Back at the end of May, we asked members of the Northern Woodlands community for some feedback on our magazine and online offerings. The response was fantastic, exceeding our expectations and then some. In just five weeks, we received over 1,200 completed surveys, each containing information about who you are, how you connect with the woods, and what you gain from the forest-focused content delivered through our magazine, website, and social media accounts. As we analyze the diverse responses for ways to serve you better, we take encouragement from a common theme in comments describing our “balanced portrayal of forests” as “pertinent” and “necessary in today’s environment.”
The survey generated 450 new subscriptions to this newsletter and 528 requests for free back issues, which were offered in thanks for the input. More than 350 respondents even volunteered to offer more feedback in the future as participants in an online sounding board!
Although survey responses show a wide range of individual interests and life experiences among our audiences, several attributes clearly unite us. These include a large appetite for learning about nature, an appreciation for different perspectives on forest stewardship, and a desire to win prizes! From the 740 names submitted for a random drawing, we pulled:
- Hugh Scott from Montreal, winner of a unique spalted maple serving bowl turned from wood collected in western Massachusetts;
- Colin Barrett from New York City, winner of a $100 gift certificate to our online shop; and
- Steve Hagenbuch from Waterbury Center, VT, winner of five 1-year subscriptions to our magazine (for himself or to give as gifts).
Congratulations to these three and sincere thanks to the hundreds of others who took the time to share a bit about themselves and their thoughts about our work. We are grateful for your input and will use it to invite others into our expanding community.