Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development

NATURAL RESOURCE BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Yellow Wood was founded with a deeply held belief in empowering people and communities who work and live close to the land to be effective stewards of our shared natural resources. We believe that healthy communities and healthy resources go hand in hand. We believe effective and innovative stewardship that counteracts the unsustainable, extractive approaches of the past should be recognized and rewarded through market and incentive-based mechanisms.

Yellow Wood provides entrepreneurs and planning and development organizations with research that ranges from multi-state or regional sectoral analysis and policy analysis, to community economic impact studies to pre-feasibility/feasibility studies and business plans for specific enterprises. Our work in natural resource-based economic development is focused in three areas: agriculture, water resources and forestry.

Our work in natural resource-based community economic development is enhanced and informed by our knowledge of sustainable infrastructure, strategic planning, and wealth creation.

Specialties

AGRICULTURE |  FORESTRY |  WATER RESOURCES |  NATURE BASED TOURISM


Regards to Rural 2015 Conference: Keynote, "Navigating the Rivers of Change: Rural Communities in Transition"

Shanna Ratner presented the closing keynote at the 2015 Regards to Rural Conference in Bend, Oregon. Her presentation shared perspectives on what it looks like to do economic development differently, drawing on her experience with the WealthWorks framework…

CODESPA, Design of a Profit Sharing and Co-ownership Model; Its Strategies, Procedures and Implementation for Small Holder Farmers for Opportunity International

Opportunity International was interested in developing an agricultural model for sharing economic benefits and applying this model to a plant operated by Opportunity International in Nicaragua.  The CODESPA Foundation was selected to complete this…

Land Trust Alliance, Assistance with Metrics for Community Conservation

The Land Trust Alliance (Alliance) is a national conservation organization that works to save the places people love. Most recently, the Alliance has begun to focus on Community Conservation, listening to and engaging people from all walks of life…

Cornell University, Strengthening Rural-Urban Linkages to Support Rural Economic Development

Yellow Wood Associates is working with Cornell University to facilitate working sessions with their research and extension advisory teams to systemically apply the WealthWorks theory of how wealth is created and retained in rural areas to the rural-urban…

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link Measures

The Rutland Area Farm and Food Link received a 2014 partnership grant from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (NESARE).  Rutland Area Farm and Food Link’s (RAFFL) programs link small-scale, diversified, and local farms with new…

Forestry Industry Systems Analysis for the State of Vermont

Yellow Wood, in consultation with the Working Lands Enterprise Board Forestry subcommittee of the State of Vermont, is working to provide a systems analysis of the forest and wood products industry.  This work will engage a variety of stakeholders…

Verde River Valley Nature Organization, Strategic Planning, Measurement, and Coaching

Yellow Wood is working with the Verde River Valley Nature Organization (VRVNO) as they transition from a volunteer-led nonprofit organization to an executive director-led nonprofit. We will be facilitating an on-site strategic planning workshop with…

Walton Family Foundation, Private Coaching, Meeting Facilitation and Value Chain Coordination for Nature-Based Tourism Grantees in the Lower Mississippi River Region

Yellow Wood Associates is working with place-based grantees of the Walton Family Foundation in the Lower Mississippi River Region.  This work is focused around nature-based tourism.  Coaching work includes calls with grantees and group calls to support…

Land Trust Alliance Rally 2014, Board Summit: “Increasing Your Land Trust’s Impact through Collaboration”

Melissa Levy presented the Board Member Summit, “Increasing Your Land Trust’s Impact through Collaboration” with Judy Anderson, Principal of Community Consultants. The session shared examples of how land trusts have collaborated and conserved more…

Wallace Center, Nourishing Networks: Capacity Building for Food Hubs and Regional Food Systems Project

In connection with our work on the Wallace Center Nourishing Networks – Improving the Food Environment Project, Yellow Wood provided consulting services to Wallace under the Nourishing Networks: Capacity Building for Food Hubs and Regional Food Systems…

Strategic Thinking with the Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation

The Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation is focused on strengthening the food system of the Hudson Valley Region through four primary areas of focus: 1) The Hudson Valley Farm Hub; 2) A Food Hub Portfolio; 3) Education; and 4) A financing…

Strategic Thinking, Workshop Facilitation and Follow-up for the Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation

Continuing their work with the Local Economies Project (LEP) of the New World Foundation, Yellow Wood designed and facilitated a full-day, on-site workshop to review the findings from the first workshop, align current and planned activities in relation…

2014 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference Workshop: Strategic Planning, Measurement and Evaluation Using “You Get What You Measure®”

Melissa Levy presented a workshop titled Strategic Planning, Measurement and Evaluation Using “You Get What You Measure®” at the 2014 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference. You Get What You Measure® is a facilitated, values-based strategic planning…

What Works III and National Value-Added Agriculture Joint Conference in Baltimore, “Developing Measures that Matter”

The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development's What Works Conference Series hosted a joint regional conference with the National Value Added Agriculture Conference on "Enhancing Food Security and Rural Viability through Innovative Food System…

Land Trust Alliance Northeast Farmland Preservation Grantee Meeting Facilitation

Yellow Wood worked with the Land Trust Alliance Northeast Region and the 1772 Foundation to plan and facilitate a meeting of farmland preservation grantees.  The Land Trust Alliance Northeast Region has a collaborative relationship with the 1772 Foundation…

2014 NCRC Annual Conference - A Just Economy: Ideas, Action, Impact

Shanna Ratner was a panelist on the panel "Innovative Strategies that Support Rural Communities." This panel featured organizations that build local value chains in sectors such as food and agriculture, green affordable housing, energy efficiency,…

NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference: "Finding Common Measures," "Measures that Matter"

Shanna Ratner and Jackie LeBlanc presented two sessions at the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference in Raleigh, NC: “Finding Common Measures for the Nation’s Food Hubs” and “Measures that Matter.” In “Finding Common Measures,” Yellow…

The Nature Conservancy, Adirondack Park Invasive Species Economic Assessment

Yellow Wood Associates designed and implemented a study for the Nature Conservancy on the economic impacts of invasive species on a variety of economic sectors in the Adirondack Park. This study provided a preliminary assessment of the present day…

National Advisory Board, Food Hub Management Program

Shanna Ratner was invited to serve on the National Advisory Board of the Food Hub Management Program, an innovative higher education program focused on food hub management.  Shanna is collaborating with thought leaders, practitioners, funders, and…

Morse Marketing Connections, Evaluation for a Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program Educational Enhancement Team

Morse Marketing, a consulting firm working in multi-sector partnerships across a variety of food-related initiatives, turned to Yellow Wood to provide guidance in evaluating the effectiveness of a Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program Educational…

Wallace Center, Nourishing Networks – Improving the Food Environment Project

Yellow Wood Associates worked for the Wallace Center at Winrock International on the Nourishing Networks – Improving the Food Environment project, funded by The Kresge Foundation. Yellow Wood served on the Food Hub Collaboration Core Team; provided…

Walton Family Foundation, Verde River Valley Nature Organization Value Chain Facilitation

Yellow Wood Associates worked with the Verde River Valley Nature Organization (VRVNO), a Walton Family Foundation grantee.  Yellow Wood provided VRVNO with coaching and analysis to review their birding value chain, identify metrics/measurement that…

New Venture Fund, Fresh Taste Workshop with the Illinois Farmers Market Association

Melissa Levy assisted Karen Lehman and Fresh Taste with facilitation of a workshop with representatives of the Illinois Farmers Market Association. Using You Get What You Measure®, the workshop was meant to help the Illinois Farmers Market Association…

Wallace Center, Increasing Farmer Success in Local Food Markets in Mississippi and Alabama Project

In connection with our work on the Wallace Center Nourishing Networks – Improving the Food Environment Project, Yellow Wood provided consulting services to Wallace under the Increasing Farmer Success in Local Food Markets in Mississippi and Alabama…

