ReNew the Earth Institute

Welcome to the Institute

We are located at 7558 Deer Road in Custer, WI. Get Mapquest directions here.

Office Hours: M-F 10am - 4pm.
Open to the public for tours weekdays (Monday-Friday) at 1pm.

There is a suggested donation of $1/person for a group tour. Please call ahead 715.592.6595 to arrange times for group tours. Self tours available any time for individuals. Marketplace open during office hours for after-tour shopping.

Current Projects: Green Conference Room:

We're quite proud of the green elements of this re-modeling project which include some really cool products and techniques.
-Earthen plaster on the two exterior walls. This is a nice look and adds a touch of warmth and texture to the room.
-Homosote wallboard made from recycled paper (see their story here: link
-All the lumber for the shelving and trim was sustainably harvested, milled, and finished within 10miles of our site by local artisans.
- We used all 0% VOC paints and finishes and we even recycled the original lighting from the drop ceiling.

This was a fun project and a lot was learned in the process. I found that purchasing environmentally friendly products can be harder on the pocket book than conventional products, mostly it seems because they are not as readily available. However, if more folks sought out and used green products, more stores would carry them, then more companies would start to clean up their process and offer green products ultimately driving the costs down.

There are ways to save money too. Once I saw the cost of the VOC free plywood shelving needed for this project I knew I needed another option. Instead of plywood I decided to use real wood harvested locally. It did involve a lot more work on my end to get to the finished product, and it took more time, but it was much more satisfying than going to a home-improvement store, buying a machine processed stick of wood and slapping it to the wall. It takes an old long lost virtue called patience out of mothballs which is very much worthwhile.

We've got many more projects on the way, and we can always use an extra pair of hands. Call Mike at 715-592-6595 ext.14 if you are interested in helping with any of the following:
Composting Toilet House
Aldo Leopold Benches
PV and SDHW Training Roof
Renew the Earth Institute campsites and walking trails

Be Good!,
Mike