Jen Plowden grew up in the open spaces of western Maine, along its border with New Hampshire. She helped her father log with horses, explored the fields and forests with her siblings, and…
Blog and News
Michael Wojtech Studies the Trees
Michael Wojtech remembers being enthralled by the natural world from a young age. But it wasn’t until well into adulthood that he became fascinated, in particular, by trees. A decade…
Learning About Conservation Dogs with Lindsay Ware
In 2018, Lindsay Ware decided to combine two of her interests – conservation biology and dog training – to found Science Dogs of New England. What started as an interest in helping…
Walking Through Forests with Al Robertson
Al Robertson’s love of forests began in Germany, where he lived for several years after college. He purchased 60 acres of land in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom in 1979 and has spent…
Getting Into the Outdoors with Megan Woods
Megan Woods is the coordinator for the New Hampshire Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, helping to introduce women to various outdoor pursuits – from hiking to hunting – and hone…
Learning the Woods with Lynn Levine
Lynn Levine grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where she attended Midwood High School, then Brooklyn College. At the latter, she earned a degree in childhood education, because, she said, there…
Poems by Percy
Northern Woodlands Poet-in-Residence, Percy deMutt, recently surveyed our readers for inspiration for a series of short poems. Behold, his fine works: Inspired by: Oliver, age 12 Oliver, age…
Tom Ryan Offers Insight Into Forestry
Tom Ryan has been a forester with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) since 2003. He recently shifted from service forestry – working with private…
Jackie Robidoux Helps the Animals
When Jackie Robidoux retired recently from a career in nursing, she turned her attention from taking care of people to taking care of animals. She’s long enjoyed photographing wildlife…
Elsa Goebel-Bain Inspires Other Students Outdoors
When Elsa Goebel-Bain was 11 years old, her family moved from Springfield, Illinois, to Winthrop, Maine. That move opened a world of outdoor recreation opportunities. Inspired by her…
On the Trail with Mike Cherim
Mike Cherim has loved hiking for as long as he can remember. He started early, ascending mountains in a pack on his father’s back until he was big enough to hike on his own. After a…
Researching Family Forests with Brett Butler
Brett Butler pursued a career in forestry because he loves being in the woods, but during a research trip in college, he started to realize that forestry is as much about people as it is about…
Urban and Community Forestry with Joanne Garton
A self-proclaimed “tree geek,” Joanne Garton is the technical assistance coordinator for Vermont Urban & Community Forestry, a role that has her traveling the state to…
All in the Family at Robbins Lumber
Siblings Jim Robbins, Alden Robbins, and Catherine Robbins-Halsted are the fifth generation of their family to run Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine. The Robbins kids grew up around the…
Forest Stewardship with Nancy Baker
For Nancy Baker, tending to the region’s woodlands is “all about caring well for the forest.” She manages land that has been in her family since 1861, and over the years has…
Building Trails with Alexander DeLucia
As the director of trails for the Appalachian Mountain Club, Alexander DeLucia oversees the professional and volunteer crews responsible for maintaining some 1,800 miles of trails from…
Mariah Choiniere’s Path Leads to Agroforestry
When she graduated from high school, Mariah Choiniere wasn’t sure what type of career she wanted to pursue. Rather than diving right into college, she took some time to determine her…
David Bowman Crafts Buildings from Trees
In his work as a timber frame builder, David Bowman seeks out trees specifically suited to the structures he’s creating. He harvests from his own woodlot in western Massachusetts and…
Amanda Mahaffey Fosters Good Forest Stewardship
As deputy director of the Forest Stewards Guild, Amanda Mahaffey supports programs including Women Owning Woodlands, Foresters for the Birds, and the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange.…
Conrad Baker Shares Outdoor Learning
After earning a college degree in English, Conrad Baker entered the news field and worked for four years generating daily, local online news content. He found himself increasingly drawn to…