Cornell University, Wealth Creation in Rural Communities Presentations

At the invitation of Mann Librarian Outreach and Engagement Specialist Jeff Piestrak, Shanna Ratner made two presentations followed by participatory engagement, one at Mann Library and one at the Tompkins County Library, respectively entitled: A Wealth…

Town of Fairfield, Franklin County Meat Study

Yellow Wood provided the Town of Fairfield with a regional feasibility study to identify potential solutions to the growing need for certified, inspected wholesale meat processing facilities to meet local, state, and regional market demand for local…

Farm to Institution New England (FINE) Planning Retreat

FINE is a network of organizations working to strengthen farm to institution connections throughout New England. Yellow Wood worked with FINE using You Get What You Measure® to engage multiple stakeholders in clarifying its external goals, creating…

Town of Mansfield, Plan of Conservation and Development - Agriculture Strategy

The team of Goody Clancy & Associates, of which Yellow Wood Associates is a part, was selected by the Town of Mansfield, CT to assist in preparing an updated Plan of Conservation and Development as part of their commitment to the federal Sustainable…

Walton Family Foundation, Meeting Facilitation and Integration of Demand Research for Nature-Based Tourism Grantees

Beginning in fall 2011, Yellow Wood Associates has worked with four Walton Family Foundation grantees along the Lower Mississippi River around nature based tourism. Focus areas for this group have included paddling tourism, non-consumptive wildlife…

New England Beef to Institution Steering Committee Facilitation

Yellow Wood served as a strategic partner and facilitator for eight monthly calls with the New England Beef to Institution Steering Committee. The purpose of the group is to cultivate a Community of Practice that enables participants to discuss challenges…

Presentation at the North Country Clean Energy Conference 2013: Woody Biomass in the North Country

Samantha Dunn of Yellow Wood Associates and Jeff Forward of Richmond Energy Associates gave a presentation highlighting findings from the application process and 17 pre-feasibility studies completed in the North Country in 2010-2011 as part of a US…

Evaluation Assessment for the Farm to Plate Technical Assistance for Producers and Processors Working Group

Yellow Wood designed and administered a survey on evaluation metrics for the Farm to Plate Network Technical Assistance for Producers and Processors Working Group, which is facilitated by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. The need for improved program…

Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Feasibility Study for Blueberry East Food Ventures

Yellow Wood worked with the Blueberry East Food Ventures (BEFV), a cooperative of blueberry growers in Maine, to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a fruit processing facility for conventional and organic blueberries in Washington County, Maine.…

Growing Health 2012

Shanna Ratner gave a plenary presentation on “Your Role in Healthy Food Systems” at the Growing Health 2012 conference, highlighting how healthy food systems contribute to multiple forms of wealth in the community, and workshopping ways in which members…

Walton Family Foundation, Coaching and Demand-Side Research Services to Nature-Based Tourism Grantees in the Lower Mississippi Delta.

Yellow Wood provided coaching in wealth creation value chain development and conducting demand-related research for four nature-based tourism pilot projects in the Lower Mississippi Delta. We also provided coaching services for a team working with…

Walton Family Foundation, Wealth Creation and Measurement Workshops for Grantees in the Verde Valley, Arizona.

Yellow Wood worked with twelve Walton Family Foundation grantees in the Verde Valley area of Arizona. The intent of this work was to introduce the wealth creation approach as a way to strengthen the individual projects and begin thinking about the…

Suri Paco, LLC, Industry Feasibility Study

Yellow Wood worked with Suri Paco to evaluate the costs and benefits of an expanded wholesale production program, including demand, supply and processing of domestic alpaca fiber for a range of value-added products, including bales, non-woven felt,…

NGFN Food Hub Collaboration, Spring 2012 Conference

Shanna Ratner facilitated the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2012 Conference. During the conference, she moderated a panel on "Supply Side Success: Logistics for Quality and Consistency;" facilitated region-based breakout groups and developed an…

Wallace Center, National Good Food Network Food Hub Collaboration

The Wallace Center invited Yellow Wood to participate as evaluator and core team member in the National Good Food Network Food Hub Collaboration, an initiative funded by the Kresge Foundation to strengthen regional food hubs and their contributions…

