Features Archive
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Long Beards and Short Tales: Tyrant of the Log Drives
A hundred years ago in the Connecticut River Valley, a logger had to be part amphibian. When spring came after a winter’s work in the woods, the loggers were sent downstream along with their logs. The trip down the Connecticut River could take as long as three months and most of that time was spent on the water, though very… (more)
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Another View
Times have changed. It used to be easy to talk about forest management. After all, we meant timber management- grow the best trees, with periodic thinnings to improve volume and value production, until they’re ripe. Then, when the market is right, harvest and start over. We would say, “Sure, it takes time, but just think how rewarding it is to… (more)
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The Look of Logging: Keys to Getting a Good Job
People embarking on a construction project take great pains to do their homework. They talk to different contractors, get bids, check references and look at their recent work. When they enter into an agreement, they make sure the contact spells out their expectations. Nobody would consider this amount of attention excessive for a homeowner- after all, they are going to… (more)
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One Tough Winter: Winter Is Over But Its Effect On WIldlife Lingers
This past winter’s deep, fluffy snow and sub-zero temperatures combined to make life difficult for much of Vermont’s wildlife, including whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and a number of predators, particularly bobcats and barred owls. But others found the two feet of snow much to their liking. The complete content of this article is part of the downloadable pdf of this… (more)
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Portable Mills: Logs to Lumber in Your Backyard
Years ago a fellow travelled around central Vermont with a circular saw mill and charged for his work by counting the number of times he poured five gallons of gas into the tank of his sawmill engine. Another traveling sawyer who worked in the Connecticut River Valley in the 1970s had his mill mounted on the frame of an old… (more)
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The Long Haul
We live in an age in which impatience is the cultural norm. As a society, we Americans seek- if not demand- instant gratification in almost every aspect of our lives. Against this background, where time is measured in nanoseconds, forestland managers must think in terms of generations. The complete content of this article is part of the downloadable pdf of… (more)
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Editorial
The first time my wife and I had logging work done on our land, we made all the classic mistakes: we were away when the work was done; we had no contract with the logger; and we didn’t mark or have someone else mark the pines to be sold. When we returned, we were very discouraged with what we saw,… (more)
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Long Beards and Short Tales: Larger Than Life
Paul Bunyan, who caused earthquakes whenever he dropped his biscuits and whose ax handle was made out of a whole pine tree trunk, was never a real folk hero of the lumbering trade. He was the inspired invention of one William Laughead, advertising agent for the Red River Lumber Company of Minnesota and California from 1914 until 1930. The complete… (more)
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Another View
As the Northern Forest Lands Council publishes our recommendations and begins promoting them this fall, it gives me occasion to reflect on their meaning for us and the forest. The complete content of this article is part of the downloadable pdf of this issue, available in our online shop.
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A Fiery Farewell
“All flags are flying at journey’s end,” is how Edwin Way Teale describes the magnificent farewell show that leaves put on before departing the stage each autumn. The complete content of this article is part of the downloadable pdf of this issue, available in our online shop.