Snake River Sharespace Sustainability
The Snake River was our backyard growing up. And now our kids enjoy the river, and we hope their kids have the same opportunity as well. Our rooted connection to the natural world has shaped us, including how we built and operate Snake River Sharespace.
From the moment we began planning this space, we thought about honoring our connection to the river and our community by being environmentally thoughtful and locally-sourced. To us this meant reusing what already existed rather than buy new when possible, supporting local businesses, and making it easy for members to protect our river by conserving our environment without thinking twice. We don't claim to be perfect, and we know we won’t be. But we're trying to be thoughtful and make choices that reflect our roots, while continuing to learn as we grow.
❋ Furniture & Furnishings
A large portion of the furniture throughout Snake River Sharespace has been sourced intentionally secondhand or through community sales.
❋ Reduction & Recycling
Sustainability continues in the day-to-day life of the space. Recycling is available to all members and visitors.
❋ Supporting Local Businesses
When we need vendors, contractors, and services to build and operate Snake River Sharespace, we looked close to home first.
❋ Looking Ahead
We're always looking at what's next. Lighting upgrades are on the horizon as we continue to improve the building's energy efficiency over time.
Furniture & Furnishings
University of Minnesota Reuse Program
The U of M operates a program that redistributes surplus furniture and equipment from university departments rather than sending it to landfills. Many of the chairs and tables you'll find at Snake River Sharespace came directly from this program, high-quality items with plenty of life left in them, kept in circulation and good use.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
We also sourced pieces through the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which accepts donated furniture and fixtures and sells them to the public, using the proceeds to support affordable housing. Shopping here meant we could find new and well-made items at reasonable prices while supporting a mission we believe in.
Facebook Marketplace & Local Sources
Not everything comes from large programs. Some of our favorite pieces, including some of the lounge furniture, came from individual sellers through Facebook Marketplace. Keeping reusable items local and out of landfills matters, whether the source is a university surplus warehouse or a neighbor clearing out a room.
The result is a space that is professional and comfortable, while reflecting a genuine commitment to keeping usable things in use.
Supporting Local Business & Community
From renovation to supplies to ongoing services, we work hard to choose local and regional businesses. This is both a values decision and a practical one, local vendors know the community, show up reliably, and keep dollars circulating in Pine County. We're proud to be a member of the Pine City Chamber of Commerce and part of the local economy, not just a business that operates within it. Our current local vendors are:
❋ Banking/Financing: Frandsen Bank & Trust
❋ Trash and Recycling: Talon Sanitation
❋ Electric and Fiber: East Central Energy Coop
❋ Natural Gas: Minnesota Energy
❋ Snow Removal: Jeff’s Outdoor Services
❋ Insurance: Pine Insurance (Joe Fabini)
❋ Outdoor Signs: DB Signs
❋ Upstairs Bathroom Remodel: Dream Renovations
❋ Carpet: Carpet Unlimited
❋ Painting: Lindstrom Painting
❋ Real Estate: Local Realty
❋ Real Estate Closing: A-1 Title
❋ Local Hardware: Sausers Hardware
❋ Local Paint: Ace
❋ Cleaning/Management/Maintenance - Local Community Members
See here for more local businesses that we all use nearby us!
Reduction & Recycling
Sustainability continues in the day-to-day life of the space. Climate and energy are managed by smart devices. Members are encouraged to refill their water bottles with our water cooler, use reusable cups, mugs, and utensils onsite, and only print what is needed (excess prints over monthly allotments incur a small per page fee). In addition, recycling is available to all members and visitors for:
❋ Paper
❋ Aluminum cans
❋ Glass bottles
❋ Plastic beverage containers
❋ Coffee Pods
Single-serve coffee is convenient, and it also saves on waste, keeping coffee fresh and in single servings. We also know the pods create waste that most people don't have a good way to handle. We participate in a TerraCycle coffee pod recycling program (collection bin in the break room), so used pods are collected and recycled rather than going to the landfill. Maybe we can change to fancier alternative material or reusable cups in the future, but this is one example of us doing the best we can with what we can afford at this time.
We've tried to make reduction, reuse, and recycling easy and obvious, because the easier it is to do, the more often it happens.
Why It Matters to Us
Pine City sits at the edge of some of the most beautiful natural landscape in Minnesota. The Snake River that runs through the heart of this community isn't just a backdrop for us, it's personal. We want the people and businesses that call this area home to thrive, and we believe that means taking care of the place we all share. Snake River Sharespace is a co-working and shared workspace in Pine City, Minnesota committed to thoughtful reuse, local partnerships, recycling, and sustainable workspace practices.
Have a suggestion for something we should be doing? We'd love to hear it. Reach us at snakeriversharespace@gmail.com.