Curating a Sustainable Outdoor Dining Set in Maine with Masaya

Why I chose MasayaCo for our outdoor dining set.

I fell in love with this line when I first heard of their seed to seat ethos. Aram, the founder, completed a Peace Corps assignment in Nicaragua. He noticed the harm caused by abusive forestry practices and decided to create a business that promotes social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Aram and Michael Terry founded Maderas Sostenibles. This company focuses on reforestation and sustainable management of tropical forests.

Maderas Sostenibles has spent years creating tree farms on deforested cow pastures. They recently opened a production facility in Managua. This facility produces furniture and wood products that capture carbon in our everyday lives.

In 2014, Aram worked with Justin Terry, an artist from the U.S., and Abril Zepeda, a designer from Nicaragua. Together, they added a unique touch to the furniture he started making. The artisanal spirit of Masaya and Nicaragua’s rich culture and nature inspired MasayaCo.

What makes MasayaCo such a special company?

Masaya Furniture has truly set the bar high for what sustainable furniture can look like. MasayaCo makes conservation central to their business. They plant hundreds of thousands of trees every year. Above all, they plant more trees each year than they cut. This creates a cycle. This cycle brings environmental and economic benefits. So far their designs have planted over 1.2 million trees. Around 40% of the forests they maintain are kept untouched, allowing for carbon capture and for nature and fauna to thrive and be free.

A key point often overlooked in reforestation is that a sustainably managed forest can boost local economies.  In many poor regions of the world, like Nicaragua, it is vital for locals to gather some economic benefit from their land.  Out of economic necessity, people will often accept a minimal payment and allow their land to be clear-cut for uses like cattle farming. Masaya Furniture provides a new way to use furniture. This option helps the environment and offers a better business model.

How does MasayaCo operate sustainable forestry?

They collect certified seed stock and germinate seedlings on site. Each nursery produces between 50,000 -200,000 seedlings. These are then cultivated over 3-months before being planted. Masaya donates trees for planting in parks, riverbanks, public roads, and other areas. This shows their commitment to making a broader impact as a company.

Trees are then planted on lands that had previously been harmed by intensive cattle farming. This often happens in the livestock industry. Large areas of forest are cut down to make pasture for cattle. Usually, because the land is not suitable for pasture, the pasture use fails in the short term and more forest is clear-cut, creating a domino effect. Masaya’s business model focuses on reforesting degraded lands. It restores the forest to its natural state. They use selective and sustainable harvesting methods.

They keep replanting to sustain the forest. By the second year, some seedlings reach six feet tall. They also make a big impact on the surrounding environment. Sustainably managed forests and tree farms create jobs. This happens because planting and maintaining the forest is an ongoing process. A sustainably managed forest is forever. Earth’s forests are very important to the balance of nature and to the people who live and work in them. MasayaCo as a company are rebuilding the forest around them which is an incredible feat.

When it comes to the wood that they do collect it is graded, trimmed, and air-dried. Biomass, scrap, and other waste are sent to a biomass generator and converted to sustainable energy.

The MasayaCo design ethos and why I loved styling it.

I chose this set as an investment piece. It won’t go out of style, and it’s built to last in Maine’s coastal climate. MasayaCo artisans craft renewable wood into timeless designs. Their pieces are made to last for generations. They are offering well-paid jobs to local craftsmen who take pride in their work. Every time I see our beautiful table set, I appreciate it even more. I know it was hand-made and came from an incredible place. This is a slow and thoughtful process of design and I am so incredibly happy to have a bit of it at our home.

Learn more here.

Shop Cora’s set here.

Masaya is also offering incredible eco homes now which we are loving! Find out more here.

See more of Masaya’s outdoor dining table here