Wood Energy Utilization Services

In an effort to help the Northeast and Midwest meet their needs for renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction through the sustainable utilization of woody biomass, the U.S. Forest Service engaged Yellow Wood Associates in conducting third party…

Woody Biomass Energy Research Symposium for the Northern Forest – “Community Roadmap to
 Renewable Woody Biomass” (Panel)

Panelists Kamalesh Doshi and Samantha Dunn, along with panel organizer Sarah S. Smith, discussed the The Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy (the Roadmap) as part of a panel at the Woody Biomass Energy Research Symposium. The roadmap…

Appalachian Harvest Think Tank

Shanna Ratner participated in an ad hoc think tank convened by Appalachian Sustainable Development on the role of social enterprises in building and strengthening local food value chains. 25 representatives of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and…

3rd Rural Issues Community Leadership Conference: "Agriculture Is Economic Development"

Shanna Ratner presented the keynote, “Why Does Agriculture Matter and What Can Municipal and Public Officials Do to Grow the Agricultural Economy?” at the Central New York Agricultural Council’s third annual conference in Cooperstown, New York.

Walton Family Foundation, Nature Based Tourism Workshops

Yellow Wood presented two workshops to the Walton Family Foundation Nature-Based Tourism Group of grantees along the lower Mississippi River Delta. The first workshop was around goals, value chains and wealth creation. Participants articulated goals…

Best Practices Research on Food Enterprise Options for Local Food Value Chain Exploration in Northern Mississippi

Yellow Wood Associates worked with One Voice and NAACP Mississippi to identify best practices for developing a food systems value chain with a focus on four models (Institutional Sales through the Farm to School model; Targeted Distribution of Produce…

Opportunity International Nicaragua: A Model for Sharing Economic Benefits of Enterprise Development in Phases

Opportunity International Nicaragua (OIN) is a nonprofit organization working to blend community economic development strategies with microfinance strategies to benefit the poorest of the poor in Nicaragua. As part of their work, OIN has incubated…

Identifying Potential Institutional Buyers of Sustainable Forest Products, Technical Assistance for Rural Action

Yellow Wood was asked to provide technical assistance to the Green Forest Products Collaborative to assess the level of demand opportunity in the region’s institutions and government agencies. Yellow Wood performed a scan of the region and identified…

Understanding the Potential of Thermal Biomass for the Adirondack North Country Economy

Samantha Dunn presented “Understanding the Potential of Thermal Biomass for the Adirondack North Country Economy” to the Adirondack North Country Association Board of Directors on June 15, 2010. This presentation was made as part of a panel discussion…

Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy

Yellow Wood partnered with the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) to develop the Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy: A step-by-step decision-making tool for NH communities through a contract…

Dissemination Planning for the Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy

Yellow Wood assisted the North Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Council and Roadmap development partners in planning for dissemination of the Community Roadmap to Renewable Woody Biomass Energy.

Expanding Sustainable and Community-based Food Systems Project Evaluation

Yellow Wood Associates evaluated the second half of the Wallace Center's Expanding Sustainable and Community-based Food Systems project funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The multi-faceted project included regranting to four organizations involved…

Wholesale and Regional Food Hub Conference

Yellow Wood worked with the National Good Food Network, in partnership with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Project for Public Spaces, and the National Association for Produce Market Managers, to facilitate a meeting at the Wholesale and Regional…

Value Chain Write Shop 2 - Sponsored by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and Wallace Center at Winrock International in partnership with National Good Food Network

Shanna Ratner facilitated the second of two values-based value chain writeshops for the Wallace Center at Winrock International. The Value Chain Research Collaboration Project, a partnership between the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Wallace…

9th Annual Catskills Local Government Day, “Community Infrastructure: Is Your Town Ready for Change?”

