Upper Peninsula Teaching & Learning Conference - 2026

The farm-to-table movement has demonstrated how eating locally can promote rural economic development, decrease transportation costs, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Northern Woodshed Project has explored the possibilities for heating locally in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Northern Michigan University’s Carbon Neutrality Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gases 50% by 2040 by reducing energy demand and investing in renewable energy technologies. Specifically, the plan states that NMU will “develop a plan to potentially transition from natural gas to a renewable fuel, such as biomass or renewable natural gas, at the Ripley Plant.” The Northern Woodshed Project has engaged students, researchers from different departments on campus, and community partners to examine how NMU might reduce its dependency on fossil fuels by heating campus with woodchips from sustainably managed forests. This presentation will share some of the key lessons learned from the project, and will explore possible future opportunities for teaching and learning within the Northern Forest.