If you all remember, we just bought woods. We want to educate ourselves on managing the property. Thinning out the little tree so others can grow ect...

Can anyone recommend a book(s) before I start ordering them all or the wrong ones!

Thanks!

Kelly

-- Kelly longing to live in the woods... (kmyers01@commkey.net), May 09, 2001

Answers

Try these two books "Woodlot Primer" by Richard Brett, 1983 Country Journal Press, Brattleboro, VT "Working with Your Woodland", 1983 by Beattie,Thompson, and Levine, University Press of New England, Hanover, NH.

The first is geared towards those who are new to woodland management, the second is in more detail and is very good book on the subject. In addition, check with your state forester for information and advice. They are an invaluable resource for the woodland owner. They provide extensive advice on managing your woodlot and can tell you about programs to help you manage your woodlot such as SIP (Stewardship Incentive Program). In addition, your state may have a small woodland owners association. In New York state, for example, it is called New York Forest Owners Association. New York also provides training to people on forestry management. These people, called master foresters (similar to the master gardeners program), would provide free advice on forestry. Perhaps your state has a similar program.

-- Marty Palange (MPalange@ahmail.com), May 09, 2001.

I just read an article called "Weed Your Woods" in the Backwoodsman. Lots of information, although it is purposely very general. Recomends a book titled "The Woodland Steward" by James R Fazio. Author says he got his copy from Woodland Enterprises, phone # 208- 882-4767.

-- Amber (mikeandambr@aol.com), May 09, 2001.

Contact your county extension office. In my state (Maine) they will come in and selectively mark the trees for you to cut and pay you so much per acre.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), May 09, 2001.

Go to www.attra.org and check out their agroforesty files and print out or save to disk the documents you need for free. The whole site is small farm support and free research is available there also. I find the reference library there as useful as this forum.

-- Jay Blair in N. Al (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 11, 2001.