As part of the 9th Annual Catskills Local Government Day, Samantha Dunn gave an interactive presentation on a unique process for rural municipalities to inventory their infrastructure and evaluate the potential for applying sound alternative…

Cornell Sustainable Indicators: Local Agriculture Sustainability Indicators (LASI) and Vital Indicators for Enhancing Well-Being in NYS (VIEW)

Yellow Wood worked with Cornell University Community and Rural Development Institute using You Get What You Measure® in Use to assist diverse groups working on two projects: Local Agriculture Sustainability Indicators, and Vital Indicators for Enhancing…

Maine Community Forest Workshops

Shanna Ratner of Yellow Wood Associates facilitated two daylong participatory workshops for communities that owned and managed forestland and for communities that were interested in acquiring forestland, using Yellow Wood’s See the Forest® interactive…

National Network of Forest Practitioners

Shanna Ratner, principal of Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. was a founding member of the National Network of Forest Practitioners, serving on the organization’s Executive Committee, and as Chair of the Research Subcommittee.

Understanding Community Resilience and Identifying Existing Tools for Assessing Resilience

Yellow Wood worked with Susanne Moser, PhD to explore the issue of community resilience from the perspective of literature and key informant interviews with 25 rural development practitioners from around the country. They identified stages of community…

Understanding Community Resilience: Supplementary Interviews

Yellow Wood conducted a supplementary round of interviews exploring the issue of community resilience. These interviews were with representatives from MDC, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Danville Regional Foundation, Louisiana Disaster Foundation,…

Endowment Learning Plan

Yellow Wood provided analysis for the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, suggesting ways to connect grantee measurement activities with overall measurement by the initiative of desired outcomes.

Expanding Sustainable and Community-based Food Systems Project Strategic Planning

Yellow Wood worked with the National Good Food Network leadership in designing, executing, and following up on a strategic planning meeting. Yellow Wood assisted with the follow up process, development of an action plan, and evaluation planning.

Perspectives from Farmers Working with Sysco’s Local Good Food Sourcing Program

Yellow Wood provided assistance with qualitative data gathering for the Wallace Center. This assistance included developing interview questions, interviewing growers, and synthesizing interview responses.

Value Chain Write Shop 1 - Hosted by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and the Wallace Center

Shanna Ratner facilitated the first of two values-based value chain writeshops for the Wallace Center at Winrock International. The purpose of the writeshop was to develop content for tools to assist intermediaries in building value chains so that…

Enhancing New Agricultural Businesses for Long-term Employment

Yellow Wood Associates worked with consultant Doug Hoffer to assist the Wallace Center in preparing a proposal to the U.S. Department of Labor for Agriculture and Food Sector Job Training for Enhancing Green Jobs.

Town of Brattleboro GASB 34 and Capital Planning

Yellow Wood worked with the Town of Brattleboro to complete a municipal infrastructure inventory and assessment.

Green Community Technologies®: Minnesota Communities

West Central Initiative, a regional economic development group in Minnesota, hired Yellow Wood Associates to bring our Green Community Technologies® tools and perspective to bear on water resource issues in small Minnesota communities. The cities of…

Green Community Technologies®: Minnesota Communities, City of Battle Lake

The West Central Initiative commissioned an infrastructure pilot project in three communities in west central Minnesota. The City of Battle Lake, as a community with a relatively new centralized infrastructure facing pressure from growth, was chosen…

Green Community Technologies®: Minnesota Communities, City of Brandon

The West Central Initiative commissioned an infrastructure pilot project in three communities in west central Minnesota. The City of Brandon, as a community with agricultural land being converted to housing, was chosen to be part of the pilot project.…

Green Community Technologies®: Minnesota Communities, City of Ottertail

The West Central Initiative commissioned an infrastructure pilot project in three communities in west central Minnesota. The City of Ottertail, as a community facing development pressure and pressing water system issues, was chosen to be part of the…

Community Forestry Workshop, "Community Forests as Community Assets"

Shanna Ratner of Yellow Wood Associates planned for and facilitated a Community Forest Workshop in Shelburne, New Hampshire on Saturday, May 17 using Yellow Wood’s See the Forest® approach. Yellow Wood assisted with planning the agenda, developing…

Review of Highly Successful NESARE Projects

Yellow Wood compiled a list of highly successful projects funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, along with a review of some of the best practices that made these projects successful.

