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Touch on Wood is a non-profit organization that demonstrates community enterprise at its finest. For the past few years, Sydney-based Touch on Wood has run a woodworking-training centre and retail outlet that provides community residents with skills, training and work experience to help them become productive members of the community.
Last year with the help of RRFB Nova Scotia, Touch on Wood upgraded its woodworking equipment to better recycle wooden pallets destined for disposal. By "thinking outside the loop," Touch on Wood devised innovative yet simple ways to convert waste pallets into new products such as strawberry, raspberry and apple crates – as well as a new line of flower boxes.
At Touch on Wood nothing is discarded. Any waste from the pallet deconstruction process is further recycled. Smaller pieces of wood are made into survey stakes for the Department of Transportation and Public Works. Leftover material is given to needy families for kindling, and sawdust is given to local farms for livestock bedding. So far, Touch on Wood has recycled 30,000 used pallets and provided meaningful employment to 19 clients. Touch on Wood is an inspiring example for other community organizations across the province.