Many people have let us know that they liked the first issue of Vermont Woodlands and we appreciate their encouraging words. A few people who have read the magazine have looked at me strangely, as…
Making Maples
Seed crops for many tree species were notably high this year, with sugar maple and red maple being particularly prodigious. This past spring saw a landscape dotted with the yellowish maple flowers…
Smart Wood: A Program of the Rainforest Alliance
Does it seem far-fetched to think that a 2 X 4 with a stamp saying that it came from a well-managed forest could command a better price than one without? If so, get ready, for just as organically…
From Consensus to Controversy
National Forest land in New England has not been the scene of the pitched battles over timber sales which are commonplace in the west. When the Green Mountain National Forest adopted its management…
Current Use to be Funded at 59%
Current use is the generic term for taxation of land based on its forestry value rather than fair market value. States across New England have current use programs, and in Vermont it is officially…
Growing Hardy Walnuts
Of all the trees that grow in the northeast, the black walnut is the most highly-prized by cabinetmakers. The trees are scarce enough that a woodworker's quest for good walnut takes on aspects of…
Out of the Wood and Into the Ring
Day in and day out, most loggers work alone in the woods with no chance to show off their skills. That's one reason why so many of them make it to the Vermont Forestry Expo, the big annual event…
Martens in the Mountains
Have you seen any martens? Kimberly Royar would like to know. Royar, a wildlife biologist who works out of the Fish and Wildlife Department office in Springfield, would be interested in hearing from…
Northern Forest Lands Council Wraps It Up
The draft recommendations of the Northern Forest Lands Council released in March were regional in scope, covering 26 million acres in four states. Implementation will be on a state-by-state basis.…
RABIES: A Spreading Scourge
Officials from Fish and Wildlife departments have been preaching for years that wild animal lovers shouldn't adopt orphaned animals, but until recently it's been the animals they were worried…
It’s a Good Time to Work in Red Oak Stands
Thinning and harvesting operations temporarily stress forest stands because the remaining trees have to adjust to changes, such as increased light levels and drying winds. Logging should be timed to…
Butternut SOS
Keep an eye out for healthy butternut trees. Pessimism about the future of this species is spreading as a relatively new fungus continues to kill butternut throughout its range. Butternut canker…
NESAF Leads the Way
The New England Society of American Foresters (NESAF) showed that it is not afraid to go out on a limb when it became the first of the SAF's 34 regional organizations to endorse a Society report…
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…
Maple Leaf Cutter
In some areas of Vermont, landowners have been alarmed to see the leaves on their sugar maples looking scorched and colorless in late summer. Fortunately, the situation is not as bad as it appears,…
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…
One Tough Winter: Winter Is Over But Its Effect On Wildlife Lingers
This past winter's deep, fluffy snow and subzero temperatures combined to make life difficult for much of Vermont's wildlife, including whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and a number of…
Portable Mills: Logs to Lumber in Your Backyard
Years ago a fellow traveled 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.…
Yellow Birch
The lustrous sheen of yellow birch bark adds a warm element to Vermont woods, even on a gray, rainy day. Yellow birch does not occur in pure stands, but it does appear in all stages of forest…
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…