About GRW

Green River Woods was founded by Matt Christie back in 2008.  Matt grew up in southern Vermont, near an exceptionally green river in the post and beam saltbox designed by his parents. His father was a Thoreau scholar who loved poetry and being in the woods. Matt worked as a carpenter in the summers from the age of 13. After studying literature and philosophy at Vassar college, traveling through Europe and central America and salmon fishing in Alaska, he landed in Asheville with his wife Stephanie, doing trim carpentry and custom cabinetry and working for various custom homebuilders and cabinet shops.

Matt’s family has roots in Asheville going back to 1870, when his great-great-great grandfather ran a hardware store in Pack Square called “Penniman Brothers & Co.” together with his two sons William and Charles Jr. They supplied nails and building materials to the Biltmore estate, early model cars and a million other useful, perhaps essential things. 

Great-great-grandfather W.T. Penniman was a member of the Asheville Library Club, manager of sales at “a wood yard in Biltmore,” and an original stockholder and Vice President of Asheville City Rail. His brother Charles owned Asheville Brick Works in Emma. There’s more, and much that’s been lost to time.

Matt’s great-grandfather came to Asheville for forestry school and stayed in the boarding house, “Forest Hills” in Kenilworth run by his great-great-grandmother, falling in love with her daughter Lucy.  Lucy Penniman grew up in Asheville during the beginning of the new century and was president of her class at Vassar before she could vote. She attended secret meetings in the graveyard at night for women’s suffrage and was the formidable, fun-loving matriarch of seven children.

Matt’s wife first came to Asheville in the 90’s, then lived and taught in Brevard before getting her masters in French teaching in Vermont and then hopping off the Appalachian trail to pursue a teaching career here, bringing Matt down with her. Two children born here keep them busy, speaking several languages and traveling whenever possible.

Green River Woods is now proudly a living wage certified employer. Through our furniture design and personal interactions with clients, tree owners, and lumber customers, I am grateful to support and be supported by a community of locally-rooted families, elders and artisans, arborists, sawyers, farmers, makers, beekeepers, and skilled tradespeople.