, regionally sourced wood—no offsets, no greenwashing, no hidden supply chains. Lynn shares their journey of thoughtful expansion, including a new Seattle distribution center, and why transparency and community trust define every step.

The conversation moves from forest ecology to personal lineage: Appalachian resourcefulness, the emotional weight of forest loss, and the joy of choosing materials with story and meaning. From pests like the emerald ash borer to blue pine salvage, selective harvesting, and the cultural loss of “enough,” Lynn offers a grounded vision for how the landscape and construction industries can shift toward regenerative practice.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why local wood matters for climate, culture, and accountability

• How Sustainable Northwest Wood built a fully regenerative supply model

• The ecological and emotional impact of pests like the ash borer and pine beetle

• Selective harvesting and what a truly healthy working forest looks like

• How to choose materials that nourish ecosystem integrity

• The cultural grief and opportunity inside today’s forest management conversations

• Why “enoughness” is a critical value for regenerative design

• How story-rich materials change the client experience

Chapters:

00:00 Start

00:33 Meet Lynn Morgan (Sustainable Northwest Wood)

01:05 Lynn’s Journey: From Interior Design to Sustainable Lumber

03:37 A Lifelong Relationship with Forests (Not Just a Resource)

05:41 Juniper Origin Story: Restoration Wood & Watershed Comeback

08:52 Juniper Durability, Beauty, and Best Uses

11:53 Designing With Juniper: Length Limits, Character, and Install Tips

14:27 Cutting Through Greenwashing: FSC, Chain of Custody, and Vetting

16:36 What Sustainable Harvesting Looks Like on the Ground (vs Clearcuts)

23:00 PDX Airport Remodel: 800,000 Board Feet + Local Forest Collaboration

27:52 Why Traceable Materials Matter

29:39 PDX’s Responsibly Sourced Wood & Restored Watersheds

30:44 Climate Change, Drier Summers & Cedar Decline

31:30 New Species, Long-Term Planning & Zena Forest

33:21 Price, Values & the Power of Wood’s Story

35:40 Tribal Sourcing, Rebates Back to Forests & Buying Local

37:45 Slow Down, Ask Questions, Build Better

39:16 Why This Lumberyard Is Unique & What’s Next

41:09 Appalachia Roots, Stewardship & Caring for the Land

44:18 Sustainability Isn’t Luxury: Limits, Gratitude & A More Rooted Life

46:31 Forest Tour + Broader Forestry Questions: NZ, FSC & Using Beetle-Kill/Ash

52:04 Close

Follow Lynn:

Sustainable Northwest Wood: https://www.snwwood.com/Lynn-Morgan

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About Land Language:

Land Language is a podcast for landscape...