Accelerating Community-Based Food Systems

Yellow Wood worked with the Wallace Center to develop a scope of work for evaluation of the Accelerating Community Based Food Systems project, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Green Community Technologies®: Phase II, Westford, VT

Yellow Wood worked with Stone Environmental to assess options for water supply and wastewater treatment in the rural town of Westford, Vermont's town center. Yellow Wood prepared a Wastewater Feasibillity Study Survey for landowners in the town center…

Massachusetts Trust for Public Land

Yellow Wood partnered with Mt. Auburn Associates to help the Massachusetts Trust for Public Land build a framework for discussing the full range of economic benefits derived from public land. Categories of economic benefit include contributions to…

NNFP New England Forum, Marketing Alternative Forest Products and Benefits: A Forum for Urban, Suburban, and Rural People

Yellow Wood was selected to design and facilitate a one and a half day workshop to explore and develop relationships among urban, rural, and suburban practitioners of community forestry with a focus on markets for forest products and services. The…

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Outcome Funding Evaluation

Yellow Wood evaluated the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and its work helping advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education…

Community Forest Collaborative and the Vermont Town Forest Project, Community Forest Workshop in Craftsbury, Vermont.

Yellow Wood Associates designed and conducted a day-long Community Forestry Workshop in Craftsbury, Vermont. The workshop was designed both for communities that own and manage town forest land and for communities that are exploring the possibility…

Deep Root Organic Cooperative Market Analysis

Yellow Wood Associates conducted market research on behalf of Deep Root Organic Cooperative with current buyers, supermarket chains, food coops and natural food stores, institutions, wholesalers/distributors, and organic processors to learn about the…

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Guides to Local Agriculture Products and Services

The Vermont Association of Conservation Commissions hired Yellow Wood to help design a participatory evaluation process for a project in which five rural communities received funds to prepare directories of local agricultural products and producers…

Research on Operational Principles of Wealth-Based Development for the Northern Forest

Prepared a concept paper on wealth and sustainability and their relationships to one another for use by the Northern Forest Center and the North Country Council in developing principles to guide the Northern Forest Sustainable Economy Initiative. Meet…

2005 Vermont Planning Celebration, “Building Healthy Communities” Session, Presentation on Green Community Technologies

Melissa Levy presented on Green Community Technologies® as part of the "Building Health Communities" session at the 2005 Vermont Planning Celebration.  The presentation discussed identifying new technologies and sustainable approaches to managing community…

Dragon Run Natural Resource Economic Assessment

Yellow Wood helped the Middle Peninsula Planning and Development Commission to define and assess the feasibility of economic development activities and opportunities that sustain traditional land uses and which minimize adverse impacts on the natural…

Feasibility Study for a Farmer-Owned Dairy Processing Facility in Frederick County, Maryland

Yellow Wood worked with the Frederick County Dairy Processing Task Force to determine the feasibility of a venture focused on selling Maryland dairy products to Maryland consumers. Work included trend analysis of dairy consumption, regional demand…

Green Community Technologies®: Phase II, Hinesburg, VT

The Town of Hinesburg asked Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. to research alternative ways of increasing their wastewater capacity beyond expanding the plant, using their Green Community Technologies process. Hinesburg, Yellow Wood, and Stone Environmental…

Workshop on Participatory Community Problem-Solving, 11th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks

Shanna Ratner presented a workshop on Participatory Community Problem-Solving at the 11thAnnual Conference on the Adirondacks.  The workshop topics included everyday research, the National Community Forest Center initiative and how participatory…

National Community Forestry Center Northern Forest Region

Citizens and communities of the Northern Forest region have demonstrated the power of local knowledge and participatory research thanks to a grant from the US Department of Agriculture. Over the course of four years, the National Community Forestry…

See The Forest® – Phase II

The Southern New England Forest Consortium sponsored development of materials and implementation of See the Forest for communities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Participants learned about forest health, forest economics, and institutional…

