Profile in Compassion: Jazz Maltz

We feature a ‘Profile in Compassion’ to highlight the knowledge, leadership, and lived experience within firewood banks. These stories remind us that the strength of this movement comes directly from the people who build and sustain it. This month we feature Jazz Maltz, Executive Director of Full Circle Forestry Collective based in Western North Carolina and founder of the Barnardsville Alliance Firewood Bank. Please feel free to suggest the next one!

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Jazz Maltz

What is your occupation and background/relation within the community?

My work has always been centered on the outdoors as a wilderness guide, organic farmer, and tree worker. I went back to school for forestry in 2019 and have been on that path ever since. Originally from Homer, Alaska, I moved to Western North Carolina in 2016. I fell in love with the mountains and forests of Appalachia and am continuously inspired by the community spirit of these mountain communities.

What made you want to work at your firewood bank?

I started volunteering with a firewood bank out in Madison County in 2019. I loved it! It was community-centered, and folks would bring chili and cornbread and really have fun with it! I realized that this is what I wanted to do with my life. Engage in community-centered forestry. We started Full Circle Forestry Collective after Hurricane Helene as a way to expand our capacity and networks of firewood banks in our region. We also have the vision to integrate holistic forestry practices into our firewood program by bringing wood from forest restoration projects and fuel reduction projects to the various firewood banks we serve. 

What motivates your work?

First, I believe that every person in our community deserves a warm place to live, regardless of what is in their bank account. We don't consider our work charity but rather a basic service that everyone is entitled to. I am also deeply motivated by the power of community to come together and work in solidarity for our collective survival. The amazing thing about wood heat is that it directly connects you to the natural world. We are literally bringing the forest into our homes when we load up the wood stove. The connection between the natural world and the human world is deeply meaningful to me, and burning wood is one small way we start to break down that divide.

What's your favorite story related to firewood bank work?

Whiteboard set up at the resource distribution hub set up during Hurricane Helene recovery at an old fire station. The hub was their main resource center with a free store and hot food every day, as well as distribution of firewood.

After Hurricane Helene, people came from all over to help us recover. As winter came on, we started organizing wood-splitting days and distributing firewood, as staying warm was a huge need for many folks. One day, a group of volunteers met up at our distribution hub for a safety training and then went to cut firewood for the day. The diversity of people there was awesome! Of course, there were a bunch of locals who had shown up, but also a crew of punks from a big city several hours away who had medical training. We had our share of burly men, but there were folks of all different genders and body types.

There was also a man there from Missouri who said he came with a van-load of guys with chainsaws and a side-by-side. Only after we got to the worksite did I realize they were kids ( ages 10-17) from a Christian school! Although we kept the kids from the more dangerous tasks and chainsaws, they worked their butts off! It was so inspiring to see folks from all sorts of different backgrounds pulling together to support our little mountain town.

What's a piece of advice/words of wisdom you have for other people working/volunteering at firewood banks?

Don't forget about the Joy! Firewood processing is hard work, but it is a great way to build community and have fun. Throw a potluck, bake some cookies. If you hit a round 5 times with your maul and it doesn't split, just move on!