Blog

Leaving wood for wildlife

If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to see it, does it make a mess? On a recent trip to my in-laws, I took a walk with my dog in their woodlot. It was a crisp fall day and the wind whistled through the open under-story. Most of the leaves had […]

A woodland owner’s journey through the bureaucracy

‘Conservation is seldom convenient’ – Randy Newberg I often think about this quote when talking with landowners looking for help with their woods. Whether help is answering a question about a tree, putting together a Forest Management Plan, or executing that plan, there are many different people, programs, and sources of information to consider.   In extension forestry, our first recommendation is usually […]

An old man’s love of his woods

The practical uses for a woodlot don’t have to conflict with the aesthetic values a forest provides. I have some really good memories working in the woods with my wife’s grandfather.  Arnold was a retired farmer who was still gardening and harvesting trees for firewood when I first met him.  For the next twenty years, […]

What the kids want

Figuring out what your kids would like to get out of your woodland is the first step in getting them passionate about it. My sister and her husband purchased some forested property in Vernon County a few years ago, and would spend most of their time there if they could.  They were originally looking for […]

To Cut Or Not To Cut

Deciding which trees to harvest and when is an important part of getting what you want from your forest. Following the right guidelines will ensure that you will get what you want now and well into the future. When my sister and her husband purchased some wooded property in Vernon County a few years ago, […]