HomeGrown Wisconsin

Worked with HomeGrown Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and other participants to study the feasibility of an agriculture/food facility for downtown Madison that would include an indoor farmers’ market, a storage, processing,…

Workshop on Participatory Research presented in cooperation with the Middlebury College Alliance for Civic Engagement and Vermont Campus Compact

Shanna Ratner presented a participatory research workshop at Middlebury College on November 20th, 2003. The workshop was presented by the National Community Forestry Center Northern Forest Region in cooperation with the Middlebury College…

Workshop in Participatory Community Problem-Solving, 10th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks

Shanna Ratner presented a workshop on Participatory Community Problem-Solving at the 10th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks.  The workshop topics included everyday research, the National Community Forest Center initiative and how participatory…

Looking Forward 30 Years – Adirondack Park Conference

Shanna Ratner participated in the panel discussion "Economy: Directing Development to "Acceptable Areas"." The discussion focused on current and future development trends and opportunities and how the Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan can…

Navajo County Forest Health Strategic Planning Workshop, Arizona Natural Resources Working Group

Yellow Wood Associates facilitated a two-day Navajo County Forest Health Strategic Planning Workshop for town, county and tribal participants, using You Get What You Measure®. The workshop focused on forest health and reducing threat of catastrophic…

Town of Richmond Municipal Infrastructure Inventory and Alternative Technology Analysis

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. worked with the Town of Richmond, Vermont to inventory and assess municipal infrastructure assets and provide options for future investment based on a comparative analysis of alternative technologies versus conventional…

Northern Forest Alliance Annual Meeting

Shanna Ratner spoke as a panelist on the subject of economic forces shaping the Northern Forest Region and the region’s place in an increasingly global economy.

Thanks for being a part of the day one doings.…

Analysis of Community-Based Forestry Initiative, Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group

The Aspen Institute’s Community Strategies Group, which is administering the Ford Foundation’s Community-Based Forestry Initiative in the United States, invited Shanna Ratner of Yellow Wood Associates to review and analyze the monitoring plans of nine…

SmartWood Certification Assessment of Essex Timber Lands

The Principal of Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. participated as a socio-economist with a three-member interdisciplinary team to conduct a management assessment of 83,000 acres of private forest land according to criteria established by the Forest Stewardship…

Burlington Public Market Farmer Cooperative Development

On behalf of the Burlington Community Land Trust, Yellow Wood worked with potential vendors of the Burlington Public Market to explore cooperative marketing arrangements. Yellow Wood helped determine which groups would be most ready to participate…

New York Sustainable Forestry Survey

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. prepared, distributed, developed a database, entered data and ran frequency counts for a survey created by the Empire State Forest Products Association.

Maine Low Impact Forestry Project

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. facilitated a series of focus groups on starting a value-adding forest landowners cooperative to be coordinated by the Maine Low Impact Forestry Project of the Hancock County Planning Commission. Participants included approximately…

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program Outcome Funding

Yellow Wood Associates, Inc. worked with NESARE in piloting an outcome-funding approach to grantmaking. The work included two year’s participation in the design process, proposal reviews, interviews with potential grantees, committee work to select…

Explore Our Projects

View our many projects by choosing from the categories listed below. You can also view our database of projects by going to our Work page.

Areas of Expertise

Explore our Projects

Agriculture
Becoming a Measurement Guide
Best Practices
Biomass
Buildings
Business Development
Capacity Building
Coaching
Community Economic Development
Community Resilience
Custom Facilitation
Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis
Energy
Evaluation
Facilitation
Feasibility and Pre-Feasibility Studies
Focus Groups
Forestry
Green Community Technologies
Informal Economy
Infrastructure
Learning Communities
Learning Journey
Market Research
Measurement
Natural Resource Based Economic Development
Nature Based Tourism
Participatory Research
Policy Analysis
Research
See the Forest
Service
Social Capital
Spatial Analysis
Strategic Planning
Surveys
Sustainable Infrastructure
Systems Thinking
Tool Development
Training
Water Resources
Wealth Creation
Wealth Works
You Get What You Measure