Stumped

A few years ago we put a portion of our woods into Managed Forest Law (MFL), a program where landowners agree to promote the long term, sustainable health of their forests.   A county forester comes out, evaluates your woods, and makes a harvesting recommendation.  Actually, it’s more than a recommendation, it’s a directive.   We know that thinning is good for the woods, but it’s still heartbreaking to watch 100-year old oaks, maples, and hickories felled and hauled away.      

Our trees were cut in November.   The logging company will be picking up the logs sometime this spring.  The logs have been separated in 3 piles — high grade board logs, lower grade

 board logs, and pulp logs.  In the meantime, we marvel at the cycle of life.  Now some of the smaller trees will have a fighting chance to grow tall and fill in the “holes” left by their older siblings.