Parsons Lumber

Of the roughly 30,000 woodlots in the province, Austin Parsons guesses fewer than 500 of them are responsibly managed. "Most people treat their woodlot as a bank account," he says. Owner of Parsons Lumber and a board member of the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association, he is careful about every aspect of the windows and timber frames he produces. The wood is FSC-certified NS pine where possible, worked with traditional methods---protecting cultural heritage as well as the environment. And he's concerned about the customer, too. "We guarantee what we make," he says. "If you're not happy, I'll make damn sure you're happy at the end of the day."