In working with the local Soil and Water Conservation District on the 28th of September my farm is hosting a local field forestry talk. They do this every month with tree farms throughout the county and they asked if I would host one. I agreed and today the Regional Forester came out and discussed a loose itinerary. It was good, I'll have the Wallenstein Log Trailer out so that we can physically move logs and stuff, talk about my computerized forest management plan, but mostly talk about how a working forest dovetails so nicely into the overall farm plan of a sheep farm. Honestly the two can not be separated. From making lumber to build additional barns, to the selling of forest products to buy breeding stock sheep, to even producing fence posts; its all about sheep and forest resources. One thing I was surprised with is that he wants me to talk about how we are converting forest into fields. Part of that has to deal with how a Maine farmer has to wrestle with a lousy market coupled with property taxes and production. He does not want me to sugar-coat it, and describe how we have derived at some of the decisions we have, how we are unsure of decisive direction in other areas, but are always working our forests ourselves. It was a good visit in any case.
It will be interesting to see if more people follow your path. A hundred years ago, New England had a lot fewer forests. As transportation improved and centers of agriculture, fields grew back into forests and farms turned into sub developments. You very well could be leading the pack on a return to increased farm production here in New England. I'm sure the group will appreciate hearing your story.
There is actually a surprising amount of people clearing forest into farmland in this part of Maine. Part of it has to do with the soil; it is pretty good for Maine standards. Then there is the Amish that are moving in which is driving up the need for tillable land. It is kind of interesting here, because of the economy, tillable land actually has more value per acre then house lots do. Forest land was kind of nice because it took so little inputs to have so much value, where as forest into farmland conversion is around $201 an acre. Once the conversion is made however, more valuable crops can be grown. One thing is for sure, there is nothing easy about land ownership.
Off topic, but good to see yah back here LT, was starting to think maybe you went ahead and cashed in that 9th life...
Very true. If you are ever in the central Mass area and have the time, I would suggest a visit to the Harvard Forest Museum. Inside they have huge dioramas that illustrate the change in the use of forest land in New England. The dioramas were made in the 30's (?) and are simply incredible! Dioramas | Harvard Forest
No, not yet. I go in phases. I cut so much wood that I actually get burned out doing it. I have had a two week rest so it has been kind nice, but hopefully I'll get back in the woods soon. I tossed the engine back in my bulldozer today, so hopefully that will be going soon. The skidder is faster, and I still have it kicking around, but there is something about logging with a bulldozer, even my wife notices it and says logging with a bulldozer is the only time I smile.
Next month they are going to have Maine Logging Days up to Bradley, Maine. They have a lot of old logging equipment, sawmills, old way of life stuff there. We went up last year and I actually got to drive a Steam Lombard Log Hauler; now that was pretty neat. It is October 7th and called Living History Days. We are going up again this year it is that good.
